Graduate Diploma in Professional Accounting

Courses of Study

Option One
For membership of CPA Australia, students need to complete the following units of study:

BAO5522 MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING

This unit of study aims to develop students' ability to deal confidently with the multifaceted challenges facing the function of management accounting in contemporary organisations. The areas covered include: the modern role of management accounting; strategic analysis and planning; operational planning and control; product and service costing; operational and financial budgeting; capital budgeting; and cost-volume profit analysis. Calculations, reporting, analysis and interpretation are undertaken using manual methods and Excel spreadsheets.

BAO5524 PROFESSIONAL AUDITING

This unit of study's broad objective is to provide students with knowledge and appreciation of the objectives and limitations of an audit, including an understanding of key auditing principles, concepts and practices, which comprise the audit process. Specifically, the unit of study aims to familiarise the student to some of the key tools used by auditors for collecting and evaluating evidence so as to enable them to express an opinion on the fair presentation of financial reports.

BAO5525 FINANCIAL AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTING

The aims of this unit of study are to extend the study of financial accounting from sole traders and partnerships learned in previous units of study to the corporate form of ownership; encourage a critical approach to accepted corporate reporting practices and current developments in accounting and financial regulation for corporations; introduce accounting for the issue and reorganisation of share capital; familiarise students with the accounting concepts involved in inter company investments; introduce specific corporate financial accounting practices, including accounting for company income tax; impairment and revaluation of assets; intangible assets and consider current financial reporting issues.

BAO5534 BUSINESS FINANCE

To examine and evaluate alternative financing proposals that firms may face in both the shorter and longer term to develop financial literacy, to read the existing literature in financial management and be aware of the theoretical and practical developments in finance, and to develop ability to solve problems through the application of specific techniques of analysis. The role of financial management, Taxation effects on financial decisions, money and capital markets. Time value of money, Risk-return trade off. Valuation of securities. Sources of finance. Capital structure and cost of capital. Dividend policy. Capital budgeting.

BAO5535 ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING

This unit of study is the capstone financial accounting unit drawing upon and further developing the practical skills of Financial Accounting and Corporate Accounting. The unit is designed to develop students' analytical and appreciative skills and provide students with the opportunity to further develop their mastery of technical and critical thinking skills. The unit aims to: provide students with the skills necessary to critically analyse the foundations of, and the concepts associated with, financial accounting; develop student understanding of the relationship between financial accounting theory and concepts and financial reporting practice; develop students' cognitive and behavioural skills; develop information literacy in financial accounting; and develop an international awareness of financial accounting issues. Topics include; overview of accounting theories conceptual and regulatory frameworks; the nature and objectives of financial reporting and elements of financial statements; measurement; accounting for intangibles; accounting for financial instruments; accounting for superannuation; corporate social responsibility reporting; corporate governance and business ethics. The unit of study is predominantly geared towards students being encouraged to further develop their cognitive and behavioural skills. Particular attention is given to the continued mastery of technical skills in conjunction with the development of students' analytic and appreciative skills.

BAO5543 ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES

This unit of study introduces students to basic accounting concepts and manual and electronic accounting practices within the context of accounting standards and user requirements. It includes: the role of accounting in planning and decision making; the accounting information system; the accounting cycle; accrual accounting concepts; reporting, analysing and interpreting assets, liabilities, equity; profitability and cash flows; internal control; and using computerised accounting systems to process transactions and produce accounting reports.

BEO6600 BUSINESS ECONOMICS

This unit of study is a combination of Business Macroeconomics and Business Microeconomics.

BLO5540 BUSINESS AND COMPANY LAW

This unit will equip the students with knowledge of relevant business rules and regulations to help them in managing business organizations dynamically and efficiently. First, the basic principles of contract law will be explained. This topic comprises the nature and legal consequences of contract, formation of contract, legal capacity, performance of contract, breach of contract and remedies. The second part of the unit will specifically discuss relevant laws in relation to company law. The coverage of these topics however will be minimal and focused on information literacy since the unit aims to provide the students with general guidelines

Option Two
For membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, students need to complete the following units of study:

BAO5522 MANAGERIAL ACCOUNTING

This unit of study aims to develop students' ability to deal confidently with the multifaceted challenges facing the function of management accounting in contemporary organisations. The areas covered include: the modern role of management accounting; strategic analysis and planning; operational planning and control; product and service costing; operational and financial budgeting; capital budgeting; and cost-volume profit analysis. Calculations, reporting, analysis and interpretation are undertaken using manual methods and Excel spreadsheets.

