Book excerpt: This new text reflects Bill Kinney's experience on the special committee of assurance services, The Elliot Committee. The book is not designed to train students to be auditors. Instead, it has a strategic orientation and is intended for future managers, bankers, investment bankers, analysts, investors, IT consultants, and practicing CPAs. It is unique in that it builds upon related courses in finance, strategy, operations management, information technology, and financial and managerial accounting. There are two broad objectives of the book:1. To introduce business students to the use of auditors and internal control to run a business better by lowering the costs of capital, production and distribution.2. To assist accounting students by integrating their knowledge of financial and managerial accounting, information technology, and business strategy with the role of professional assurers.