Unit Outline

In today’s data economy, businesses are blessed and cursed with an abundance of data. This proliferation of data is creating new professions and changing existing professions. One profession that is witnessing a rapid change due to the explosion of data is accounting. While there exists a plethora of data available to businesses, accounting data remains a source of data that is reliable, relevant and accessible for all organizations. This unit will introduce students to the very recent changes ushered in by the big data revolution to the accounting profession, introduce students to how data analytics is being applied to accounting data, develop their skills in analyzing and presenting accounting data to management and also develop their abilities to critically evaluate the underlying accounting systems and processes related to both the collection, creation, processing and production of accounting data within organizations.

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.	Differentiate data analytics techniques used to address contemporary business challenges
2.	Compose compelling data-driven stories to provide business advice to a client
3.	Hypothesise solutions using business data analysis for contemporary business challenges

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	N/A

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:	Business Analytics Proposal	Week 4	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Comprehensive Data Analytics Report for Strategic Decision-Making	Week 8	35 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Strategic Insights Dashboard and Executive Presentation	Week 12	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Business Analytics Proposal

Task Description:

Draft an email to management presenting a detailed proposal for an upcoming data analytics project. Define the core business questions, provide an in-depth overview of the dataset and its limitations, and propose preliminary data preparation and analytical techniques that may best support the business objectives.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply data analytics techniques to address contemporary business challenges	LO1
2	Compose a proposal that communicates insights through data-driven storytelling tailored for management.	LO2
3	Evaluate a dataset and propose data-informed solutions to support business decision-making.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Comprehensive Data Analytics Report for Strategic Decision-Making

Task Description:

Given an accounting scenario, analyze the dataset to produce a comprehensive report that explores potential impacts, financial insights, and risk factors. Your report should include a rigorous methodology, in-depth analysis using Excel, and advanced data visualizations. Address how these insights align with strategic objectives and provide clear recommendations supported by evidence.

Task Length:

2,000 words

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Evaluate the quality of data inputs for data analytics.	LO3
2	Propose the right question(s) to solve a business problem.	LO1
3	Evaluate the relevance of a data analytics method to a particular business question.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Strategic Insights Dashboard and Executive Presentation

Task Description:

Develop a Tableau dashboard that provides a strategic overview of the data, tailored to address specific executive questions in an accounting scenario. Accompany the dashboard with a recorded online presentation that demonstrates a clear narrative, linking each visual to key insights and recommendations. Also, include an executive summary that succinctly presents the core findings and strategic implications, suitable for high-level stakeholders.

Task Length:

Tableau Dashboard: 4–6 key visualizations Online Presentation: 10–15 minutes (recorded or live) Executive Summary: 500–700 words

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Propose the right question(s) to solve a business problem.	LO1
2	Explain common data visualisation tools used by accountants in data analytics.	LO2
3	Evaluate a dataset and propose data-informed solutions to support business decision-making.	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.