BAO5524 PROFESSIONAL AUDITING

This unit of study's broad objective is to provide students with knowledge and appreciation of the objectives and limitations of an audit, including an understanding of key auditing principles, concepts and practices, which comprise the audit process. Specifically, the unit of study aims to familiarise the student to some of the key tools used by auditors for collecting and evaluating evidence so as to enable them to express an opinion on the fair presentation of financial reports.

BAO5525 FINANCIAL AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTING

The aims of this unit of study are to extend the study of financial accounting from sole traders and partnerships learned in previous units of study to the corporate form of ownership; encourage a critical approach to accepted corporate reporting practices and current developments in accounting and financial regulation for corporations; introduce accounting for the issue and reorganisation of share capital; familiarise students with the accounting concepts involved in inter company investments; introduce specific corporate financial accounting practices, including accounting for company income tax; impairment and revaluation of assets; intangible assets and consider current financial reporting issues.

BAO5534 BUSINESS FINANCE

To examine and evaluate alternative financing proposals that firms may face in both the shorter and longer term to develop financial literacy, to read the existing literature in financial management and be aware of the theoretical and practical developments in finance, and to develop ability to solve problems through the application of specific techniques of analysis. The role of financial management, Taxation effects on financial decisions, money and capital markets. Time value of money, Risk-return trade off. Valuation of securities. Sources of finance. Capital structure and cost of capital. Dividend policy. Capital budgeting.

BAO5535 ISSUES IN CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING

This unit of study is the capstone financial accounting unit drawing upon and further developing the practical skills of Financial Accounting and Corporate Accounting. The unit is designed to develop students' analytical and appreciative skills and provide students with the opportunity to further develop their mastery of technical and critical thinking skills. The unit aims to: provide students with the skills necessary to critically analyse the foundations of, and the concepts associated with, financial accounting; develop student understanding of the relationship between financial accounting theory and concepts and financial reporting practice; develop students' cognitive and behavioural skills; develop information literacy in financial accounting; and develop an international awareness of financial accounting issues. Topics include; overview of accounting theories conceptual and regulatory frameworks; the nature and objectives of financial reporting and elements of financial statements; measurement; accounting for intangibles; accounting for financial instruments; accounting for superannuation; corporate social responsibility reporting; corporate governance and business ethics. The unit of study is predominantly geared towards students being encouraged to further develop their cognitive and behavioural skills. Particular attention is given to the continued mastery of technical skills in conjunction with the development of students' analytic and appreciative skills.

BAO5543 ACCOUNTING SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES

This unit of study introduces students to basic accounting concepts and manual and electronic accounting practices within the context of accounting standards and user requirements. It includes: the role of accounting in planning and decision making; the accounting information system; the accounting cycle; accrual accounting concepts; reporting, analysing and interpreting assets, liabilities, equity; profitability and cash flows; internal control; and using computerised accounting systems to process transactions and produce accounting reports.

BLO5539 AUSTRALIAN INCOME TAX LAW AND PRACTICE

To give students a broad insight into the principles involved in the Australian Taxation System; to develop an understanding of the unit of study via an examination of relevant provision of statute, case law, and income tax rulings; to investigate particular topics in sufficient detail to enable the graduate student to appreciate the complexities of taxation legislation and practice that often requires 'specialist' analysis. The unit of study includes: constitutional background, concept of income, introduction to the fringe benefits; capital gains tax; deductions; trading stock; taxation of individuals; trusts; partnerships; companies.

BLO5540 BUSINESS AND COMPANY LAW

This unit will equip the students with knowledge of relevant business rules and regulations to help them in managing business organizations dynamically and efficiently. First, the basic principles of contract law will be explained. This topic comprises the nature and legal consequences of contract, formation of contract, legal capacity, performance of contract, breach of contract and remedies. The second part of the unit will specifically discuss relevant laws in relation to company law. The coverage of these topics however will be minimal and focused on information literacy since the unit aims to provide the students with general guidelines