Students

ACST8052 – Finance and Financial Reporting

2025 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Chi Truong
chi.truong@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MActPrac or (10cp in ACCG or ACST or AFIN or BUS or ECON or MKTG or MGMT units at 6000 level or above)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit equips students to understand corporate governance and organisation, corporate financial reporting and corporate finance decision-making. It provides a basic understanding of personal and corporate taxation, types of financial instruments, financial reporting and how to interpret financial statements, and integrates this with corporate financial decisions such as raising capital, determining capital structure including liquidity, paying dividends, evaluating possible investment projects and evaluating working capital in the context of the Australian financial sector. Students will also understand and apply basic theoretical concepts in finance. Students gaining a Credit or higher in this unit will satisfy the requirements for exemption from professional subject CB1 of the Actuaries Institute.

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: Describe the process of financial reporting and interpret financial reports.
  • ULO2: Examine key financial concepts and interpret how these concepts are illustrated in corporate financial practice.
  • ULO3: Evaluate and critique issues in finance and financial reporting.
  • ULO4: Apply finance and financial reporting knowledge in a group project to solve a practical problem
  • ULO5: Examine and identify issues of financial reporting in corporate practice.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Formal and observed learning: Test 20% No Week 8
Formal and observed learning: Exam 60% No Formal Exam Period
Professional practice: Financial reporting 20% No Week 10

Formal and observed learning: Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of key topics from the unit.

You will participate in a formal test.

Deliverable: Test Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the process of financial reporting and interpret financial reports.
  • Examine key financial concepts and interpret how these concepts are illustrated in corporate financial practice.

Formal and observed learning: Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 28 hours
Due: Formal Exam Period
Weighting: 60%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate the expertise you have gained in Finance and financial reporting

You will participate in a 3-hour exam held during the University Examination period. Important information about the exam will be made available on the unit iLearn page. you should also review the MQ Exams website for general tips.

Deliverable: Formal exam Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the process of financial reporting and interpret financial reports.
  • Examine key financial concepts and interpret how these concepts are illustrated in corporate financial practice.
  • Evaluate and critique issues in finance and financial reporting.
  • Apply finance and financial reporting knowledge in a group project to solve a practical problem
  • Examine and identify issues of financial reporting in corporate practice.

Professional practice: Financial reporting

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to develop expertise in financial reporting. You will interpret financial reports and apply key concepts in corporate financial practices.

Skills in focus:

  • Financial analytical skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Practical applications of financial reporting
  • Teamwork

Deliverable: Report Individual and Group Assessment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Describe the process of financial reporting and interpret financial reports.
  • Examine key financial concepts and interpret how these concepts are illustrated in corporate financial practice.
  • Evaluate and critique issues in finance and financial reporting.
  • Apply finance and financial reporting knowledge in a group project to solve a practical problem

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 and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

Text

Brealey, R., Myers, S., Allen, F., Edmans, A. 2023. Principles of Corporate Finance (14th ed.). McGraw- Hill

Reference

Ross, S., Westerfield, R. and Jordan, B., 2019. Fundamentals of Corporate Finance (12th ed.). McGraw-Hill

Hoggett, J., Medlin, J., Chalmers, K., Beattie, C., Hellmann, A., Maxfield J., 2018. Accounting (10th ed.). Wiley

Weygandt, J., Kieso, D., Kimmel, P. 2016. Financial Accounting (10th ed.). Wiley

Technology Used and Required

Calculators You may use a calculator in the class test and in the final examination provided it is portable, silent and battery operated, but you must show clearly the steps involved in every calculation. You may NOT use any calculators that have a text-retrieval capacity, whether or not they have a full alphabet on the keyboard. Calculators may be checked at the commencement of the class test and final exam, and the make/model may be recorded.

Word processing Students need to have access to word processing software (like Word) to complete the Group Assignment. You will need electronically submit your Assignment (using iLearn) as a PDF file. Check your word processing software can generate a PDF file.

Spreadsheet program Many of the problems you will encounter in this unit can be solved easily with the spreadsheet program, Excel. You can use this spreadsheet program to verify your solutions to many of the problems you are solving. Students need to have access to word processing software (like Word) to complete the Group Assignment. You will need electronically submit your Assignment (using iLearn) as a PDF file. Check your word processing software can generate a PDF file. Spreadsheet program Many of the problems you will encounter in this unit can be solved easily with the spreadsheet program, Excel. You can use this spreadsheet program to verify your solutions to many of the problems you are solving.

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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 2025.04 of the Handbook