Unit Outline

Accounting and Accountability for Decision Making is an introductory accounting unit that explores the evolving role of accounting in promoting organisational accountability, especially in social and environmental contexts. It emphasises that accounting is not just about financial reporting and cost management, but also about reflecting an organisation's sustainability and ethical responsibilities to enable informed decision making. In this unit you will learn about double entry, accrual accounting, the five elements of financial reports, financial analysis, budgeting, and cloud-based accounting software, while also exploring concepts such as life cycle analysis and how to measure and report on an organisation’s social and environmental performance. This contemporary approach ensures you will understand the broader impact of accounting on society and the environment.

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.	Apply accounting and accountability concepts to accounting systems and reporting
2.	Critique complex financial and non-financial reports for potential accounting issues
3.	Prepare financial statements using contemporary accounting theory and practice to inform stakeholder decision-making

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	XPD509

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:	Portfolio	Week 6	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Case Study	Week 9	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Oral presentation	Week 12	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Portfolio

Task Description:

This task requires you to independently complete a portfolio of activities based on the first five topics of the semester. The portfolio focuses on foundational accounting concepts, including business structures, the accounting equation, double-entry accounting, the accounting cycle, as well as accountability, sustainability and ethical principles. You will demonstrate your understanding through applied exercises and short written responses that reflect your engagement with key concepts and processes.

Task Length:

TBA

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explain financial reporting objectives, sources of regulation and ethical considerations in business decision-making	LO1
2	Apply accrual and double-entry accounting principles to record financial transactions and complete the accounting cycle	LO1
3	Evaluate accountability and sustainability issues, including digital disruption and environmental or social factors, relevant to accounting practice	LO2
4	Compare financial statements for different business structures	LO3
5	Prepare financial statements	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Case Study

Task Description:

This assignment requires you to work independently to record and report financial information for a given business using an accounting software program (MYOB). You will also need to prepare financial statements and preliminary notes to analyse your results. You will also assess the entity’s accounting processes, data accuracy, and identify any potential areas of improvement in addition to highlighting potential social and environmental issues. This assessment task will test your ability to manage financial records and analyse data accurately.

Task Length:

Case study

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Complete the accounting software training and set up a business account	LO1
2	Use accounting software to record accounting transactions	LO1
3	Analyse financial information to identify accounting issues and areas for improvement	LO2
4	Identify social and environmental issues and recommend basic responses relevant to the business context	LO2
5	Prepare financial statements	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Oral presentation

Task Description:

This assessment task requires you to deliver a professional oral presentation in response to a given scenario. The presentation should demonstrate your ability to apply accounting principles, communicate your analysis clearly, and propose informed, practical solutions. Use appropriate language, a structured format, and engaging visuals to support your key points and recommendations.

Task Length:

10-minute presentation

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply relevant accounting concepts and procedures in response to the given scenario	LO1
2	Analyse financial information to determine or identify accounting issues and recommend financial management and performance improvement	LO2
3	Critique relevant non-financial and sustainability issues	LO2
4	Communicate using professional language and standards common to business professionals	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.

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.

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

Birt, J., Chalmers, K., Maloney, S., Brooks, A., Bond, D., and Oliver J. (2026). Accounting: business reporting for decision making, 8th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Milton, Qld.

Textbook Options:

Option 1 – eBook Subscriptions: Semester plan or Monthly plan

Students can purchase a subscription to the full interactive eBook from Wiley Business Now at: https://www.wileydirect.com.au/blog/buy/accounting-business-reporting-for-decision-making/

BONUS: Subscriptions to Wiley Business Now also include access to multiple prescribed resources, inclusive of extra learning tools like practice quizzes and media.

Option 2 – Buy-To-Own

A printed hardcopy of the prescribed text and/or lifetime access to the interactive e-text is available from Wiley Direct: https://www.wileydirect.com.au/blog/buy/accounting-business-reporting-for-decision-making/

Option 3 – Shared Library Access

An electronic copy of the required text is available on the Library website. Please note that the shared library e-book is not interactive, and you will not have access to the additional resources noted in Option 1. 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.