This module emphasizes how management controls the entity and its relationships with external partners to enhance organizational value; It addresses both the internal and external foci of management controls; Internally, the focus is on internal controls, risk management procedures, assurance and management information; Externally, there is an emphasis on the concept of due diligence, including acquisitions and monitoring of both national and international business partners; Other topics addressed are: the roles of audit and assurance; ethics and corporate responsibility; internal control and accounting systems; assurance assignments and due diligence; internal audit; risk management and risk reporting; controlling global enterprises.

(LO1) Understand and critically evaluate the role of audit and assurance in management control and promoting organizational objectives;

(LO2) Assess the quality of accounting and internal control systems;

(LO3) Appreciate the nature and roles of assurance engagements and internal audit;

(LO4) Develop an understanding of risk management and risk reporting;

(LO5) Understand and critically appraise the role of assurance in a global context.

(S1) Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written and oral communication skills through group discussions, in-class presentations and coursework. This will be assessed by written assignments, reports, the dissertation and short individual and group presentations.

(S2) Problem Solving and Decision Making: Students will be challenged to think critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or course of action in their course assessment.

(S3) Numeracy Skills: Students will learn to apply financial and statistical techniques. These are developed as part of the modules covering finance, accounting, economics and econometrics.

(S4) Information and Communication Technology Skills: Students will have opportunities to improve their ICT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations, data bases, econometric packages, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework.

(S5) Group Working and Networking Skills: In class assignments for students will require them to work in groups and manage the interaction and relationships with other group members. In doing so, they will gain experience in negotiation, persuasion, influencing and managing conflict. Furthermore, students will be required to engage with fellow students and external business contacts in establishing a networked resource for the exchange of ideas and the development of future business relationships.

(S6) Personal Effectiveness: This applies to all modules where students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and practice and to challenge and critique assumptions about management, economic and financial theory.

(S7) Time management. This applies to all modules of the programme and is relevant for planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

Teaching Method 1 - Virtual classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected in the virtual classroom in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 7.

Teaching Method 2 - Non-classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected for reading, research and other individual work to support engagement in the classroom is 13.

The role and context of the modern assurance process and governance;

Ethics;

Risk management and business processes;

Internal controls and accounting systems;

Risk of fraud and associated controls;

Conducting the assurance engagement;

Managing outside partners and due diligence;

Controlling global enterprises.