ACCTING 7100NA - Accounting for Managers

Ngee Ann Academy - Quadmester 4 - 2021

Participants in this course will develop the essential ability of all managers, to use complex accounting information as a platform for decision-making. As the course unfolds, participants will build an increasingly sophisticated level of understanding of the language of accounting and its key concepts. In addition the course develops skills in interpreting earnings statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. This ability to analyse financial statements will enable participants to deal more effectively with strategic options for their businesses or business units. Strong foundations in financial analysis and development of crucial basic accounting skills will also enable participants to develop a management accounting focus. From this second phase of the course students will take away highly relevant skills in areas such as budgeting, product and service costing and short-run decision making. Such skills, ability and knowledge will enable participants to more effectively identify profitable opportunities and to contribute significantly to better management within their own organisations.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ACCTING 7100NA
    Course Accounting for Managers
    Coordinating Unit Management
    Term Quadmester 4
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Ngee Ann Academy
    Units 3
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Restricted to Certificate, Grad Dip and Master of Business Administration students only.
    Course Description Participants in this course will develop the essential ability of all managers, to use complex accounting information as a platform for decision-making. As the course unfolds, participants will build an increasingly sophisticated level of understanding of the language of accounting and its key concepts. In addition the course develops skills in interpreting earnings statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. This ability to analyse financial statements will enable participants to deal more effectively with strategic options for their businesses or business units.
    Strong foundations in financial analysis and development of crucial basic accounting skills will also enable participants to develop a management accounting focus. From this second phase of the course students will take away highly relevant skills in areas such as budgeting, product and service costing and short-run decision making. Such skills, ability and knowledge will enable participants to more effectively identify profitable opportunities and to contribute significantly to better management within their own organisations.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Adjunct Ashley Miller

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

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

    1. Understand the nature and role of the four principal financial statements (i.e., the Income Statement, the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Cash Flows, and the Statement of Changes in Equity) ;

    2. Develop an awareness and understanding of the accounting process and fundamental accounting principles that underpin the development of financial statements (e.g. accrual accounting vs. cash accounting, definition, recognition, measurement and disclosure of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses; inventory valuation methods, provisions, depreciation; accounting for intangibles);

    3. Ability to read, interpret and analyse financial statements; combine financial analysis with other information to assess the financial performance and position of a company;

    4. Understand and apply course concepts to analyse common business management decisions such as pricing and outsourcing decisions from a financial perspective;

    5. Understand the role of budgets in organisations, their limitations and the behavioural issues to consider when developing and using budgets for planning and control;

    6. Develop group work and communication skills.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3, 4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    4, 5, 6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The text required is:

    Cunningham, B. M., Nikolai, L. A., Bazley, J. D., Kavanagh, M., Simmons, S., (2018), Accounting: Information for Business Decisions, 3rd Edition, Cengage Learning Australia. ISBN 9780730313748.

    The textbook is available from the bookshop or online using the following information that has been provided by the publisher:

    Printed version (students need to select the print option, rather than eBook): https://www.cengagebrain.com.au/isbn/9780170385411 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
    eBook + access to CourseMate Express resources: https://www.cengagebrain.com.au/isbn/9780170283069 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

    The publishers have offered a 10% discount code which can only be used for on-line purchases: RADELAIDE10
    The textbook also has a companion online student study guide called CourseMate Express that contains summaries of the key points of each chapter and additional problems and questions (with solutions). The code and instructions to access this resource is included with the purchase of the hardcopy textbook or, as noted above, can be separately purchased if you buy the ebook version. As accounting techniques are often best learnt with lots of practice, you may wish to access this guide for such a purpose. Prior students have reported that they have found these sources of on-line resources to be a very useful for improving their understanding and for revision purposes.
    Online Learning
    This course will have access to the on-line resource WileyPLUS which accompanies the textbook. Information on accessing WileyPLUS will be provided separately.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Weekly seminars. A minimum attendance of 80% of class sessions is required.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The workload in this course is not light, particularly topics 4 and 5 were there is a considerable amount of reading. Students normally find topics 7-11 easier in terms of preparation hours required compared to earlier topics. As a guide, students will need to spend around 7 hours (not including class time) per topic for reading and attempting/revisiting the in-class activities prescribed for each topic.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Topic 1: An Overview of Accounting & Financial Statements

    Topic 2: The Accounting Information System

    Topic 3: Accrual Accounting & Measuring Performance

    Topic 4: Working Capital

    Topic 5: Non-Current Assets, Debt & Equity

    Topic 6: Cash Flows

    Topic 7: Financial Statement Analysis + IN-CLASS TEST

    Topic 8: Introduction to Management Accounting, Costing Concepts & CVP Analysis.

    Topic 9: Costing of Goods and Services

    Topic 10: Incremental Analysis & Short-Run Decision-Making

    Exam Revision & Preparation
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    There are three assessment items:

    An in-class test - 15%
    A group project - 30%
    Final examination - 55%.
    Assessment Detail
    Further information on these assessment items will be provided separately.
    Submission
    The group assignment is to be submitted electronically.

    The mid-trimester test and final examination are held in class sessions.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.