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ACCG1000 – Accounting for Decision Making

2026 – 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
Rebecca Bachmann
4ER Room 311
Unit Moderator
Carmel Emanuel
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 Penalties

If you submit your assessment late, 5% of the total possible marks will be deducted for each day (including weekends), up to 7 days. Submissions more than 7 days late will receive a mark of 0.

Example 1 (out of 100):

If you score 85/100 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 5 marks and receive 80/100.

Example 2 (out of 30):

If you score 27/30 but submit 20 hours late, you will lose 1.5 marks and receive 25.5/30.

Extensions

Automatic short extension: Some assessments are eligible for automatic short extension. You can only apply for an automatic short extension before the due date.

Special Consideration: If you need more time due to serious issues and for any assessments that are not eligible for Short Extension, you must apply for Special Consideration. Need help? Review the Special Consideration page for further details.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension AI assisted?
Skills development: Accounting, ethics and sustainability 35% No 02/04/2026 Individual Yes Open AI
Professional practice: Accounting with Xero 25% No 17/05/2026 Individual Yes Open AI
Formal examination 40% No During formal examination period. Individual No Observed

Skills development: Accounting, ethics and sustainability

Assessment Type 1: Reflection task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 02/04/2026
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI assisted?: Open AI

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:

  • Communication skills
  • Discipline knowledge
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Global, ethical and environmental citizenship

Deliverable(s): Written submissions [2000 words]

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: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 17/05/2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: Yes
AI assisted?: Open AI

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
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Digital skills

Deliverable(s): Financial and business reports [2000 words]

 

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 examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: During formal examination period.
Weighting: 40%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI assisted?: Observed

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(s): Formal examination

 

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.

3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.

Delivery and Resources

Unit delivery and learning resources

Students are required to attend a weekly lecture and tutorial (lectures commence in Week 1, tutorials commence from Week 2). There are also online learning resources that students are required to engage with to complement the weekly lecture and tutorial.

Lectures and tutorials are interactive and are designed to facilitate further discussion of concepts covered in online learning resources and their application to practical cases.

The timetable for classes can be found on the University website at: https://publish.mq.edu.au/ 

Changes to student timetables may only be made through eStudent. Students wishing to change their allocated tutorial should log onto to eStudent and enrol in a tutorial where there is a vacancy. 

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials

The required text for the unit is: 

Accounting: Reporting, Analysis and Decision Making (7th edition) by Carlon, S., McAlpine-Mladenovic, Lee, C., Mitrione, L., Kirk, N. and Wong, L. (2022), Wiley QLD Australia

Additional required readings will also be made available on iLearn.

What is required to complete this unit satisfactorily

University study marks an exciting shift in how you learn. In this unit, you are encouraged to become an independent learner: someone who takes personal responsibility for their learning journey and actively engages with new ideas, challenges and feedback.

Success in this unit stems from showing up, engaging actively with the material, and taking purposeful steps to strengthen your understanding. Every question you ask, every problem you attempt, and every concept you revisit contributes to building your confidence and capability. Over time, these small, consistent efforts form the foundation for your success in accounting as well as the professional skills and mindset that will support you throughout your degree and future career. Successful students are those who ask questions, seek clarification, practise regularly, and take initiative in strengthening their understanding through independent research, working with classmates, or engaging with your teaching team.

Think of this unit as a place to build confidence, capability and curiosity. By taking a proactive approach to your learning, you are developing problem-solving, communication, and self-management skills that employers value across every profession. You are supported every step of the way but the most meaningful progress happens when you take ownership of your learning and back yourself to give things a go.

Unit Schedule

Study Schedule and Weekly Readings

Lecture Week

Lecture Topics

Weekly readings*

1

Welcome to Accounting for Decision Making:

  • 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: Foundations of Financial Accounting

  • Elements of Financial Statements
  • The Accounting Equation
  • 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: Recording Business Transactions

  • Preparing General Journal Entries
  • Debit and Credit Rules

Chapter 2 pp. 90-94

4

Financial Accounting for Business: Organising Accounting Records

  • The General Ledger
  • Posting General Journal Entries
  • Preparing a Trial Balance

Chapter 2 pp. 94-112

5

Financial Accounting for Business: Accrual Accounting and Period Adjustments

  • Preparing Adjusting Journal Entries
  • Preparing the Adjusted Trial Balance

Chapter 3 pp. 133-136 and 140-156

6

Financial Accounting for Business: End-of-Period Processes in Financial Accounting

  • The Closing Process
  • Preparing Closing Journal Entries

Chapter 3 pp. 157-161

  Mid-Session Break: Monday 6th April to Sunday 19th April 2026  

7

Financial Accounting for Business: Preparing Financial Statements

  • Statement of Financial Position
  • Statement of Profit & Loss
  • Statement of Changes in Equity

Chapter 1 pp. 16-28

8

Financial Accounting for Business: Interpreting Financial Statements

  • Ratio Analysis
  • Assessing Profitability, Liquidity and Solvency
  • Evaluating Business Performance

Chapter 1 pp. 39-46 and 48-54

9

Management Accounting: Introduction to Management Accounting

  • Management Accounting vs Financial Accounting
  • The Functions of Management Accounting
  • Cost Concepts

Chapter 14 pp. 738-744

 

10

Management Accounting: Cost Information for Decision-Making

  • Variable Costs vs Fixed Costs
  • Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
  • Break-Even Point

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

 

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 2026.02 of the Handbook