Course Descriptions
          Introduction to ACL - Expanded Edition

Course Level:  Beginner

CPE Credits:  24

Course Description:

The objective of this 3.0-day interactive “hands-on” course is to acquaint
the participant with the primary features of the ACL software system in
order to enable him/her to successfully perform data analysis on various
types of data files.  The ACL environment will be discussed including
navigation techniques, creating and working with ACL projects and views,
and the function of the overview window.  Data access methods will be
presented and explained.  Real-world exercises will include the use of the
primary ACL data analysis commands including: Count, Total, Verify,
Classify, Stratify, Statistics, Duplicates, Age, Sort, Summarize, Sample,
Join and Export.  Graphing, reporting, record filtering, expression building,
and computed fields will also be presented.  In addition, this expanded
edition course will include various topics normally presented in the
Intermediate ACL class.  These topics include working with Scripts and
Group, and establishing relations between multiple data files.

Course Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, each participant will be able to:
  • Understand the role data analysis software plays in supporting
    audit activities.
  • Understand and recognize data analysis terminology, as well as
    common data types, data structures, and character sets.
  • Create and manage ACL Projects and Project components.
  • Navigate within the ACL software system in order to utilize ACL
    commands, functions and other software features.
  • Utilize ACL commands and functions in order to successfully
    perform data analysis operations on various types of data files.
  • Utilize the reporting and other output features of ACL to generate
    meaningful reports, charts, graphs, and/or output files.
  • Utilize the ACL commands necessary to simultaneously work with
    multiple data files.
  • Create and utilize ACL scripts in order automate various data
    analysis routines.

Course Balance:

  • Lecture / discussion:       50%
  • In-class applications:      20%
  • Section exercises:            30%

Course Prerequisites:

Participants should have basic computer skills, including at least some
experience using applications operating within the Microsoft Windows
operating system.

Who Should Attend:

IS/IT Auditors, Financial and Operational Auditors, Internal/External  
Auditors, Analysts, Accounting Professionals, Investigators, or anyone
interested in learning to use the ACL software system.

Other Information:

PIA Consulting will provide comprehensive course manuals containing
presentation material, command, function and other ACL reference
material, class exercises, and glossary sections.

Course Outline:
Days 1 and 2
Days 2 and 3
A.  Understanding the Basics
 -  Data audit and analysis techniques-
      What is ACL?
-  Understanding common data types
    and data structures
-  Obtaining your data

B.  Understanding the ACL for
     Windows Environment
 -  Navigating within ACL / The ACL
    Main Menu structure
-  Creating and working with ACL
    projects
-  Creating and managing ACL Views
-  Working with the Overview

C.  Accessing Data
 -  Data paths and data downloading
-  Defining data files
-  Accessing / downloading ODBC-
     compliant data

D.  Analyzing and Understanding
     Your Data
 -  Using the Verify, Count, Total, and
      Statistics commands
-  Using the Sequence, Duplicates,
      Stratify, Classify, & Age
      commands
-  Graphing and reporting within ACL
 D.  Analyzing and Understanding
     Your Data (cont.)
 -  Filtering records
-  Building expressions using the ACL
    Expression Builder feature

E.  Manipulating and Managing Data
 - Using the Extract, Export, Sort, Join,
     Merge, Summarize, and Sample
     commands
-  Working with ACL Functions.

F.  Working with Multiple Data Files
 -  Relations Command
-  Join Command
-  Data Relations vs. File Join
     Command
-  Overcoming intra-file record
      comparison limitations

G.  Enhancing Efficiency with Script
     and Group Commands
 -  Scripts and Groups defined
-  Static and interactive Scripts
-  Creating and using command
      groups

H.  Comprehensive Class Exercise

I.  Course Wrap-up & Discussion
PIA Consulting is registered with the National Association of State
Boards of Accountancy (NASBA)  as a sponsor of continuing
professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.  
State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance
of individual courses for CPE credit.  Complaints regarding registered
sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE
Sponsors, 150 Fourth Avenue North, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417.
Web site: www.nasba.org.
This course is offered as an open-enrollment class and as an on-site
class.  For more information or to register for this course, please email
us at info@pia-consulting.com or phone us at (512) 343-2866.