Unit Outline

Organisations expect graduate accountants to be able to consolidate their technical knowledge and apply it to a range of business contexts which are often ambiguous and changing. Accountants and finance professionals are increasingly involved in cross disciplinary teams which requires a high level of business acumen to relate accounting and financial information to the whole business and real-world contexts. In this unit, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate the consolidation of knowledge gained throughout your degree to solve problems, make judgements, and communicate recommendations.

Further, the unit will give you an understanding of the historical and contemporary issues that have influenced the development of accounting practice, accounting regulation and accounting theory. This will also give you a foundation for understanding the rationale for current accounting policies and practices, and the directions in which accounting policies are likely to develop in the future.

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	Analyse business information to make accountability and accounting recommendations.
2	Formulate relevant responses to business situations and contexts.
3	Demonstrate communication skills suitable to a professional audience, individually and in teams.
4	Apply accounting theory to emerging accounting issues and directions.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	BFA203

Alterations as a result of student feedback

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:	Understanding accounting theory	Week 4	20 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Applying Accounting Theory	Week 8	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Project based on industry provided case studies	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Understanding accounting theory

Task Description:

A test incorporating both short answer and multiple-choice questions, covering the content from weeks 1-3 inclusive.

Task Length:

60 minutes

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify common accounting theories	LO4
2	Compare and contrast common accounting theories	LO4
3	Apply accounting theory appropriately to provided business scenarios	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Applying Accounting Theory

Task Description:

You will choose a contemporary accounting issue and discuss in the context of appropriate accounting theory. You will also discuss the relevance of this issue to the future of the accounting industry and practice.

Task Length:

2,000 words.

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analyse information in the context of the future of accounting practice and the industry.	LO1
2	Communicate information using styles and formats suitable for a professional audience.	LO3
3	Apply accounting theory appropriately to contemporary accounting issues.	LO4
4	Evaluate the business context for emerging areas relevant to clients or other stakeholders.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: Project based on industry provided case studies

Task Description:

A case study for a business will be provided for you to work as a team to analyse, interpret and make recommendations. The case study will require you to apply relevant cross-discipline learnings, including consideration of relevant sustainable development goals. Your recommendations should reflect an understanding of the broader business and economic environment that the business operates in. You will present your recommendations individually, in a workshop time designated to you.

Task Length:

2,000 words plus presentation

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply accounting knowledge and techniques to interpret financial and business information	LO1
2	Consider relevant Sustainable Development Goals to make accountability recommendations	LO1
3	Use judgment to make accountability and accounting recommendations	LO1
4	Formulate relevant responses to business situations and contexts	LO2
5	Communicate information using styles and formats suitable for a professional audience	LO3
6	Reflect on the role of teamwork, referencing models and contemporary workplace practices	LO3

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.