CRG Assignment Brief Guide Docx. 2025/26

Assignment info add-on brief for CRG:

The company is called MPM Products Limited (MPM) which is a premium pet food company based in the North West.

Important:

-Quality of research
-15 references for a pass mark (do more, high quality such as journal articles, from one of the big firms, regulatory bodies like ICAEW  and ACCA) DO NOT REFERENCE BLOGS

Section 1, 333 words each part, 3 parts (1000 words total)

Research business sector, competitor and outlook or the next 1-2 years using the information provided.

Set the context – what is MPM/ what do they do? Where do they operate? What market do they operate in? do you understand the market/industry they operate in Pick a suitable competitor. In order for you to pick out a suitable competitor, you need to understand the company well and pick a like to like competitor. Remember they are SME, so picking a large company will not be a likely comparison.

Section 2a and 2b, 500 words each

Best practice and 2 areas from ESG reporting. For this you need to really understand what type of organisation is MPM? What does it need to comply with? (MANDATORY)

So what does MPM do current? What is its ESG Reporting? What are they adopting? AND ALSO what are the statutory requirements? Are they complying with the requirements. Are they conducting best practice? ARE THEY DOING ANYTHING IN EXCESS AS IN VOLUNTARY REPORTING?
Ultimately you need to pick a framework which we will look at and judge whether MPM are complying with that framework? Are they conducting best practice>

Be specific, generalised wont score well.

Use the business to highlight the ESG reporting 

Section 3a and 3b, 425 words each

Base research on external auditing, not internal (0 marks). This area should be looked at by the auditors perspective. (you are an external auditor, you have been paid to reach an external, independent opinion on MPM/NOT AN INTERNAL AUDITOR)

An area in accounting (f/s) where AI can be used? The key here is the suitability of the are? So you have to research it. What area should you pick? Not a generic discussion on AI and auditing, consideration given to a specific area. (a justification for the area that you have chosen and why is it relevant, should be academic)

Could be anything from the PORL or SFP (for example, non-current assets, inventory, receivables, payables)

But justify your choice in the context MPM (why would that be an area affecting MPM or example high audit risk) what do they do? What are the key risks to MPM?

Do not define AI, just apply it to the audit world

Once you have selected the area, you need to carry out the extensive research and start reading on ‘how auditors can use AI to gather audit evidence to support the number you are auditing’, so or example ‘revenue’.

Read articles, what are the auditors doing currently in the audit world? You need numerous references here. Good quality articles. You need articles that give specific examples of how auditors use AI within your chosen area, aim for 3 to 4 good examples.

Research google/google scholar/big 4 search engine/professional body search engine (ACCA/ICAEW)

For part b, discuss the benefits of using AI in audit

Compare the traditional way of auditing your chosen area with how AI would do it.

AIM FOR 2-3 BENEFITS (reference the benefits and apply to the audit of MPM)

Section 4, 150 words

Be clear and concise

In the accounting world, we are not experts at everything. There will be times that we reach out and use services from other companies (areas of technical accounting for example)

There are companies that have developed AI systems specific to auditing. So we will use a service of an AI company.

Highlight the service that vendor provides and justify why they are chosen with informed recommendation.

Use google search ( AI services for auditing etc )

Find a real-life company and look at their website and link it to MPM / find examples of AI service companies that already work with accounting companies, would be an excellent choice.

Section 5 (use SME research), 500 words

Done on the challenges faced by audit firms when introducing new technologies into an audit?

Limitations and challenges, discuss.

Specific challenges to SME, not general.

Audit firms point of view, not the clients.

Your research may be more general but you will need to directly link that limitation to an SME

How can you do that?

Think of what the limitations of auditing a small company in comparison to a large company / what barriers may you face trying to use cutting edge technology when auditing a smaller company than larger companies

Ask yourself why it is harder to audit a smaller company than a larger company ( specific challenges)

Again use google/google scholar/big 4/regulatory bodies

MPM Background Info is important

Deadline – Friday 21st November 2025