AMA4200

Accounting and finance for the arts

Offered subject to approval

Paul Mather

8 points
* One 3-hour session per week
* First semester
* Clayton
* Prohibitions: AAF1021/AAF1022 or AAF1031/AAF1033 or equivalents

Objectives On successful completion of this subject students should be able to explain the uses of accounting data in the arts funding process; record and report basic financial information; adopt an analytical approach to problem solving and be able to analyse and interpret financial information to assist in making decisions; recognise the fundamentals of costs, cost behaviour as applicable to arts organisations; understand budgeting, working capital management and capital budgeting in the context of arts organisations and funding; recognise the main taxation issues applicable to arts organisations.
Synopsis This subject aims to provide students with an introduction to specific areas of accounting and finance that will be useful to managers in arts organisations. Topics covered include The characteristics of arts funding and the consequential accounting and reporting requirements; an introduction to the balance sheet, profit and loss and cash flow statements; an accounting systems approach to recording processes; analysis and interpretation of financial statements; costs and cost behaviour in the context of arts organisations; budgeting, working capital management and capital budgeting in the context of arts organisations and arts funding; an overview of the main taxation issues applicable to arts organisations.

Assessment: Practice set: 25%
* Written assignment (1500 words): 15%
* Examination (3 hours): 60%

Prescribed texts

Peirson C G and Ramsay A L Accounting: An introduction Longman, 1996