This five Module course guides you through the contents and use of the various components of the CICA Handbook, the authoritative document in Canada for financial statement presentation and for auditing and assurance practices.

The learning outcomes for this course are for you to:

• know which Handbook to refer to when presented with a problem or dilemma
• know what choices each type of organization has in selecting the most appropriate set of accounting standards
• know which parts of the Assurance Handbook apply to different types of engagements
• recognize differences among the conceptual frameworks of accounting in order to evaluate potential solutions against the framework, and in order to evaluate the suitability of a particular framework in individual circumstances
• understand and be able to describe the authority of the Handbook, both from the viewpoint of the accounting profession and in law
• be able to explain the inter-relationships between the three Handbooks
• be able to explain the inter-relationships among the parts and standards within a Handbook
• be able to identify the key publications where supplementary information is located

This course is divided into five modules.

Module 1 introduces the Standards and Guidance Collection and addresses the overall purpose and authority of the Handbooks in the Collection.

Module 2 discusses the five parts of the Accounting Handbook, which organizations should use each part, and the effective date of the various parts.

Module 3 looks at the structure of the Assurance Handbook, and at the standards that pertain to different types of engagements.

Module 4 discusses the direction provided by the Public Sector Accounting Handbook on issues related to the various levels of government.

Module 5 deals with the Management Discussion and Analysis portion of the Standards and Guidance Collection, and also discusses the guidance provided by the Risk Management and Governance materials.

The course contains printed modules, appendices that show the structure and organization of the Handbooks, appendices that illustrate different types of audit reports, and a quiz following Modules 2 and 5 to test your understanding of the course concepts.

Module 1 Purpose and authority of the Handbook
What is the Handbook?
The Standards and Guidance Collection
Background to the Handbook
The Accounting Handbook
The Assurance Handbook
The Public Sector Accounting Handbook
Evolution
Changes
Public Practice Manual
Non-authoritative guidance

Module 2 The Accounting Handbook
Accounting Handbook
Preface
Part I – International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
Part II – Accounting Standards for Private Enterprises (ASPE)
Part III – Accounting Standards for Not-for-Profit Organizations
Part IV – Accounting Standards for Pension Plans
Part V – Pre-changeover Accounting Standards
Conclusion

Quiz 1

Module 3 The Assurance Handbook
What is in this Handbook?
Part I
Quality control standards
Financial statement audits
Canadian Auditing Standards (CASs)
Other Canadian Standards (OCSs)
Association standards
OCSs: Assurance standards
Related services / compilation engagement
Assurance and related services guidelines
Conclusion

Module 4 Public Sector Accounting Handbook
Public Sector Handbook
Concepts and principles
Government reporting entity
Specific items — Financial reporting
Specific items — Financial statement items
Not-for-profits
Public sector guidelines
Conclusion

Module 5 Non-authoritative guidance: MD&A, and risk management
Non-authoritative guidance
Canadian Performance Reporting Board
MD&A background and disclosure principles
Risk oversight and governance
Risk oversight and governance collection
Conclusion

Quiz 2

Summary

Navigating the Handbooks: An Overview is authored by Elenor Wardrop, MDE, CGA. Elenor is an accounting and business educator working with students both online and face-to-face. Elenor was involved in the design and development of the CGA Executive Program, is a marker for CGA Caribbean, and is involved in the development of educational materials for the CGA program of professional studies.

Elenor has taught business and accounting courses at the College of New Caledonia and in UNBC’s Continuing Studies division. She has worked in the forest industry, the not-for-profit sector, and in First Nations’ government. Elenor has been a CGA since 1987 and completed a master’s degree in distance education in 2009. Working with Dianne Conrad at Athabasca University, Elenor is involved in research into the effects of mentoring adults engaged in prior learning assessment. Results of the initial phase of that research are reported in The Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education (CJSAE), November 2010.