Audit Analytics with Helix for Students, with guests

An applied session featuring guest speakers and hands-on experience with a specially made student version of EY's Helix audit analytics software. This class provides a practical learning environment to undertake a revenue audit using a tool that mimics real-world audit software. Students ill undertake several types of analytics using real-world transactions and propose audit findings to test various assertions. This is a simulation of a real-world audit and will be lead by MPAcc Alumni and retired EY partner Bill Titera and MPAcc Alumni and current EY Manager Lexi Ott.

Why is this important?

Gaining practical experience with tools like Helix Analyzer for students prepares students for real-world audit environments. Although the software varies from firm-to-firm, the approach to analyzing general ledger data and identifying appropriate audit evidence is a crucial skill that students can develop in this case.

Materials:

Case: Analytics mindset: Peach State University Hotel: Background
Case: Analytics mindset: Peach State University Hotel: Understanding audit analytics
Case: Analytics mindset: Peach State University Hotel: Revenue
Slides: will be available for download by the beginning of class in either powerpoint or pdf formats.
Data: A data update may be required for this class. To ensure your files are the most up-to-date, navigate to ACCTG521_Labs folder and run the command git pull.
Analytics Tools: Helix Analyzer for Students (in Tableau)
Analytics Tools: Git and GitHub

Review and Extension:

In the prior classes, we have examined various ways of using data to answer important questions. We have examined company-level data which is publicly available, and internal transaction data for a P-card. In this class we extend our data analytics to general ledger data.

Preparation:

1. The cases need to be read in advance to prepare for this class. The first case, "Analytics mindset: Peach State University Hotel: Background" provides important background. The document is 25 pages long and will serve both as an introduction to the client and as a reference for undertaking the audit in class. Please allow enough time to read this in advance and have the case available as a reference in class.
2. The second case, "Analytics mindset: Peach State University Hotel: Understanding audit analytics" is an 8 page case that largely focuses on the use of the Helix Analyzer tool for students. Please read through this before class.
3. The third case, "Analytics mindset: Peach State University Hotel: Revenue" is the case we will undertake in this class. Please read the case in advance and have it available as a reference.

Class Plan:

Teams: during this class, please sit in your assessment teams.

1. Please note that this is a double class which starts at the beginning of the ACCTG526 time slot and ends at the end of the ACCTG521 time slot. The classes will be undertaken in the normal room.
2. Before class, check to see if the data for this class in in your U drive, the file is "Analytics_mindset_case_studies_PSU_Hotel.twbx" it is tableau workbook and should be located in the Class08and09 folder in your ACCTG521_Labs folder on your U drive. If it isn't please use git pull on your ACCTG521_Labs folder using cmd or git bash.
3. Please ensure that you are sitting in your assessment groups, both the discussion and the findings in this double class relate to the ACCTG 521 team project: the Client Interview.
4. The class will be run by our guests, please be ready to answer cold-call questions on the material and have your remote labs instance ready.