How well do audit textbooks currently integrate data analytics

Abstract

The auditing profession is undergoing a transformation, becoming heavily reliant on computerized systems to produce data analytic reports. As a result, the demand for accounting graduates with knowledge in data analytics (DA) has increased. Because textbooks remain the primary educational resource in a college classroom, we sought to determine the extent to which textbooks include DA content and provide a summary of our findings to assist auditing educators in locating this content. Our primary analysis includes the examination of the six most commonly used audit textbooks and one book on DA for accountants. For each text, we evaluated (1) the degree to which textbooks have integrated current and emerging technologies into the written chapter content; (2) the degree to which auditing textbooks have students perform specific DA activities, using DA software; and (3) the degree to which these problems follow the AICPA’s five-step process for planning and performing audit DA. We also provide a Detailed Analysis section for each text in which we summarize both in-chapter and end-of-chapter DA exercises. Recognizing the large amount of DA resources available online such as case studies and datasets, we also provide a review and summary of this content, thereby providing auditing educators a wide variety of options for including DA in their classroom. Finally, based on our review of these resources, we provide recommendations for educators, textbook authors, and publishers to consider when developing DA educational materials. Our purpose is to contribute to the discussion on auditing curriculum and whether trends in practice are reflected in the course resources.