Outline

Overview

This unit serves as the capstone unit for the Accounting Specialisation. The strategic finance function plays a key role in creating value for organisations. It influences decision-making processes and drives performance at both strategic and operational levels. This unit synthesizes, extends and practically applies the knowledge and skills gained over the course of the Master of Commerce program. Primarily building on knowledge in financial and management accounting, this unit introduces contemporary thinking on the finance function. It explores forefront accounting tools to optimise organisational performance in uncertain and ambiguous settings. Recognising that value creation is through strategic partnering and managing individuals and business functions, this unit also seeks to understand inter- and intra-organisational dynamics. This unit also provides an opportunity for students to apply and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in an assessed collaborative real-world case study using digital tools.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ACCT6600
Academic unit	Accounting
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	Completion of 18 credit points towards the Accounting specialisation (including ACCT5001 and ACCT6008)
Corequisites ?	Completion of 6 credit points towards the Accounting specialisation
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Maria Dyball, maria.dyball@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Matthew Egan, matthew.egan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Maria Dyball, maria.dyball@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Tutorial quiz	Quizzes Written test with non-written elements	20%	Multiple weeks	2400 words
Outcomes assessed:
Small continuous assessment	Reflection Self-reflection assignments	25%	Multiple weeks	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project Proposal Assignment on capstone project	10%	Week 07 Due date: 06 Apr 2023 at 23:59	1200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project Report Final assignment on capstone project	30%	Week 11 Due date: 12 May 2023 at 23:59	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Project Presentation Oral presentation on capstone project	15%	Week 12	1800 words
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessment Summary

Quizzes – The two quizzes are in Weeks 8 and 10 and worth 10% each for a total of 20%. Both comprise a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. They will test your knowledge of course content. Further details will be advised via Canvas.

Reflection – The self-reflection online assignments are a progressive task and assessed as two assignments worth 10% and 15% each for a total of 25%. Further details will be advised via Canvas.

Project Proposal – You will be allocated to a group of up to 5 students within a tutorial/workshop stream for the capstone project.Your group will submit a proposal for the case organization on how to improve its value creation using strategic accounting concepts and tools. Your group will also submit a team charter and a plan to analyse the case organization. This proposal will be iteratively developed and implemented during the semester and inform the project report and presentation. Further details will be advised via Canvas.

Project Report – Your group for the capstone project will submit a written report to the case organization on how to improve its value creation using strategic accounting concepts and tools. Further details will be advised via Canvas.

Project Presentation – Each student will orally present a part of your group’s analysis and solution to improve value creation in the case organization using strategic accounting concepts and tools. Further details will be advised via Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Mid-semester break	Mid-semester break	Independent study (3 hr)
Week 01	CFO's roles and responsibilities	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Stakeholder value and power	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Strategy, business model and the balanced scorecard	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Risk, strategy and the CFO	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Risk management and the balanced scorecard	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Applying concept of risk management to Capstone project	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 07	Managing learning and growth	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Managing business processes and customers	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Managing business processes and customers	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Managing shareholders	Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Q&A with Sydney Analytical	Forum (1.15 hr)
Week 12	Capstone Project - Sydney Analytical	Project (3 hr)
Week 13	Capstone Project - Sydney Analytical	Project (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Apply and integrate contemporary accounting knowledge, concepts, and tools in the management of organizations.
LO2. Identify, organise, process and analyse information using relevant accounting knowledge, concepts and tools.
LO3. Evaluate accounting knowledge, concepts and tools to develop solutions to contemporary business problems and challenges.
LO4. Integrate different perspectives from business functions to generate insights and creative solutions to contemporary accounting problems and challenges.
LO5. Communicate persuasively and professionally to diverse stakeholder groups in accounting.
LO6. Apply the concepts of effective team working and make a positive contribution to a team-based structure
LO7. Evaluate issues relating to business ethics, sustainability and social responsibility in addressing accounting challenges.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the third offering of this unit. No significant changes made.

Additional information

Study commitment

Typically there is a minimum expectation of 1.5 -2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered for a full semester. This equates to about 120 hours – 150 hours of student effort in total for the semester.

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ACCT6600: Accounting Capstone

Semester 1, 2023 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect