VIVIEN BEATTIE is Professor of Accounting at the University of Stirling. She has published over thirty research articles and reports, as well as contributing regularly to professional journals. Her main research interests are external audit and business reporting. She is a member of the UK Accounting Standard Board's Academic Panel. She is also a panel member for Accounting and Finance ... Read morein the 2001 UK Research Assessment Exercise being undertaken in the UK. STELLA FEARNLEY is a Reader in Accounting in the Department of Accounting and Management Science, University of Portsmouth and was formerly a senior technical manager at Grant Thornton. Her main research interests are external audit and accounting regulation, and she has published widely on these topics. She is an elected member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, being Deputy Chair of its Centre for Business Performance. RICHARD BRANDT is a Research Fellow in the Department of Accounting and Management Science, University of Portsmouth. He was previously Head of Audit at Grant Thornton for nine years, and is a former member of the Urgent Issues Task Force. He is editor of the 2000-2001 edition of Auditing and Reporting, published by ABG Professional Information. Show Less