Students

ACCG1000 – Accounting for Decision Making

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 Unit Convenor & Lecturer
Carmel Emanuel
carmel.emanuel@mq.edu.au
4ER Room 343
Unit Moderator
Rebecca Bachmann
rebecca.bachmann@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit focuses on the role of accounting and the accounting profession in society.
By exploring and discovering diverse accountability frameworks, students will learn to appreciate the role accounting plays. The unit aims to introduce basic accounting concepts and methods.
Students will be provided with an opportunity to discuss evolving means of information preparation, with an emphasis on understanding how such information assists users when making important business decisions. The role of accounting stewardship is explored, developing students’ awareness of social, environmental and ethical concerns in an attempt to develop well rounded business professionals.
Students will develop skills in using accounting software currently used by businesses for reporting purposes. Students will also be given the opportunity to develop skills in resolving conflict and ethical dilemmas.

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: Examine the role of Accounting in a contemporary social context with a focus on business ethics and responsible management so as to develop skills in resolving conflict and ethical dilemma.
  • ULO2: Describe the business environment of the accounting profession.
  • ULO3: Develop competences in key technical aspects in accounting practice and be able to process and interpret basic accounting information.
  • ULO4: Evaluate the traditional aspects of accounting for business decision-making.

General Assessment Information

Late Submission of Assessments Penalty

Unless an application for Special Consideration has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests, exams, performance assessments, and/or scheduled assessments students need to submit an application for Special Consideration. An application for Special Consideration does not guarantee approval. The approved extension date for a student becomes the new due date for that student. The late submission penalties above then apply as of the new due date.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Skills development: Accounting, ethics and sustainability 35% No Week 8 Sunday 4th May & Week 12 Sunday 1st June at 11.55pm
Professional practice: Accounting with Xero 25% No Week 10, Sunday 18th May at 11.55pm
Formal and observed learning: Exam 40% No During University Examination Period

Skills development: Accounting, ethics and sustainability

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 8 Sunday 4th May & Week 12 Sunday 1st June at 11.55pm
Weighting: 35%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to explore the critical role of accounting to the success of a business.

You will discover the key elements of the accounting cycle - identifying and recording transactions, preparing financial statements - and analyse the growing importance of ethics and sustainability to contemporary businesses.

Skills in focus: - Collaboration skills - Communication skills - Discipline knowledge - Critical thinking

Deliverable: Written submissions Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine the role of Accounting in a contemporary social context with a focus on business ethics and responsible management so as to develop skills in resolving conflict and ethical dilemma.
  • Describe the business environment of the accounting profession.
  • Evaluate the traditional aspects of accounting for business decision-making.

Professional practice: Accounting with Xero

Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 10, Sunday 18th May at 11.55pm
Weighting: 25%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to develop expertise in using professional accounting software to generate financial reports.

You will record and report financial information for a small business during its first month of operations with the accounting software Xero which is widely used in the industry.

Skills in focus: - Discipline knowledge - Problem solving - Digital Skills [Xero]

Deliverable: Financial and business reports Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine the role of Accounting in a contemporary social context with a focus on business ethics and responsible management so as to develop skills in resolving conflict and ethical dilemma.
  • Develop competences in key technical aspects in accounting practice and be able to process and interpret basic accounting information.

Formal and observed learning: Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: During University Examination Period
Weighting: 40%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to formally demonstrate the expertise you have gained in this unit.

You will participate in a 2-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:
  • Examine the role of Accounting in a contemporary social context with a focus on business ethics and responsible management so as to develop skills in resolving conflict and ethical dilemma.
  • Describe the business environment of the accounting profession.
  • Develop competences in key technical aspects in accounting practice and be able to process and interpret basic accounting information.
  • Evaluate the traditional aspects of accounting for business 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

Please refer to iLearn for details

Unit Schedule

Study Schedule and Weekly Readings

Lecture Week

Lecture Topics

Weekly readings*

1

Introduction to the Unit

Accounting, Accountability and Society

Forms of Business Organisations

Chapter 1 pp. 1-10 and 12-15 only.

2

Financial Accounting for Business:

Transaction Analysis

Elements of Financial Statements

Accounting Concepts and Principles

Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information

Chapter 2 pp. 77-89 and Chapter 1 pp.  35-38

3

Financial Accounting for Business:

Preparing General Journal Entries

Chapter 2 pp. 90-94

4

Financial Accounting for Business:

The General Ledger

Posting General Journal Entries

Preparing a Trial Balance

Chapter 2 pp. 94-112

5

Financial Accounting for Business:

Preparing Adjusting Journal Entries

Chapter 3 pp. 133-136 and 140-156

6

 Financial Accounting for Business:

 The Closing Process

 Preparing Closing Journal Entries

Chapter 3 pp. 157-161

7

Financial Accounting for Business:

Preparing Financial Statements

Chapter 1 pp. 16-28

                     Mid-Session Break: Monday 14th April to Friday  25th April 2025

8

Financial Accounting for Business:

Interpreting Financial Statements

Chapter 1 pp. 39-46 and 48-54

9

Management Accounting:

Introduction to Management Accounting

Chapter 14 pp. 738-744

 

10

Management Accounting:

Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis

Chapter 16 pp. 839-842 and 848-857

11

Business Ethics:

What is it and why is it important?

Role of Ethics in Accounting

Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants

Reading materials provided on iLearn via Leganto

12

Sustainability Reporting:

What it is and why is it important?

Role of Accountants

Disclosure and Reporting Requirements

Reading materials provided on iLearn via Leganto

13

Revision Week

 

   * Weekly readings refer to chapters in the prescribed textbook unless otherwise indicated.

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 2025.03 of the Handbook