Students

ACCG8307 – CPA - Financial Reporting

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Leisa Henness
leisa.henness@mq.edu.au
TBA - see ilearn
Unit Moderator
Andreas Hellmann
andreas.hellmann@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(40cp at 6000 level and (ACCG921 or ACCG8121) and (ACCG923 or ACCG8123) and (ACCG926 or ACCG8126) and admission to MProfAcc or MProfAccgLead or MAccg(Adv)) or (admission to MAdvProfAcc and 10cp at 8000 level)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides extended formal academic support for students concurrently enrolled in the Financial Reporting unit of the CPA program. It is designed to provide students with an advanced knowledge of selected financial reporting and accounting standards, financial reporting requirements, technical accounting expertise, and business skills and values that are applicable in a professional and global environment. At the completion of this unit, students will have a detailed understanding of advanced concepts in financial analysis and disclosure in relation to key business concepts and transactions and be able to apply this knowledge to the preparation of general-purpose financial statements. Students will also be able to communicate financial accounting issues that may arise in the preparation of general-purpose financial statements including those from a theoretical perspective.

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: Apply relevant accounting standards to key business transactions and events and prepare the complete set of financial statements.
  • ULO2: Critically analyse and evaluate accounting issues and problems that may arise by applying the contents of specific accounting standards and the conceptual framework.
  • ULO3: Research and professionally communicate the issues that need to be addressed in the preparation of general-purpose financial statements.
  • ULO4: Examine and interpret current issues in financial accounting and able to apply this analysis to general business skills. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Formal and Observed Learning: Test 25% No Four Class Quizzes during the session
Skills Development: Learning Engagement Log 10% No 17/09/2025
Formal and Observed Learning: Test 35% No 19/09/2025
CPA External Examination 30% Yes CPA Examination Period (1 -19 October 2025)

Formal and Observed Learning: Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Four Class Quizzes during the session
Weighting: 25%

 

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. Feedback on this test will help you assess your progress through the unit content.   Deliverable: Test Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply relevant accounting standards to key business transactions and events and prepare the complete set of financial statements.
  • Examine and interpret current issues in financial accounting and able to apply this analysis to general business skills. 

Skills Development: Learning Engagement Log

Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 17/09/2025
Weighting: 10%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate consistent engagement and progress throughout each module in the unit.   You will complete and log each module’s tasks, ensuring satisfactory completion and meeting the required standards for each module.   Skills in focus are:

  • Communication
  • Work Readiness
  • Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
  • Discipline Knowledge

Deliverable: A completed module log for each unit, demonstrating satisfactory completion of each module’s tasks and activities.   Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply relevant accounting standards to key business transactions and events and prepare the complete set of financial statements.
  • Critically analyse and evaluate accounting issues and problems that may arise by applying the contents of specific accounting standards and the conceptual framework.
  • Research and professionally communicate the issues that need to be addressed in the preparation of general-purpose financial statements.
  • Examine and interpret current issues in financial accounting and able to apply this analysis to general business skills. 

Formal and Observed Learning: Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 19/09/2025
Weighting: 35%

 

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. Feedback on this test will help you assess your progress through the unit content.   Deliverable: Test Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply relevant accounting standards to key business transactions and events and prepare the complete set of financial statements.
  • Critically analyse and evaluate accounting issues and problems that may arise by applying the contents of specific accounting standards and the conceptual framework.
  • Examine and interpret current issues in financial accounting and able to apply this analysis to general business skills. 

CPA External Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: CPA Examination Period (1 -19 October 2025)
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Examination administered by CPA Australia. CPA Australia will advise on the format and topics included in the final exam. Students need to achieve at least a PASS mark in this CPA external examination.

If students do not pass this CPA examination, students will not pass this unit.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply relevant accounting standards to key business transactions and events and prepare the complete set of financial statements.
  • Critically analyse and evaluate accounting issues and problems that may arise by applying the contents of specific accounting standards and the conceptual framework.
  • Examine and interpret current issues in financial accounting and able to apply this analysis to general business skills. 

