Southern New Hampshire University

ACC-720: Auditing and Attestation Review Course

A study guide to SNHU's graduate review course in auditing and attestation, the subject of the AUD section of the CPA exam.

Updated October 2026 · 5 min read

ACC-720, Auditing and Attestation Review Course, is a graduate accounting course at Southern New Hampshire University.

SNHU's campus course listings show it as a graduate course taught face to face. Its title points to its purpose: reviewing auditing and attestation, the content of the AUD section of the Uniform CPA Examination. SNHU's detailed catalog description is not publicly available, so check your syllabus for outcomes and assessments.

Review courses feel different from first-time learning. You have met most of the material before, in auditing and advanced auditing courses, but now you need to recall it quickly, distinguish between similar engagement types and apply standards to short scenarios. Students who struggle usually know the ideas but mix up the details.

Course at a Glance

ItemDetails
UniversitySouthern New Hampshire University (SNHU)
Course codeACC-720
LevelGraduate
DeliveryListed in SNHU campus course offerings
Subject areaAuditing and attestation review
Typical workPractice questions, simulations, review quizzes, short cases

AUD Content Areas

The AICPA's AUD blueprint is organized into four content areas. They give a useful structure for any auditing and attestation review:

AUD areaWhat it covers
Ethics, professional responsibilities and general principlesIndependence, the AICPA Code, quality management, engagement terms
Assessing risk and developing a planned responseUnderstanding the entity, materiality, risk assessment, audit strategy
Performing further procedures and obtaining evidenceTests of controls, substantive procedures, sampling, specific accounts
Forming conclusions and reportingAudit opinions, review and compilation reports, other engagement reports

Key Concepts Explained

Engagement Types and Assurance Levels

A frequent exam trap is confusing engagements. An audit gives reasonable assurance. A review under SSARS gives limited assurance, based mainly on inquiry and analytical procedures. A compilation and a preparation engagement give no assurance; a preparation engagement does not even require a report, though each page states that no assurance is provided.

EngagementStandardsAssurance
Audit (non-issuer)AICPA auditing standardsReasonable
Review of financial statementsSSARSLimited
CompilationSSARSNone
Examination of subject matterSSAEs (attestation)Reasonable

The Audit Risk Model

Audit risk is the product of inherent risk, control risk and detection risk. The auditor assesses the first two and then sets detection risk, through the nature, timing and extent of substantive procedures, to keep overall audit risk acceptably low. Higher assessed risk means lower acceptable detection risk and therefore more persuasive evidence.

Choosing the Audit Opinion

The opinion depends on two questions: is there a misstatement or an inability to obtain evidence, and is the effect material and pervasive?

Example: The auditor finds inventory overstated by a material amount, confined to one account, and management refuses to adjust. That is a material but not pervasive misstatement, so the opinion is qualified. If the misstatement affected most of the statements, the opinion would be adverse. If the auditor simply could not observe inventory and had no alternative procedures, the issue is a scope limitation, leading to a qualified opinion or, if pervasive, a disclaimer.

Building a Review Plan

A review course rewards steady practice more than last-minute reading. Start by taking a diagnostic set of questions to find weak areas, then schedule them first while leaving the strongest topics for spaced revision. Mix multiple-choice practice with task-based simulations, since simulations test whether you can apply a standard to a document or scenario.

After every practice session, log each mistake with the reason (knowledge gap, misread question, or confused terms). Patterns in that log tell you exactly what to revise next.

Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them

Assignment typeWhat it testsHow to approach
Practice question setsRecall and applicationReview every explanation, including for questions you got right
SimulationsApplying standards to documentsRead the requirement first, then the exhibits
Report draftingKnowledge of report elementsLearn the paragraphs of an unmodified report, then what changes
Short casesJudgmentIdentify the issue, the standard and the effect on the report

Where Students Get Stuck

Study Tips for ACC-720

How We Help with ACC-720

Send your syllabus, weak topics, practice results and any assignment prompts. An audit tutor can explain standards, prepare study notes and worked examples, or review written work. We do not take quizzes or exams for students. See our accounting assignment help guide for related support.

GradeEssays is independent of Southern New Hampshire University and of the AICPA. Our help is tutoring and study material; graded work must be your own under SNHU's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch and include free revisions within the scope of your original request.

Make Your ACC-720 Review Count

Share your weak areas and practice results. We prepare explained notes and worked examples to study from.

Start My Audit Review

Free revisions · Full refund if late · Written from scratch for your order

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ACC-720 the CPA exam?

No. It is an SNHU course whose title shows it reviews auditing and attestation, the content of the AUD section.

What are the four AUD content areas?

Ethics, professional responsibilities and general principles; assessing risk and developing a planned response; performing further procedures and obtaining evidence; and forming conclusions and reporting.

What is the difference between SSARS and SSAEs?

SSARS cover compilations, reviews and preparation engagements on financial statements. SSAEs cover attestation engagements on other subject matter.

How do I choose between a qualified and adverse opinion?

Both involve material misstatement. If the effect is pervasive, the opinion is adverse; if not, it is qualified.

Should I use a commercial review course as well?

Many candidates do. Use whatever your instructor recommends and align your practice with the current AICPA blueprint.

Can you take my ACC-720 quizzes?

No. We explain topics, prepare study material and review written work, but you must complete graded assessments yourself.