Management Accounting

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2025/05
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 CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Differentiate between cost concepts, cost classifications, cost allocation and accumulation for business planning and control

K2.

Examine essential techniques that aid the managerial functions of planning, control, and decision making

K3.

Examine the contemporary approaches to measuring, managing organisational performance, assessing their impacts on individuals, organisations and society

K4.

Identify the internal and external factors influencing business operations and decisions

Skills:
S1.

Apply cost accounting information and how it is used by internal management to make decisions

S2.

Prepare reports, budgets, forecasts and analysis of managerial accounting information for strategic decision making

S3.

Evaluate spreadsheet models for the analysis of management accounting problems

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Adapt and apply cost and management knowledge and skills in diverse and novel settings

A2.

Make informed and autonomous decisions in complex settings and be accountable for the outcomes

A3.

Apply the principles and procedures involved in managing working capital

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.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in:

•   Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication

•   Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening

•   Showing empathy for others

•   Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills

•   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 will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Creating a collegial environment

•   Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect

•   Inspiring and convincing others

•   Making informed decisions

•   Displaying initiative

Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Reflecting critically

•   Evaluating ideas, concepts and information

•   Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas

•   Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts

•   Forming creative solutions in problem solving.

Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information

•   Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely

•   Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media

•   Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups

•   Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities.

Level 2 - Student demonstrates some independence within provided guidelines
FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in:

•   Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts

•   Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen

•   Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses

•   Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others

•   Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.

Level 1 - Students require directions and boundaries from mentor
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, K3, S1, S2

First review of selected topics

Mid-term test

10-30%

2.K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3

Group case study and/or task

Written assignment

20-30%

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%

4.K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, S3

Comprehensive review of all topics/final test

Invigilated oral exam

30-40%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency