Course Co-Ordinator
Associate Professor Janice Loftus
Location: 13:10, Level 13, 10 Pulteney Street (Nexus 10)
Telephone: 8313 1024
email: janice.loftus@adelaide.edu.au

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of accounting techniques, concepts, principles and theories to solve financial reporting problems.
2. Apply a structured decision model to exercise judgement in the application of accounting standards.
3. Work in teams to design and undertake a research project.
4. Effectively utilise oral and written communication skills to communicate to peers.
5. Apply the code of ethics for professional accountants to make sound decisions.

Rankin, M., K. Ferlauto, S. McGowan, and P. Stanton, Contemporary Issues in Accounting, 2018, 2nd edition, John Wiley and Sons, Australia.* AND

Financial Reporting Handbook 2017, John Wiley & Sons, Australia (CAANZ Handbook).*

* E-book is available.

Students are permitted to use earlier editions of the Handbook but may place themselves at a disadvantage in doing so.

Readings
At relevant sections of the course additional prescribed readings elaborate on, or supplement, items in the prescribed texts. These readings are provided via links on the course website (MyUni) or are available in the Barr Smith library.

If you are seeking additional reading in relation to assumed knowledge you should refer to:

• Deegan, C. (2014). Financial Accounting Theory, 4th Edition.McGraw-Hill, Australia.
• Godfrey, J., A. Hodgson, A. Tarca, J. Hamilton and S. Holmes, Accounting Theory, 7th Edition, 2010, John Wiley and Sons, Australia.
• Henderson, S., G. Peirson, K. Herbohn, T. Artiach and B. Howieson (2017) Issues in Financial Accounting, 16th edition. Pearson Education Australia.
• Leo, K., J. Knapp, S.McGowan and J. Sweeting (2015) Company Accounting, 10th Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, S. Daniliuc, N. Boys, B. Luke, H.N. Ang and K. Byrnes, (2018) Financial Reporting, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, N. Boys, S. Daniliuc, B. Luke, H.N. Ang and K. Byrnes, (2015) Financial Reporting, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Loftus, J., K. Leo, R. Picker, V. Wise and K. Clark (2013), Understanding Australian Accounting Standards, 3rd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.
• Picker, R., K. Clark, J. Dunn, D. Kolitz, G. Livne, J. Loftus and L. van der Tas, (2016), Applying IFRS Standards, 4th Edition, Wiley.

Resources to assist in developing communication skills:

The writing centre provides academic learning and language development services and resources for local and international students including drop-in consultations: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/

Students should refer to the course website for certain required readings and additional references as directed. The website also includes links to some useful websites.

https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/

At this advanced level of study you are much more responsible for the quality of your learning than when you first entered university. Accordingly, active rather than passive learning is emphasised. For each topic there are self-study questions; and tutorial questions.

Self-study questions

Self-study questions facilitate your comprehension of the content of the prescribed readings. Guidance on self-study questions is provided on MyUni. Your learning will be enhanced by attempting the questions before referring to the guidance notes to assess your response.

Tutorial questions

Tutorial questions are generally more challenging than self-study questions because they emphasise analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information, as well as the development of creative solutions to problems. There are two types of tutorial questions:

• Tutorial questions that you should attempt in preparation for the tutorial; and
• In-class activities, which are to be completed during tutorials.

Students in this course are expected to attend one lecture and one tutorial class each week.
· Lectures : 2 hours per week, commencing week 1
· Tutorials: 1 hour per week, Tutorials commencing week 2. 
The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units/semester) to devote a total of 48 hours/week to their studies. Accounting Theory III is a three-unit course and you are expected to commit 8 - 9 hours of private study outside of your regular classes.

Please consult the MyUni site for this course for more detailed information regarding the course topics.

The exercise of judgement in applying principles-based accounting standards
Components of accounting policies: definition; recognition; measurement; and disclosure
Application of accounting policy decision model
Introduction to SGDE activities
The role or ethics in accounting
Economic consequences of accounting policy decisions - agency theory
Capital markets theory and research in accounting
Social and environmental accounting

The third-year stage of the the University of Adelaide Small Group Discovery Experience (SGDE) for accounting is implemented in this course.
SGDE groups are formed within tutorials groupings. SGDE groups will be confimed in week 3.
Several skills workshops will be provided to help you (and your small group) on your journey of discovery. The skills workshops will be accommodated within the usual lecture timetable. The skills workshops will cover analysing questions, accessing on-line materials, giving and using feedback, research, oral presentation and report writing.

Assessment Summary
A variety of assessment tasks are used to evaluate your knowledge of content covered in this course, your ability to apply it and your progress in achieving the learning objectives for Accounting Theory III. 

Requirements
To pass this course, students must pass the final exam and achieve a total of at least 50% overall. Students not achieving the minimum exam mark will be awarded no more than 49.

