Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Content

Topics will include:

• The role and purpose of management accounting and the importance of ethics and corporate social responsibility
• Budgets and forecasts for management purposes
• Organisational costs and use established methods to cost specific operating decisions - includes cost volume profit analysis, job costing, process costing, standard costing and variance analysis, product costing - full absorption costing versus marginal costing, inventory management, cost-volume profit analysis.
• Management pricing methods
• The principles and procedures involved in analysing and managing an organisation’s cash flow and working capital requirements
• Performance management and control including quality control, comparative analysis, financial and non-financial key performance indicators, the balanced scorecard and benchmarking.
• How to write complex business reports and use critical thinking skills to provide business insights and well-reasoned conclusions and recommendations.
• The role of strategy in business  and environment & organisational tools used to evaluate organisational performance including PESTEL, SWOT, Porter's five forces, Value chain analysis and Porter's generic strategies)

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

ACU’s teaching approach focuses on achieving learning outcomes by engaging students as active participants in constructing knowledge. Learning involves both independent inquiry and collaboration with others, allowing students to critically engage with material, apply higher-order thinking, and develop real-world problem-solving skills. The unit follows an experiential learning model, encouraging students to apply accounting concepts in practical scenarios. Learning activities are scaffolded, building skills progressively to support student development and professional readiness.

Mode of Delivery:

The unit is offered in three modes—Attendance, Multi, and ACU Online—to accommodate diverse learning needs and increase accessibility.

Attendance Mode: Delivered in a flipped classroom format with face-to-face lectures and workshops. Students complete preparatory work before attending, followed by revision and practice. Online resources supplement in-class learning through interactive content.

Multi-Mode: Combines online learning with scheduled face-to-face workshops. Students engage with recorded lectures, complete online tasks, and apply knowledge during in-person sessions.

ACU Online: Delivered fully online through asynchronous learning. Students explore content independently, contribute to online discussions, and apply learning to real-world situations. Ongoing feedback supports their progress and achievement of learning outcomes.