Monash University Handbook 2011 Postgraduate - Unit

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

This unit examines accounting as an information system. It will introduce students to accounting principles and reporting practices from a users perspective. The information requirements of two main groups are examined - external users such as owners, shareholders, investors, potential investors, and internal users such as managers. This unit provides students with an introduction to accounting and an understanding of the preparation, presentation and interpretation of financial statements. In particular, emphasis is placed on an understanding of various business structures including control and reporting aspects of new businesses, processes, practices and policies that enable the financial performance and financial position of an entity, as displayed by the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows, to be measured, analysed and interpreted. Managerial accounting issues are also presented, with particular emphasis on cost management, cost behaviour, budgeting and performance measurement.

Objectives

The learning goals associated with this unit are to:

1. understand various forms of business organisations
2. apply financial and management accounting principles in the preparation of financial statements
3. measure performance, financial position, liquidity and risk indicators of particular businesses
4. develop capabilities to work effectively in a group; demonstrate effective individual research skills to produce professional quality business documents to solve accounting problems; demonstrate independent thinking through contribution to class discussions; and demonstrate in an individual summative assessment task the acquisition of a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered in this unit.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 45%
Examination (3 hours): 55%

Contact hours

3 hours per week