Audit Assignment with Tableau

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I. Title: Using Visualization Software in the Audit of Revenue Transactions to Identify Anomalies

II. Introduction:

In this project, you will use Tableau, data visualization software, to audit revenue

transactions to identify anomalies. The project includes a group component to reflect

the collaborative nature of accountants who must work together on audit teams. You

will be randomly placed into an online discussion group in LEO. The purpose of the

online discussion group is to help one another learn how to use Tableau and make

decisions regarding the results of your data analysis. Participation in the online

discussion group is mandatory.

After collaboratively discussing the case with your colleagues (classmates) in the online discussion group, you will write and submit an individual report written in your own words to your boss (professor).

The project provides opportunities for you to further develop the following competencies:

Graduate School Core Competencies:

Communication

▪ Organize document or presentation clearly in a manner that promotes understanding and meets the requirements of the assignment.

▪ Develop coherent paragraphs or points to be internally unified and function as part of the whole document or presentation.

▪ Provide sufficient, correctly cited support that substantiates the writer’s ideas. ▪ Tailor communications to the audience. ▪ Tailor Use sentence structure appropriate to the task, message and audience. ▪ Follow conventions of Standard Written English. ▪ Create neat and professional looking documents appropriate for the project or

presentation. ▪ Create clear oral messages.

Critical thinking

▪ Identify and clearly explain the issue, question, or problem under critical consideration.

▪ Locate and access sufficient information to investigate the issue or problem. ▪ Evaluate the information in a logical and organized manner to determine its

value and relevance. ▪ Consider and analyze information in context to the issue or problem. ▪ Develop well-reasoned ideas, conclusions or decisions, checking them against

relevant criteria and benchmarks.

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Accounting Competencies:

Risk assessment, analysis, and management Assess, analyze, and manage risk using appropriate frameworks, professional judgment and skepticism for effective business management.

Reporting Identify the appropriate content and communicate clearly and objectively to the intended audience the work performed and the results as governed by professional standards, required by law or dictated by the business environment.

Technology and tools Identify and utilize relevant technology and tools to analyze data, efficiently and effectively perform assigned tasks as well as support other competencies.

Business Competencies: Governance perspective Understand the legal and regulatory environments affecting an organization and their effects on an organization’s operations, internal controls and enterprise risk management. Recognize an organization’s social and environmental responsibilities.

Professional Competencies:

Professional behavior Practice in a manner that is consistent with the character and high standards set by the AICPA, the accounting profession, and TGS Accounting degree programs. Demonstrate a work ethic and respect for diversity, as well as a commitment to continuously acquire new personal and professional skills and knowledge.

Decision making Objectively identify and critically assess issues and use professional judgment to develop appropriate decision models, identify and analyze the costs and benefits of alternative courses of action and recommend optimal solutions.

Collaboration Work productively with diverse individuals in a variety of roles, with multiple interests in outcome to achieve acceptable and optimal results.

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Scenario: You are a senior auditor at the CPA firm of Aoife & Josephine, LLC. Your manager (professor) calls you into her office to discuss the use of Tableau, data analytic and visualization software, on an upcoming audit for a client. She highly suggests you learn how to use Tableau to perform data analytics on sales revenue. Further, she suggests you read the following articles to prepare for this audit:

• Cao, M., R. Chychyla, and T. Stewart. 2015. Big Data analytics in financial statement audits. Accounting Horizons 29 (2): 423–429. http://ezproxy.umuc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.ed u/login.aspx?direct=true&db=bth&AN=103541034&site=eds-live&scope=site

• Raphael, J. 2017. Rethinking the audit. Journal of Accountancy 223 (4): 28–32. http://ezproxy.umuc.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.umuc.ed u/login.aspx?direct=true&db=heh&AN=122600698&site=eds-live&scope=site

• On the ICAEW Website, you may download an excellent report: ICAEW.com. (2016). Data analytics for external auditors. [online] Available at: https://www.icaew.com/-/media/corporate/files/technical/iaa/tecpln14726-iaae- data-analytics---web-version.ashx [Accessed 13 Jul. 2019].

