UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit develops students' ability to understand, interpret and use financial reports. It is structured to provide an understanding of accounting concepts, issues and problems rather than educating someone to take the role of a professional accountant. The focus of the unit is on accounting for external users and, after developing an understanding of the basic concepts underlying external general purpose financial reports, techniques to analyse such reports are examined. The unit also provides an introduction to accounting for internal users. Basic cost concepts for making operating and strategic decisions within an organisation are discussed.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Trimester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Trimester 2	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Trimester 3	UWA (Perth)	Face to face
Trimester 3	Online	Online flexible

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) demonstrate the capability for applying, analysing, synthesising and evaluating information from multiple sources to make decisions about the financial performance of entities; (2) identify the concepts and be aware of the major requirements impacting upon the form and content of general purpose financial statements; (3) identify the different purposes for preparing accounting information for external and internal users; (4) explain and apply different concepts of costs to business decisions; (5) demonstrate an ability to work effectively in teams; and (6) recognise, understand and respond to potential ethical issues confronting accountants.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) tests; (2) team exercises; and (3) final examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the final examination component.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Professor Phil Hancock (Summer) and Glen Hutchings (Trimester 1) and Warrick Van Zyl (Trimesters 2 & 3)

Unit rules

Prerequisites

enrolment in

one of the following courses: Master of Business Administration (coursework).
Master of Business Administration (coursework and dissertation).
Graduate Certificate in Business.
Graduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation).
or approval from The Business School only, which will be determined with regard to relevant documented professional work experience.

Incompatibility

ACCT5432 Introductory Financial Accounting

Incidental fees

Incidental student fees and charges are costs incurred by students as part of their studies at UWA that are in addition to their tuition fees (further information is available "
Participation in this unit will incur the following incidental fee(s):
Zodiac Board (estimated cost - $75.00).

Contact hours

trimester teaching periods—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 3 hours per week
non-standard teaching period—lectures/seminars/workshops: up to 6 hours per week over 6 weeks
online—nil