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 Prescribed Reference Materials CPA Program:

-CPA 115 Financial Reporting, Deakin University, Geelong, 6th Edition, October 2022 – provided by CPA Australia

Module Topic Notes (in powerpoint format) - availabl each week from iLearn

Recommended Reference Materials The following source references will be used to provide practical application examples:

- Financial Reporting, 4th Edition Janice Loftus, Ken Leo, Sorin Daniliuc, Belinda Luke, Hong Nee Ang, Michael Bradbury, Dean Hanlon, Jeffrey Knapp, Noel Boys, Karyn Byrnes  (ISBN: 978-0-730-39645-1). Link to Wiley website will be listed on ilearn.

The CPA Australia course materials have a reference list at the end of each module containing all references cited by the author. These provide some guidance to references that could be used to research an assignment on a particular issue.

Unit Web Page

• Course material is available on the learning management system (iLearn)

• The web page for this unit can be found at: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au Learning and Teaching Activities Each class will meet weekly for a 3 hour lecture during the session- please review schedule carefully as some weeks 2 classes are scheduled to ensure all materials are reviewed prior to CPA examination period. All scheduled classes are compulsory. In between classes, students are required to work through the relevant module(s) in the CPA program, CPA115 segment module, as well as work on assessment tasks.

Students are expected to fully study the course material and recommended readings of each CPA Module. You are encouraged to construct your own notes based on your reading, any additional comments, and supplements. Each class will consist of an overview and discussion of the main content, concepts and issues from the relevant CPA Australia Module topics.

In addition, other activities will take place that seek to enhance and enrich understanding of the content, the readings and any accounting standards related to each module. This will include working through questions in the CPA material and discussing articles or actual financial statements that help demonstrate the topic more fully.

Students will be provided with materials related to the topic by the lecturer (which will be placed on iLearn), however it is important to understand that these are only intended to be used as an overview and guide. Technology Used and Required Students will need access to Microsoft Excel, Word and Powerpoint to enable completion of various assessment tasks throughout the session. In addition students will require access to the internet, including specifically access to iLearn.

Unit Schedule

Seminar

Week Beginning

 Topic/Content

1

21 July
  • Introduction of Unit
  • Module 1: The role and importance of financial reporting
  • Module 4: Income Taxes (Part 1)

(Friday 25 July 2025 10am- 1pm) , Location 09 SCO Room 114)

2

28 July
  • Module 4: Income Taxes (Part II)

Note: This is seminar 2 and compulsory for all students (Time and Location to be advised)

3

28 July
  • Module 5: Business Combinations and group accounting (part I)

4

4 August
  • Module 5: Business Combinations and group accounting (part II)

Note: This is seminar 4 and compulsory for all students (Time and Location to be advised).

5

4 August
  • Module 6: Financial instruments (Part 1)

  Assessed coursework #1: Modules 1 & 4 (7.5%) will be held online week commencing 4 August

6

11 August
  • Module 6: Financial instruments (Part 2)

7

18 August
  • Module 3: Revenue, provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets (Part 1)

​​​​​​​  Note: This is seminar 7 and compulsory for all students (Time and Location to be advised).

8

18 August
  • Module 3: Revenue, provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets (Part 2)

  Assessed coursework #2: Module 5 (7.5%) will be held online week commencing 18 August 

9

25 August
  • Module 2: Presentation of financial statements

 Assessed coursework #3: Modules 3 & 6 (5%) will be held online week commencing 25 August

10

1 September
  • Module 7: Impairment of Assets​​​​​​​ 

11

8 September
  • Revision - CPA Practice Materials

  Assessed coursework #4: Modules 2 & 7 (5%) will be held online 8 September 

12

15 September
  • Mid Semester Test - Modules 1 to 7 inclusive

  Friday 19 September  (10am - 1pm) -on campus

13

22 September
  • In class revision session

 

1 -19 October 
  • CPA Exam Period

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/

Academic Success

Academic Success 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