Real Audit™ Getting Started Guide

Here are some suggestions for easing your students into the simulation (there is no one way to do it - these are just a few ideas that seem to work well!) :

1. It is recommended that you ask them to read over the getting started FAQ before they begin using the software (many questions that arise are answered there).

2. When you are talking about the audit standards (particularly the one on planning and supervision) ask your students what they would expect to see in an audit program for planning. Hopefully, they will say get to know the client, do some analytical procedures, assess some risks, etc. At this point, you can verify what they said, by starting up the simulation. Show them how to log in using their account and password. Then, skip through the introduction, close out of the game tutorial, introduce yourself to the receptionist and get to your virtual desk. From there you can open the audit program and review the planning steps with them. (You can also click the checkboxes and show them how the program works - or you can let them figure it out themselves by reading the user manual and/or doing the game tutorial)

3. Another way to get going or to continue from 1. above is to ask your students to log in with their accounts and then get to know the client by inspecting the permanent file. To do that, they need to get the initial instructions from the audit manager, do the game tutorial, and find their virtual desk (with some help from the receptionist). When they come back to class, ask them: who is the client?, what do they do? where are they? are they large or small? private or publc? Are there any enterprise risks they need to be aware of? economc? technological? competitive? etc.

4. Another way to start or continue from 1 or 2 above is to ask the students to assess engagement risk and to decide whether to continue or withdraw from the engagement. If they are having difficulty assessing this risk, you can try asking them: Is there a high or unacceptable risk of us getting sued if we take on this client? Is there a high or unacceptable chance that we might get fired if we take on this account? Will our reputation be tainted? etc.

5. Some faculty just walk their students through the entire planning phase in class and then let the students pick up with AR from there (this is a more basic approach, which may work better of you have a lot of weak students)

6. Other faculty ask their students to start up the simulation, do the game tutorial, complete the planning steps on the audit program, and turn in the planning memo. (this is a more advanced approach, which may work well in a graduate course or undergraduate course where most of the students are strong)

Questions? E-mail: [email protected]