Students

ACCG6011 – Principles of Accounting

2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convener
Peipei Pan
accg6011@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Unit Moderator
Rajni Mala
accg6011@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MAccg or MAccLead or MBioBus or MCom or MIntBus or GradCertForAccg or GradDipForAccg or MForAccgFinCri or MProfAcc or MProfAccgLead or MBusAnalytics
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides students with a graduate-level understanding of accounting as a business process of recording, measuring, classifying and reporting economic, financial and other related information and transactions for use by a variety of stakeholders. Students completing this unit are expected to be able to prepare, analyse and discuss financial reports in various business contexts. Classes cover the core aspects of the preparation and basic analysis of financial statements and the underlying accounting policies and principles.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Explain the purpose of accounting and accounting processes and appreciate the role of accounting in business sustainability and ethical decision making.
  • ULO2: Identify, record and process business transactions in the accounting system and report their effect by preparing structured financial statements.
  • ULO3: Undertake basic analysis of the financial statements of organisations, through ratio analysis.
  • ULO4: Explain the value of internal control and management’s responsibility in relation to it and apply internal control principles to the sales and purchases cycles and the cash guarding procedure.
  • ULO5: Calculate and describe the use of cost–volume–profit (CVP) analysis in management decision making.

General Assessment Information

Online Quiz/Test

  • The quiz will be an online multiple-choice test at the end of Week 4. The quiz is weighted 10% and will serve as an early diagnostic indicator of student performance.
  • The test will be held online in Week 10 and weighted 20%.
  • Detailed information about the tasks will be released on iLearn.

 

Virtual experience program

  • The virtual experience program is designed to develop students' work-readiness skills that enable students to transition effectively into the world of work. The program will be available online from Week 1 to Week 6. During this period, students can participate in the program at their own pace.
  • Students are required to write FIVE journal entries at different stages of the program to reflect on their experience in the program. The assessment is weighted 5% and due in Week 6. Detailed information about the tasks will be released on iLearn.
  • No extensions will be granted. 

 

Xero assignment 

  • This assignment is designed to prepare students with the accounting software skills they need to work in a modern day practice. Through the completion of an accounting cycle for a fictional business, students will gain experience in the practical and technical skills essential to accounting. 
  • This assignment is weighted 15% and due in Week 8. Detailed information about the tasks will be released on iLearn.
  • No extensions will be granted. 

 

Final Exam

  • A 2-hour online final examination will be held during the University Examination period. Students are expected to access the exam online at the time designated in the University Examination Timetable.
  • Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Grading Policy which is available at: http://www/mq/edu/au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html.
  • Students will be awarded one of these grades. All final grades in the Department of Accounting and Corporate Governance are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor. The final grade awarded reflects the corresponding grade descriptor in the Grading Policy.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Final examination 50% No University exam period
Class Tests x2 30% No Week 4, Week 10
Xero assignment 15% No Week 8
Virtual experience program 5% No Week 6

Final examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: University exam period
Weighting: 50%

 

A 2-hour online final examination will be held during the University Examination period. Students are expected to access the exam online at the time designated in the University Examination Timetable.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the purpose of accounting and accounting processes and appreciate the role of accounting in business sustainability and ethical decision making.
  • Identify, record and process business transactions in the accounting system and report their effect by preparing structured financial statements.
  • Undertake basic analysis of the financial statements of organisations, through ratio analysis.
  • Explain the value of internal control and management’s responsibility in relation to it and apply internal control principles to the sales and purchases cycles and the cash guarding procedure.
  • Calculate and describe the use of cost–volume–profit (CVP) analysis in management decision making.

Class Tests x2

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 7 hours
Due: Week 4, Week 10
Weighting: 30%

 

Students are required to attempt one (1) multiple-choice quiz (worth 10%) and one (1) class test comprising of short answer questions (worth 20%). The quiz will be held at the beginning of the session and serve as an early diagnostic indicator of student performance. The class test will be held closer to the end of the session and serves to help students measure and monitor their progress, in preparation for the final exam.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the purpose of accounting and accounting processes and appreciate the role of accounting in business sustainability and ethical decision making.
  • Identify, record and process business transactions in the accounting system and report their effect by preparing structured financial statements.
  • Undertake basic analysis of the financial statements of organisations, through ratio analysis.
  • Explain the value of internal control and management’s responsibility in relation to it and apply internal control principles to the sales and purchases cycles and the cash guarding procedure.
  • Calculate and describe the use of cost–volume–profit (CVP) analysis in management decision making.

Xero assignment

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 15%

 

This assignment is designed to prepare students with the accounting software skills they need to work in a modern day practice. Through the completion of an accounting cycle for a fictional business, students will gain experience in the practical and technical skills essential to accounting.

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the purpose of accounting and accounting processes and appreciate the role of accounting in business sustainability and ethical decision making.
  • Identify, record and process business transactions in the accounting system and report their effect by preparing structured financial statements.
  • Explain the value of internal control and management’s responsibility in relation to it and apply internal control principles to the sales and purchases cycles and the cash guarding procedure.

Virtual experience program

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 5%

 

The virtual experience program is designed to develop students' work-readiness skills that enable students to transition effectively into the world of work. Students are required to write FIVE (5) journal entries at different stages of the virtual experience program to reflect on their experience in the program.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the purpose of accounting and accounting processes and appreciate the role of accounting in business sustainability and ethical decision making.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Required Text: 

  • Shirley Carlon, Rosina McAlpine, Chrisann Lee, Lorena Mitrione, Ngaire Kirk, Lily Wong (2019). Financial Accounting: Reporting, Analysis and Decision Making, 6th Edition, Wiley, QLD, Australia. ISBN: 9780730363279, 9780730356141
  • The prescribed textbook can be purchased directly from the Co-op Bookshop on campus or online via the following link: https://www.wileydirect.com.au/buy/financial-accounting-reporting-analysis-and-decision-making-6th-edition/
  • In addition, copies of the textbook are available in the reserve section of the library.

Classes:

  • The unit has 3 hours of teaching per week including a 1-hour lecture and a 2-hour workshop.
  • The timetable for classes can be found on the University website at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/

Unit Schedule

 

Week

Topic

Assessment Due

1

An overview of accounting and the role of ethics and sustainability in accounting

 

2

The recording process

 

3

Accrual accounting concepts

 

4

Account receivable

Online Quiz

5

Non-current assets

 

6

Preparing financial statements

Reflection on the virtual experience program
7 Internal control and reconciliations  

 

Mid-session Break (13 - 26 September 2021) 

 

8

Inventories

Xero Assignment

9

Liabilities and equity

 

10

Financial ratio analysis and working capital management

Online Test

11

Statement of cash flows

 

12

 CVP analysis

 

13

Review Week

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2021.07 of the Handbook