These guidelines apply to both the individual assignment and the group research report.
Assignment Guidelines including Referencing Details: Correct referencing is important because it identifies the source of the ideas and arguments that you present and helps to avoid the problem of plagiarism. This course makes use of the “Harvard” system of referencing. Guidelines for the use of this style of referencing can be found in the Communication Skills Guide:
http://www.adelaide.edu.au/professions/hub/ug/downloads/ This booklet also provides guidelines on a range of other important communication skills (including writing essays and reports, making oral presentations etc.).

Late Assignment Submission: Students are expected to submit their work by the due date to maintain fairness and equity. Extensions will generally only be given for medical or other serious reasons. All requests for extensions must be emailed to the lecturer in charge of the course before the due date. Each request will be assessed on its merits. Unless subject to an extension (by prior arrangement) assignments will be penalised by a 10% mark reduction (10% of the maximum mark) for each day, or part thereof, that it is late.

Extensions for assignments may be granted under special circumstances. An extension request based on illness or exceptional personal circumstances must include the Supporting Statement/Certification Form, of the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment application form at: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html
Students applying for an extension based on medical reasons must visit their medical practitioner, with that approved University form, and have the medical practitioner complete it. A doctor's certificate will not be accepted. Any student seeking an extension must contact the course co-ordinator PRIOR to the due date. Extensions, except on medical grounds, cannot be given after the due date.

Marking of Assignments: Staff will aim to complete marking communicate feedback and grades to students within two weeks of submission.

Assessment Detail
A summary of the assessment components are as follows (comprehensive details for each assessment will be made availalbe on MyUni):

Mid-semester test 20%
Tuesday 27 March 2018
This test will be held within the scheduled lecture time. A one hour test will cover topics one to three, inclusive, and include both short-answer style and multiple-choice questions. This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1 and 4. Further details, including location(s), will be posted on MyUni.

Individual Assignment 10%
Due Date: 11.59 p.m. Tuesday 15 May 2018
This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1, 2 and 4.

Tutorial Activities: 8%
This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1 to 5, inclusive. Tutorial marks will be awarded for participation in various activities, including:
Short-answer writing tasks (average of two) (4 marks)
Homework (average of four) (4 marks)

Short-answer writing tasks: The writing tasks are intended to help develop your written communication skills. The first writing tasks will be held during tutorials in week 3 and 4 (refer to MyUni for specific details). The second writing task will be held during tutorials in week 8. They will be scheduled at the beginning of tutorial classes, unless specified otherwise by your tutor. Writing tasks can only be taken in your enrolled tutorial.  Missed tests cannot be 'made up' on another occasion for any reason (including medical). Requests for special consideration may be made in accordance with University policy and, if granted, will be addressed by reweighting of assessment.

Homework: Completed homework must be uploaded on MyUni each week by 6.00 p.m. on the day before your scheduled tutorial. The homework will be assessed four times per semester. Students are not given prior knowledge of the weeks in which homework will be assessed.

Report on Small Group Discovery Experience (SGDE) (12%)
This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1 to 4, inclusive.
Assessment of your participation in the SGDE will be based on direct observation of participaiton in SGDE activities during tutorials and the group research report comprising:
Group mark  (6 marks)
Individual contribution  (6 marks)

Each group will discuss their SGDE proposal (research questions and methods) in tutorials for formative feedback (i.e., for feedback that does not count towards your grade).  The group will present preliminary findings in tutorials before submitting a final report.

Final Exam 50%
There will be a three-hour exam. This assessment task relates to course learning outcomes 1 to 5, inclusive. The Financial Reporting Handbook will be permitted in the examination (Hard copies only; e-books not permitted). This must be unannotated and contain no inserts, tabs, other material or coded messages in any form. It is permissible for the Handbook to include highlighted text and/or underlining. Handbooks will be checked and offenders may face penalties for cheating. In this course, only calculators incapable of storing text are permitted in the examination. You are not permitted to take a DICTIONARY (English or English-Foreign) into the examination. Legible hand-writing and the quality of English expression are considered to be integral parts of the assessment process. Poor or illegible handwriting may result in marks not being awarded.

Assignments and SGDE research reports must be submitted electronically through MyUni Turnitin Assignments, which is a computer programme that detects plagiarism. Please retain copies of your submitted work.

We acknowledge the contribution of feedback from past students in our endeavours to providing a more effective learning environment.
Last year students said (agreement %):

The learning outcomes are clearly identified (100%) and it is well organised (98%).
The course helps to improve skills in problem solving skills and critical analysis (88%) and the methods of assessment help to achieve learning outcomes (93%).
Our learning was supported by effective feedback (83%).
The course has effective resources (96%) and effective strategies to encourage students to engage in learning (93%), specifically including: the diversity of assessment tasks; and the tutorial layout, which encourages studentsto complete tutorial questions in advance and then discuss the answers in class.

In response to student feedback, we trialed allowing students the option to form their own groups for the small group discovery experience (SGDE) project in 2017. As many students took advantage of this opporuntity we have decided to continue the practice in 2018.
The redesign of the SGDE project for 2018 incorporates student feedback. We have also increased the extent of self-study material in response to student feedback.