Auditing theory and practice is presented in a comprehensible manner, suitable for students who have not had significant auditing experience. The relationship between accountancy and auditing is clearly explained.

Whittington/Pany is our market leader in the auditing discipline. While most textbooks use a cycles approach, Whittington/Pany enlists a balance sheet approach – making it particularly straightforward and user-friendly in addressing the auditing profession’s risk-based approach for financial statement audits as well as for integrated audits of financial statements and internal control. The 18th edition covers the latest auditing standards to meet the needs of the current marketplace. The authors are well connected – both Ray Whittington and Kurt Pany served as members of the Audit Standards Board, and Whittington recently completed his term as President of the Auditing Section of the American Accounting Association.

Messier employs the new audit approach currently being used by auditing professionals. This new approach is a direct result of the demands of Sarbanes-Oxley, which has changed the way auditors do their jobs. The new auditing approach emphasizes understanding the entity (i.e., the organization or business being audited) and its environment (i.e. industry), and then assessing the business risks faced by the entity and how management controls those risks. This new audit process focuses on business processes instead of accounting cycles. This unique and innovative approach has been developed in response to changing market dynamics. The systematic approach, referred to in the subtitle of the text, reflects the early introduction of three basic concepts that underlie the audit process: materiality, audit risk, and evidence; this allows Messier to build upon this model in subsequent chapters. These are central to everything an auditor does and a unique feature of Messier. As such, this approach helps students develop auditor judgment, a vital skill in today's auditing environment.

Principles of External Auditing has become established as one of the leading textbooks for students studying auditing. Striking a careful balance between theory and practice, the book describes and explains, in non-technical language, the nature of the audit function and the principles of the audit process. The book covers international auditing and accounting standards and relevant statute and case law. It explains the fundamental concepts of auditing and takes the reader through the various stages of the audit process. It also discusses topical aspects of auditing such as legal liability, audit risk, quality control, and the impact of information technology. Brenda Porter is currently visiting Professor at Exeter University and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok.

"The 22nd edition of Principles of Auditing & Other Assurance Services provides a care-fully balanced presentation of auditing theory and practice. Written in a clear and understandable manner, it is particularly appropriate for students who have had limited or no audit experience. The approach is to integrate auditing material with that of previous accounting financial, managerial, and systems courses"--