New forms of assurance services for new forms of information: The global challenge for accounting educators

This paper explores recent initiatives to develop new assurance services that are being demanded for new types of information in the marketplace and the resulting global challenge to accounting educators. The paper develops a realistic scenario for new assurance services, identifies critical business performance areas for which new assurance services are demanded, discusses the work of the AICPA Special Committee on Assurance Services (Elliott Committee, 1994) and related international groups, and makes recommendations for actions by accounting educators. These recommendations parallel and enhance those of the American Accounting Association's Task Force on Future Audit, Attestation, and Assurance Services.