III. Steps to Completion

Step 1: Read the articles recommended by your manager (professor) to gain an understanding about how big data, data analytics, and new technologies are transforming external audits. Step 2: Read the case: Using Visualization Software in the Audit of Revenue Transactions to Identify Anomalies, which is posted in LEO: Contents>Course Resources>Projects & Rubrics. Step 3: Review resources to learn how to use Tableau in Appendix A on the last page of this document. Collaborate with your online discussion group to learn Tableau tips. Step 4: Complete the case requirements that start on page 35 of Using Visualization Software in the Audit of Revenue Transactions to Identify Anomalies. Step 5: Complete one additional requirement not included in the case; an audio- enhanced presentation or video of yourself presenting your findings. Prepare a video or audio-enhanced PowerPoint presentation to present your findings to your manager (professor) and audit team (classmates). Prepare a Power Point presentation that includes the following:

▪ Graphs, tables, and other data visualization tools to explain your findings

▪ Speakers notes must be placed under each slide. Use the speaker’s notes to create either a/an:

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1. Audio enhanced PPT presentation with accurate transcription (or accurate Closed Captioning) that you will present to your boss and colleagues, OR

2. Video of yourself presenting the content of your slide to your boss (professor)

and colleagues (classmates). You may use your cell phone to create the video file.

IV. Deliverables

▪ Report to the boss in MS Word o Using the report template in Appendix C o Include a reference page and cite all sources

▪ Audio-enhanced Video or PowerPoint presentation

§ As your professor, I eagerly look forward to reading your deliverables and or viewing your presentation or video. It is fine to quote sources to illustrate or support your own thoughts, however, every graded assessment in graduate accounting courses will be based on the content you have thought about and you have written in your own words. To properly guide you, I need to read your thoughts and interpretations and observe you making presentations which demonstrate your comprehension of the learning goals and ability to perform the competencies. ▪ Check your report for plagiarism using a free online tool, such as Grammarly,

Papers Owl, Citation Machine. Your professor will use TurnItIn.com to check all graded assignments.

▪ Read the grading rubric before beginning the project to fully understand the requirements; ask questions about the requirements if needed.

▪ Review. o Developing your graduate level writing skills:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/2/ o What Constitutes Graduate Level Writing; source unknown. In LEO,

Content, Week 9. ▪ Seek feedback for submitting your final version for a grade.

o Ask a classmate, friend or family member to read your report, watch your presentation, and share constructive feedback to help improve your final version.

o Submit your draft Word document to the Graduate Writing Center at least 1 week before the project due date. This FREE resource can be accessed in your LEO classroom. Make edits to your report after reviewing feedback from the writing center tutors.

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o Submit the milestone to your professor to receive constructive feedback and use the feedback to improve your work before submitting a final version for grading.

▪ Submit all required files on or before the due date. Late assignment policies can be found in the syllabus. No assignments are accepted after the last day of class.

▪ Ask questions as needed in the weekly Ask the Professor forums.

As a reminder, your deliverables will be assessed on the following competencies:

Graduate Program Competencies:

▪ Communication ▪ Critical thinking

Accounting Competencies:

▪ Risk assessment, analysis, and management ▪ Reporting ▪ Technology and tools

Business Competencies:

▪ Governance perspective

Professional Competencies:

▪ Professional behavior ▪ Decision making ▪ Collaboration

V. Rubric:

You will find the rubric in LEO under Contents>Course Resources>Projects & Rubrics.

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Reference Christensen, B., R. Elder, and S. Glover. 2015. Behind the numbers: Insights into large

audit firm sampling policies. Accounting Horizons 29 (1): 61–81. https://doi.org/10.2308/acch-50921 Using Visualization Software in the Audit of Revenue Transactions to Identify Anomalies 35 Issues in Accounting Education Volume 33, Number 4, 2018

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Appendix A

Tableau Tutorials Go to the Tableau.com Website and type Free Training Videos into the search field. https://www.tableau.com/learn/training The Tableau Video Library includes over 9 hours of videos:

▪ Getting Started – 3 videos ▪ Connecting to Data – 11 videos ▪ Visual Analytics – 24 videos ▪ Dashboards and Stories – 8 videos ▪ Mapping – 11 videos ▪ Calculations – 16 videos ▪ Why is Tableau Doing That? – 5 videos ▪ How To - 10 videos

Finding the more relevant video resources is an excellent opportunity for your online discussion group to help each other learn Tableau.