Overview

This unit develops your ability as an accounting graduate to understand the complexities of ethics and corporate governance and to apply them in a demanding and global business environment. This course integrates the materials from the CPA Program Professional Level segment titled Ethics and Corporate Governance and prepares students for the CPA examination. This is a core unit in the Master of Professional Accounting (CPA Specialisation) degree.

Requisites

Prerequisites
ACC60008 Accounting Systems and Reporting
ECO80001 Economics
FIN60003 Business Modelling and Analysis
LAW60003 Corporations and Contract Law
ACC80008 Managerial Accounting
FIN80005 Corporate Financial Management
ACC80019 Financial Accounting and Theory
ACC80020 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Pre-requisite
Before enrolling in this unit you must be enrolled in this subject with CPA Australia as part of their CPA Program

Pre-requisite
ACC60008 Accounting Systems and Reporting
AND
ECO80001 Economics
AND
FIN60003 Business Modelling And Analysis
AND
LAW60003 Corporations and Contract Law
AND
ACC80008 Managerial Accounting
AND
FIN80005 Corporate Financial Management
AND
ACC80019 Financial Accounting and Theory
AND
ACC80020 Accounting, Organisations and Society

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Demonstrate coherent and advanced knowledge of the nature of the accounting profession and the roles of professional accountants
  • Critically analyse the key professional responsibilities of an accountant from the perspective of a professional accounting body
  • Critically evaluate key governance and regulatory and ethical frameworks, including international perspectives on corporate governance and the roles of various stakeholders
  • Critically evaluate the nature, role and importance of corporate social responsibility, including climate change and sustainable development
  • Communicate proficiently and in professional practice and act as a leader or member of a team

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Face to Face Contact (Phasing out)
Class
3.00 12 weeks 36
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
9.50 12 weeks 114
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
AssessmentIndividual 30 - 40% 1,2,3,4 
AssignmentGroup 20 - 30% 2,3,4,5 
TestIndividual 30 - 50% 1,2,3,4 

Content

  • Module 1: Accounting and Society: Accountants as members of a profession; and Interaction with society
  • Module 2: Ethics:Professional ethics; Ethical theories; Compiled APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants; and Ethical decision-making
  • Module 3: Governance Concepts: International perspectives on corporate governance; Codes and guidance; Non-corporate and governance; and Governance failures and improvements
  • Module 4: Corporations and other Entities: Corporate governance success factors ; Impact of the legal system on the corporation; Competition and protecting markets for goods and services; and The corporation and financial markets
  • Module 5: Corporate Accountability: Overview and introduction to key elements; Drivers of increased business accountability; Linking to ethical theories; What can be measured and reported?; Limitations of traditional financial reporting

Study resources

Reading materials

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