12 Weeks or equivalent

36 hours or equivalent

Hawthorn

Credit Points: 12.5 Credit Points

Related Course/s:

This unit is a core unit in the Graduate Certificate of Business Management (Financial Services), and an elective unit in specified Graduate Certificates of Business Management. The Graduate Certificate programs form the first year of the Master of Business Management .

Aims & Objectives:

This unit provides the foundation accounting and finance skills required in business management roles. The focus of this unit is on financial analysis methods and interpretation, budgeting, reporting, and the tools and techniques used for financial decision making and control.

The aims of this subject are to:

• Understand the range of tools and techniques used to make sound financial investment decisions and to monitor and minimise risk
• Understand the basis for decision-making in relation to financing business operations and/or expansion
• Enable contribution to financial reporting
• Interpret accounting information and reports and inform the decision making process
• Contribute to organisational budgets
• Use quantitative analysis tools in achieving organisational goals

Teaching Methods:

Lectures, guest speakers, industry visits, case study analysis, online delivery

Assessment:

Generic Skills Outcomes:

Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen professions, can contribute in an entrepreneurial and innovative way within their workplace or community, can operate effectively and ethically in their business life, and are adaptable and able to manage change. It is expected that graduates will leave with a diverse wealth of experiences and will have developed individual knowledge, abilities and attitudes commensurate with professional standards appropriate to the business and wider community.

Within this context it is the intention that this program will enable students to develop the following skills:

•       Teamwork skills
•       Analytical skills
•       Business research skills appropriate to addressing managerial challenges and problem solving
•       Problem solving and decision making skills
•       Communication skills
•       Reporting and presentation skills
•       Ability to work independently
•       Ability to address unfamiliar problems
•       Ability to engage in critical enquiry and discussion
•       Ability to identify and address ethical matters in business

Content:

•        Accounting for managers
•        Business ownership structures
•        Information and tools for financial decision making
•        Investment and operating activities and decisions
•        The accounting process and accounting records
•        Financial and management accounting and information
•        Financial statement analysis
•        Discounted cash flow and ratio analysis
•        Preparation and interpretation of budgets
•        Incremental analysis and capital budgeting
•        Performance reporting and the triple bottom line

Reading Materials:

Chorafas, D. (2006), Strategic Business Planning for Accountants, Elsevier, UK.

Ingram, R. (2007), Financial Accounting: A bridge to decision making, Thomson, UK.

Oliver, K. & Jinks, J. (2001), Report on Financial Activity Accounting, Software Publications.

Steffan, B. (2008), Essential Management Accounting, Kogan Page, UK.