Overview

This unit introduces students to the language of accounting, its nature and main functions. This includes understanding and applying the basic rules and principles that guide the accounting process, and developing skills to identify relevant revenues and costs for decision making. Students will learn how to identify, measure and communicate financial information to inform judgements and decisions. This unit is an essential foundation and preparation for continued study for students who intend to take further units in accounting. The experience gained will provide familiarity with the key concepts and principles underlying the practice of accounting and be useful to a future business career.

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
21-October-2024
31-January-2025
Last self-enrolment date
03-November-2024
Census date
15-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-December-2024
Results released date
11-February-2025
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
24-February-2025
30-May-2025
Last self-enrolment date
09-March-2025
Census date
21-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
10-June-2025
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-June-2025
26-September-2025
Last self-enrolment date
06-July-2025
Census date
18-July-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
15-August-2025
Results released date
07-October-2025
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Use balance sheets to explain the financial position of a business
  • Prepare income statements to measure financial performance
  • Support business cash management using cash flow statements and cash budgets
  • Interpret financial statements and provide advice that supports sound financial decisions and strategic aims

Teaching methods

All Applicable Locations

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

On-campus (Class 1)

2 12 weeks 24
On-campus (Class 2) 3 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities (Independent Learning) 7.5 12 weeks  90
Total     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Case Study Individual/Group 20% 2,3,4
Report Individual/Group 20% 1,2,4
Test 1 Individual 30% 1,2
Test 2 Individual 30% 3,4

Content

  • Introduction to business and the role of accounting information in the decision-making process. 
  • Financial reporting – introduction to recording business transactions. 
  • Recording and reporting business transactions using accrual accounting. Cash Flow Statement and cash accounting. 
  • Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Reports. 
  • Role of Budgets and Budget Preparation. 
  • Cost Behaviour: Cost-volume-profit analysis. 
  • Revenue and Cost Determination.

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.