| Effective Term: | 2026/20 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Management Accounting |
| Unit ID: | BUACC3006 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (BUACC1000) |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (BUACC2613 and BUACC3714) |
| ASCED: | 080101 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
The unit enables students to develop an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of management accounting for product costing, decision making and control. This includes an examination of cost concepts, cost classifications and cost behaviour. It covers both the conventional and the contemporary approaches to designing management accounting systems. The conventional approaches include product costing systems, budgeting and the use of standard costs as means for planning and controlling business activity. The contemporary approaches covered in this unit include activity-based costing systems, integration of both financial and non-financial measures into a strategic performance measurement system, sustainability accounting and corporate social responsibility. The unit also examines pricing strategies, and incremental analysis that are to provide relevant accounting information for organizational decision makers. Each topic is introduced by a review of key theoretical concepts and practical applications to critically analyse and solve real-world business problems. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Differentiate between cost concepts, cost classifications, cost allocation and accumulation for business planning and control |
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| K2. | Examine essential techniques that aid the managerial functions of planning, control, and decision making |
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| K3. | Examine the contemporary approaches to measuring, managing organisational performance, assessing their impacts on individuals, organisations and society |
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| K4. | Identify the internal and external factors influencing business operations and decisions |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Apply cost accounting information and how it is used by internal management to make decisions |
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| S2. | Prepare reports, budgets, forecasts and analysis of managerial accounting information for strategic decision making |
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| S3. | Evaluate spreadsheet models for the analysis of management accounting problems |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Adapt and apply cost and management knowledge and skills in diverse and novel settings |
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| A2. | Make informed and autonomous decisions in complex settings and be accountable for the outcomes |
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| A3. | Apply the principles and procedures involved in managing working capital |
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| Other outcomes: |
| Unit Content: |
Topics may include:
1. Cost and management accounting in the changing business environment
2. Cost terms, concepts and classifications
3. Product costing systems
4. Variable and absorption costing
5. Activity-based costing
6. Cost allocation: problems and approaches; support department costs; joint costs
7. Responsibility accounting: budgets, standard costs, variance analysis, and transfer pricing
8. Performance evaluation
9. Cost-Volume-Profit analysis
10. Incremental analysis
11. Sustainability reporting |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students at this level will demonstrate an advanced ability in a range of contexts to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display high level skills in-person and/or online in: • Using and demonstrating a high level of verbal and non-verbal communication • Demonstrating a mastery of listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Demonstrating and showing empathy for others • High order skills in negotiating and conflict resolution skills\\ • Demonstrating mastery of working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | Level 3 - Student works independently with limited guidance or works within self-determined guidelines appropriate to context | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery in professional skills and behaviours in leading others. • Creating and sustaining a collegial environment • Demonstrating a high level of self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect and justify decisions • Inspiring and initiating opportunities to lead others • Making informed professional decisions • Demonstrating initiative in new professional situations. | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students at this level will demonstrate high level skills in working in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically to generate and consider complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level • Analysing complex and abstract ideas, concepts and information • Communicate alternative perspectives to justify complex ideas • Demonstrate a mastery of challenging conventional thinking to clarify complex concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving to new situations for further learning. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students at this level will demonstrate the ability to work competently across a wide range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Mastering, exploring, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information professionally • Collating, managing complex data, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding professionally to messages in a range of professional digital media • Contributing competently and professionally to digital teams and working groups • Participating at a high level in digital learning opportunities. | Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines | FEDTASK 5
sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students at this level will demonstrate a mastery of considering and assessing the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting professional ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Demonstrate informed judgment making that considers the impact of devising complex solutions in ambiguous global economic environmental and societal contexts • Professionally committing to the promulgation of social responsibility • Demonstrate the ability to evaluate ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Communicating lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to the diverse professional others • Generating, leading and implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life | Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
K1, K2, K3, S1, S2 |
First review of selected topics |
Mid-term test |
10-30% |
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| 2. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 |
Group case study and/or task |
Written assignment |
20-30% |
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| 3. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 |
Second review of selected topics, group case study related test |
Individual oral presentation (recorded) |
10-20% |
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| 4. |
K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3 |
Comprehensive review of all topics/final test |
Invigilated oral exam |
30-40% |
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