Accounting Research Acctg 642 Syllabus Spring 2008 Prerequisites: Instructors: Financial Reporting, Tax, and Auditing (can be taken concurrently). For accounting majors only. Dr. Richard Ott, Dr. Dan Deines, Ms. Kim Charland Offices: Ott (109), Deines (114), Charland (9I) Telephones: Ott (5639), Deines (6038), Charland (6967) Office Hours: See individual instructor Class Hours: TU 9:30, 11:30 Classroom: 9:30 C208, 11:30 C209 Texts: Weirich & Reinstein, Accounting and Auditing Research, Southwestern Class Notes--Union Copy Center or Varneys Department of Accounting Learning Objectives The Department of Accounting's curriculum is designed to correspond to levels of Bloom's Taxonomy of Cognitive Objectives. Lower levels of Bloom's Taxonomy (knowledge, comprehension, and application) are emphasized in the lower division courses while the higher cognitive objectives (analysis, synthesis and evaluation) are stressed in upper division/graduate courses. This does not imply that some of the higher cognitive objectives are not reached in the lower division courses, just that it is not emphasized. Synthesis and Evaluation are the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy this course emphasizes. In addition, the accounting program lists ten learning objectives for its students. These objectives are listed below with the appropriate emphasis in this course. 1. Technical Knowledge--High 2. Critical Thinking--High 3. Ethical Standards--High 4. Teamwork--High 5. Diversity—NA (Not Addressed) 6. Accounting Origins—NA 7. Oral Communication--High 8. Written Communication--High 9. Computer Skills--High 10. Lifelong Learning--High In addition to the departmental objectives, the following learning objectives for students in accounting research are also stated. Students will be able to do/know the following upon completion of this course: 1. 2. To learn how to use RIA Internet Tax Research service. To learn how to use the Financial Accounting Research System (FARS). 3. To know the precedential value of the important tax law sources (Internal Revenue Code, Treasury Regulations, Revenue Rulings and Procedures, Letter Rulings, Determination Letters, and the judicial system). 4. To be able to identify the issues involved in solving financial, auditing, and tax problems. 5. To know the steps and procedures in the accounting research process. 6. To know the hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). 7. To write clear and concise business memos. 8. 9. To know sources available for solving auditing problems(Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS), Professional Standards, Audit and Accounting Manual, Industry Audit Guides Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services (SAARS), Attestation Standards, Single Audit Act, Yellow Book, Statements of Position). To know the sources available for solving financial accounting problems (Statements of Financial Accounting Standards, Accounting Principle Board Opinions, Accounting Research Bulletins, Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) minutes, Technical Bulletins, Statements of Position). 10. 11. To know the hierarchy of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). To make clear and concise oral presentations. Class Organization Students learn how to locate various sources in the KSU library and the research process during the first part of the course. The case method is used to apply what has been learned during the first part of the course. Students can expect approximately 1 to 2 cases a week. This will vary by instructor. There are three instructors for this course. Grading The course grade will be determined as follows: Weirich and Reinstein (Ott) Tax (Ott) Financial Section (Deines) Audit (Charland) 19%* 28% 28% 25% 100% (Rounded) * An exam determines 65% of this grade and class participation accounts for the remaining 35%. Class participation grades may vary with each instructor because each instructor determines how his/her portion of this course is to be graded. Student Responsibilities Readings, library work, and/or cases are assigned for each class. Students are expected to have completed the work before class. Class participation, case analysis, written reports, and oral presentations are weighted considerably in determining the course grade. Failure to be prepared will most likely lead to failure in the course. Kansas State University Undergraduate Honor System: Kansas State University instituted an undergraduate honor system in 1999. The basic difference between the new honor system and the old one related to academic dishonesty is that students now hold majority representation on hearing panels. This significant change gives students ownership in the honor system and a reason to protect the integrity of our university. I expect you will do all academic work in this class. Do not collaborate on any academic work unless specifically approve by me. On all assignments, exams, or other course work undertaken by students, the following pledge is implied, whether or not it is stated: "On my honor, as a student, I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this academic work." Please visit the Honor System web page for more information at: http://www.ksu.edu/honor. Any student with a disability who needs an accommodation or other assistance should make an appointment to speak with Dr. Ott as soon as possible. February 21, 2008--last day to drop a course without a "W" being recorded. March 24, 2008--last day to drop a course. Date R Jan 17 Assignment Schedule Instructor Assignment Ott Intro--Tax--Ch 1 & 7 Weirich (W) T 22 Ott Tax--Authoritative sources--Notes (N) pp.44-58; 66-69 (W) Ch 1 Questions (Q)1-21, Ch 2 Q 1-15, Ch 7 Q 1-15 R 24 Ott Tax quiz--RIA Research Service and Library resources T 29 Ott Tax--Case 1 Taxpayer vs. IRS N pp. 59-65 Chap 7, 8, 9, 10 R 31 T Feb 5 Ott Tax--Judges--presentations-group outlines judges/taxpayer/IRS Ott Tax Case 2 Taxpayer vs. IRS R Feb 7 Ott T 12 Ott Tax Case 3 Taxpayer vs. IRS R 14 Ott Tax--Judges Case 3--presentations All papers judge/taxpayer/IRS are individual papers T 19 Ott W Ch 2 Q 1-15 if not completed and Ch 3 Q 1-6, Ch 4 Q 1-8 R 21 Ott T 26 Ott Presentations Tax--Judges Case 2--presentations Group papers--judges/taxpayer/IRS W Ch 4 Q 9-16 Ch 5 Q 1-13 "The House of GAAP" Journal of Accountancy June 1984 pp. 122-127 "The FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force" Journal of Accountancy June 1986 pp. 96-104 "SAS No. 69" Journal of Accountancy March 1992 pp. 108-111 "EITF Consensuses and the GAAP Hierarchy" Journal of Accountancy May 1992 pp. 103-110 R 28 Ott Ch 6 (W) Q 1-18 Ch 8 Q 1-19 Presentations Worldcom, Enron Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 T Mar 4 Ott W Ch 9 Q 1-8 & Ch 10 Q 1-11 R Mar 6 Ott Review and Exam Weirich T 11 Deines Financial R 13 Deines Financial T 18 Deines Spring Break R 20 Deines Spring Break T 25 Deines Financial R 27 Deines Financial T Apr 1 Deines Financial 3 Deines Financial T Apr 8 Deines Financial R 10 Deines Financial T 15 Deines Financial R 17 Charland Audit T 22 Charland Audit R 24 Charland Audit T 29 Charland Audit R May 1 Charland Audit T 6 Charland Audit R 8 Charland Audit R Final Exam T 13 R 15 Period (Audit) 2:00-3:50 P.M. 9:40-11:30 A.M. 9:30 Class 11:30 class Acctg 642 Accounting Research Spring 2008 Dr. Richard Ott Dr. Dan Deines Ms. Kim Charland