Unit Outline
BFA605
Contemporary Financial Accounting and Reporting
Semester 1, 2024
Bernadette Smith
Tasmanian School of Business & Economics (TSBE)
College of Business and Economics
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Bernadette Smith
Email: Bernadette.Smith@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Your understanding will be extended to develop your accounting knowledge and skills in the context of more complex financial and corporate accounting issues. The unit covers an understanding of how financial transactions are recorded and reported for different entities, including companies and groups as well as the theoretical issues and concepts involved in the preparation and presentation of General Purpose Financial Statements.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Integrate contemporary technical and theoretical accounting knowledge in business reporting
2.
Recommend solutions to diverse audiences using accounting principles and standards in contemporary business
3.
Audit peer accounting documentation submissions to provide meaningful opportunities for improvement
Alterations as a result of student feedback
To Be Determined. 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Lecture (Online)
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Workshop
2-hr workshop, fortnightly, commencing in Week 2
2
1 time per fortnight
Other
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Online
Online Class
Introductory 1-hr workshop, Week 1
1
Once only
Independent Learning
Pre-recorded 1-hr lecture, once a week
1
Weekly
Online Class
1-hr workshop, weekly, commencing in Week 2
1
Weekly
Independent Learning
5-hrs independent learning
5
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
The Tasmanian School of Business and Economics regularly hosts Masterclasses and Industry Engagement and Employability Events, which students are encouraged to attend. Registration and details will be available via the College of Business and Economics channel on the Uni App and/or via your Unit Coordinator.  
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Case study
Week 4
25 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Peer evaluation letter
Week 7
15 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Presentation
Week 10
20 %
LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 4:
Exam
Exam Period
40 %
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment details
    
Assessment Task 1: Case study
Task Description:
Students will develop a 1,500-word case study analysis to recommend solutions through the justification of different applications of the principles, accounting framework, and standards to the student’s ASX company and problem statements provided.

Task Length:
1,500 words
Due Date:
Week 4
Weight:
25 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply accounting theory in business reporting
LO1
2
Apply technical knowledge in business reporting
LO1
3
Apply principles, standards, and SDGs to real-world scenarios
LO2
4
Generate solutions demonstrating critical judgment of the case study in context
LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Peer evaluation letter
Task Description:
Students will provide a 200-word (body text) formal letter of critical feedback to three class colleagues on their case study, providing genuine and meaningful opportunities to improve their justifications.

Task Length:
200 words
Due Date:
Week 7
 

Weight:
15 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply accounting theory in business reporting
LO1
2
Apply technical knowledge in business reporting
LO1
3
Propose revised solutions to peers
LO2
4
Evaluate peer documentation
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Presentation
Task Description:
Students will prepare a video recording responding to the feedback provided by peers and teacher and articulate adjustments to the original recommendations from the initial case study analysis.

Task Length:
10 minutes
Due Date:
Week 10
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Integrate technical and accounting knowledge
LO1
2
Critically evaluate peer feedback
LO3
3
Reflect on and apply peer feedback
LO3
 
Assessment Task 4: Exam
Task Description:
Students will complete an invigilated online test incorporating both short answer and journal entry questions, covering the content from Weeks 1-12 inclusive.

Task Length:
3 hours
Due Date:
Exam Period
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply accounting theory in business reporting
LO1
2
Apply technical knowledge in business reporting
LO1
3
Integrate technical and accounting knowledge
LO1
4
Apply principles and standards to real-world scenarios
LO2
5
Generate solutions demonstrating critical judgment of the case study in context.
LO2
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
 
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
 
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
 
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Deegan, C. 2020, Financial Accounting, 9th edition, McGraw Hill, NSW.
PLUS you need access to the Accounting Standards for 2024.
PLEASE NOTE: An electronic copy of ALL accounting standards is available online FREE from http://www.aasb.gov.au/
Textbook Options:
Option 1 – eBook
Students can purchase an eBook from McGraw Hill at
Option 2 – Hardcopy
 
Option 3 – Second hand copies from other students
Check the cost of a new textbook or ebook to ensure you are getting a good deal with any second-hand copy. Also make sure you ONLY purchase the 9th edition of Deegan (2020).
 
Option 4 – Shared Library Access
An electronic copy of the required text is available on the Library website. You can access the latest copy from the Reading List on the unit’s homepage in MyLO, or by going to the Reading Lists page on the University Library website.
 
Recommended reading materials
Leo, K., Knapp, J., McGowan, S., Sweeting, J. and Meng, L. 2021, Company Accounting, 12th edition, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Qld
Loftus, J., Leo, K., Daniliuc, S., Luke, B., Ang, H., Bradbury, M., Hanlon, D., Boys, N, and Byrnes, K. 2023, Financial Reporting, 4th edition, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Qld.
 
Other required resources
In addition to the texts/software recommended above, you are also expected to be familiar with the key academic journals in the discipline from which useful insights may be derived. In particular, you are encouraged to review regularly the relevant papers that are published in:

Australian Accounting Review
Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal