Accounting Capstone Mastery
Overview
This unit broadens students’ critical thinking and soft skills in accounting contexts. In particular, students will apply various skills and techniques, such as data analysis, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and teamwork to gain confidence in communication and persuasive, influential digital presentations as they share solutions after examining a simulated business problem. Co-developed with industry partners, business problems will focus on evolving financial and non-financial information interconnections in typical accounting-related client relationship scenarios. Aided by AI-powered technologies, students will design and conduct research to provide findings communicated through role plays that engage with peers and create reflection opportunities promoting personal and career growth.
Requisites
02-November-2025
01-November-2026
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Critically analyse the key issues, challenges, and priorities facing the accounting profession.
- Apply AI to critically review research or reports and develop a project proposal.
- Analyse data empirically applying quantitative or qualitative research methodologies.
- Proficiently communicate ideas and findings to accounting and other professional audiences.
- Reflect and improve on project outcomes through engagement with peers.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
On-campus Class |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
Online Class |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning |
9.5 | 12 weeks | 114 |
| Total | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULOs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposal and Prototype | Individual | 10-20% | 1,2 |
| Presentation | Group | 30-40% | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Report | Individual | 40-60% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
- Managing client relationships in the contemporary accounting environment
- Collaboration, teamwork and role playing in problem solving research
- Harnessing AI for literature reviews in accounting
- Cultivating creativity in visualisations, presentations and reports
- Applied quantitative AI-powered data analysis in accounting research
- Applied qualitative AI-powered data analysis in accounting research
- Financial and management accounting analytics cases and presentation
- Connected ESG and financial information analytics cases and presentation
- Tax, audit and assurance analytics cases and presentation
- Project presentation role play and peer evaluation
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.