ACCT600 - Accounting for Decision Making

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Teaching organisation

150 hours over a twelve-week semester or equivalent study period

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit is integral to learning the complex discipline of accounting. A discipline that is becoming more and more in demand with the growth and evolution of the world economy. This unit provides an introduction to accounting and the application of these concepts in decision-making by a wide range of potential stakeholders. The knowledge gained from this unit is also of a benefit for those who will not pursue an accounting career as they will become more confident in communicating with accountants and have some ideas of how financial reports are prepared and analysed. 

The unit focuses on both theoretical and practical applications of fundamental accounting concepts; International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS); recording transactions; accounting cycle; internal control; and preparing, analysing and interpreting financial reports. Emphasis is placed on utilising financial information for decision making in consideration of its ramifications for corporate social responsibility. 

The aim of the unit is to provide students with a sound foundation in accounting concepts in order to pursue a career as a professional accountant, finance manager or business analyst.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Demonstrate knowledge of communication theory and information literacies by applying relevant knowledge and skills to various communications that provide business insights, analysis, recommendations and rationale to accounting phenomena (GA5, GA9).

LO2 - Analyse the role and importance of the ethical role of accountants and assess threats to compliance within the accounting profession and in relation to the concept of corporate social responsibility (GA3, GA5).

LO3 - Generate, evaluate and interpret financial information and related disclosures including non-financial data and information such as sustainability reports, integrated reports and extended external reporting (GA4, GA5).

LO4 - Implement accounting treatments used to record complex business transactions and other events for various types of businesses structures and accounting elements using the accounting duality method for the complete accounting cycle including the application of internal control features relevant to financial reporting and accounting elements (GA5, GA8).

Graduate attributes

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media

Content

Topics will include:

• Decision making and the roles of accounting for corporate social responsibility
• Financial statements for decision making
• Recording transactions
• Adjusting the accounts
• Completing the accounting cycle
• Accounting for retailing and inventories
• The accounting information system and internal control
• Presentation, analysis and interpretation of financial statements
• Cash management and control
• Receivables
• Inventories
• Accounting for partnership

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Practice and applied practical activities are essential for learning accounting. Students are expected to adopt an ‘active’ learning strategy and learn by doing. ACU’s learning & teaching policy focuses on learning outcomes for students in the form of knowledge, capabilities and background. ACU promotes and facilitates learning that is autonomous and self-motivated, is characterised by the individual taking satisfaction in the mastering of content and skills and is critical, looking beneath the surface level of information for the meaning and significance of what is being studied. The practical workshops provide an interactive environment for involving in class discussions and exchange of ideas.

This unit is structured with required upfront preparation before workshops, most students report that they spend an average of one hour preparing before the workshop and one or more hours after the workshop practicing and revising what was covered. The online learning platforms used in this unit provide multiple forms of learning material and preparatory and practice opportunities for students to prepare and revise.

Mode of delivery: 

This unit is offered in different modes depending on the teaching period. This unit is offered in different modes to cater to the learning needs and preferences of a range of participants and maximise effective participation for isolated and/or marginalised groups.

Attendance Mode

In a weekly attendance mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in workshops at specific campus location/s enabling regular physical interaction with teachers and fellow students.

Blended Mode

In a blended mode, students will require face-to-face attendance in blocks of time determined by the School. This approach facilitates learning and participation for students with both face-to-face attendance opportunities and virtual learning activities.

Online Mode

Students are required to participate in a series of online interactive workshops which include activities, knowledge checks, discussion and interactive sessions. This approach allows flexibility for students and facilitates learning and participation for students with a preference for virtual learning.

ACU Online

This unit uses an active learning approach to support students in the exploration of knowledge essential to the discipline. Students are provided with choice and variety in how they learn. Students are encouraged to contribute to asynchronous weekly discussions. Active learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to practice and apply their learning in situations similar to their future professions. Activities encourage students to bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding, application and engage constructively with their peers. Students receive regular and timely feedback on their learning, which includes information on their progress.

Assessment strategy and rationale

Assessments are used primarily to foster learning. ACU adopts constructivist approach to learning, which requires alignment of learning outcomes, teaching, learning and assessment and the environment in which learning occurs. Assessment is an integral part of the learning process. Assessment tasks in this unit are aimed at measuring and developing student’s achievement of both the learning outcomes and graduate attributes noted above. In this unit, there are multiple forms of formative assessment for a student to assess their progress against the learning objectives as well as three (3) main pieces of graded summative assessment.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate competence in all learning outcomes and achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure students’ level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the unit. The same assessment strategy applies to all modes of delivery.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal [a peer-reviewed academic journal covering accounting theory and practice], Emerald Publishing Group, <https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/publication/31671?OpenUrlRefId=info:xri/sid:primo&accountid=8194>

Accounting, organizations and society [The journal focuses on the relationships between accounting and both human behaviour and organizations' structures, processes, social, and political environments], Elsevier Publishing <https://www-sciencedirect-com.ezproxy1.acu.edu.au/journal/accounting-organizations-and-society>

Atrill, P. & McLaney, E Accounting and finance for non-specialists, 10th edn, Pearson Education, Harlow, UK.

Birt J, Chalmers K, Maloney, S., Brooks, A & Oliver J Accounting: business reporting for decision making, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons, Australia, Milton, QLD.

Carlon S, Mladenovic-McAlpine R, Loftus J, Palm C, Kimmel PD, Kieso DE & Weygandt JH Accounting: building business skills, 4th edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Milton, Qld

Contemporary accounting research [a peer-reviewed academic journal covering research on all aspects of accounting's role within organizations, markets, or society], Elsevier Publishing, <http://globalbizresearch.org/accounting/>

Cunnigham, B., Nikolai, L.A., Bazley, J., Kavanagh, M., Slaughter, G. & Simmons, S 2015, Accounting: information for business decisions, Cengage Learning, South Melbourne.

Gray, R. Adams, CA & Owen, D. Accountability, social responsibility and sustainability: accounting for society and the environment, Pearson Education, Harlow, UK.

Hancock, P., Robinson, P. & Bazley, M Contemporary accounting: a strategic approach for users, 9th edn, South Melbourne, Cengage Learning.

Hoggett, J., Edwards, L. Medlin, J., Chalmers, K., Hellmann, A., Beattie, C., and Maxfield, J Accounting, 10th edition, Wiley Publications Australia, Milton, QLD.

Marshall, D, McManus, W & Viele, D Accounting: what the numbers mean, 11th edn, McGraw- Hill Australia, Sydney.

Nobles, T.I., Mattison, B. I., Matsumura, EM, Best, P, Fraser, D, Tan, R, Willett, R Horngren’s accounting, 8th edn, Pearson Education, Melbourne.

Trotman, K, Carson, E & Gibbins, M Financial accounting: an integrated approach, 6th edn, Cengage Learning, Melbourne.