Advanced standing may be granted for a maximum of two equivalent postgraduate units.
Admission to this course is via UAC.
International applicants should contact UWS International for details on admission. Contact information for the International Office is available from the UWS website.
Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree in accounting or equivalent.
Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 80 credit points which includes two core units and a selection of six elective units.
Applicants seeking professional recognition should have their qualifications assessed by a professional body (as outlined under the Graduate Certificate in Accounting), and may include two law units from the MPA programme. If more than two units are required for professional recognition then the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma or MPA should be studied wherever appropriate, prior to this degree
Core Units
Accounting Research
This unit is concerned with understanding theory construction and research in accounting. It aims to equip students with an understanding of contemporary accounting research, which emanates from different theoretical perspectives and philosophies. A further aim is to critically evaluate recent research - throwing light on theory construction, professional development and applications to accounting and related areas.
Accounting Theory
This unit examines the role of accounting in society, including the function of the accounting profession in this context. The nature of the different theories advanced to explain accounting including accounting as a measurement function are also examined. Particular accounting models relevant in the current environment are also considered, together with the broader economic, sociological and ethical issues raised by their application.
Elective Units
Development of Accounting Information
Systems analysis and design refers to the process of examining a business situation with the intent of improving it through better procedure, methods and technology. Systems analysis and design provides a structured methodology for developing or improving information systems in business. The methodology does not necessitate the use of computers, although most contemporary business information systems are computerised.
Financial Statement Analysis (PG)
The major sources of information on which to base judgements on borrowing capacity, liquidity, managerial effectiveness, and investment potential remain the financial statements of an organisation. This unit is a result of the claim made by Foster, an authority in the finance field, that developments in the fields of accounting, economics, finance and statistics (as they relate to financial statement analysis) are understood well enough to permit financial statement analysis to be studied intensively.
Accounting Research Essay
The Unit develops students' critical and analytical skills. Students undertake and complete a research essay in areas relevant to the business environment and/or theoretical development. Research essays are offered in consultation with staff who posses research interests and experience in relevant areas and the ability to apply business and industry needs.
Business Essay
The unit develops students' critical and analytical skills. Students undertake and complete a research essay in an area relevant to the business environment and/or theoretical development. Research essays are offered in consultation with staff who posses research interests and experience in areas and the relevant ability to apply business and industry needs.
Accounting Research Project
The unit develops students' critical and analytical skills. Students undertake and complete a research project in an area with relevance to the business environment. Research projects are offered in consultation with staff who possess research interests and experience in the relevant areas of business and industry.
International Accounting
The purpose of this unit is to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of the range of contemporary and emerging practices and issues associated with international dimensions of accounting, auditing and financial management.
Corporate Failure and Forensic Accounting
In the same way that the medical profession learns from autopsies, the accounting profession can learn from examining corporate collapses. This unit provides valuable lessons in accounting by examining booms and busts of previous periods and reviewing the reports of inspectors and forensic accountants who have identified deficiencies in accounting methods, internal controls and auditing.
Assurance Services
This unit is intended to expand disciplinary perspectives in auditing and assurance services and to give guidance for research in auditing. It examines the differences in philosophies and methods and compares contemporary and traditional approaches to assurance services. The unit also incorporates an examination of "white collar crime" and explores the role of expert witnesses and audit documentation.
Strategic Management Accounting
Contemporary management accounting systems (MAS) have been criticized for providing misleading information in changing operational environments. MAS should assist operations management with performance measures that reflect new technologies and balanced for the organizational stakeholders. This unit examines the roles of management accounting and the impact of changes on those roles. It also examines various aspects MAS design to link the organizational strategy formulation to management control.
Public Sector Accounting and Financial Control
The public sector is a common feature of our modern society. There are a variety of entities in the public sector which account for a laarge proportion of national output and employment in many countries including Australia. This unit examines the role of government entities in our society, decision-making processes and their accountability structures with an in-depth examination of various accounting, reporting, auditing, financial management and control techniques used by them.
The Role of Accounting in Corporate Governance
Good corporate governance is crucial to the sound functioning of the economic systems. Not only has the topic succeeded in attracting much attention to adopt best practices in improving corporate performance and sustainable economic growth, but also it has drawn attention to the importance of high level of transparency and accountability to the various stakeholders. This unit is concerned with the role of accounting and auditing in the corporate governance process.
Financial Accounting - Critical Analysis
The unit explores external financial reporting from a wide and critical perspective. Important issues are the conceptual basis of financial accounting, measurement in accounting, including an evaluation of several current value models, users' needs for financial information, conceptual frameworks of the professional bodies, interpretation of the elements of the accounting system and harmonization of accounting standards. The particular topics emphasized in a given session will reflect current issues.
Social and Environmental Accounting
This unit reflects the expanding scope of corporate accountability, the rise of corporate environmentalism and the role of stakeholder pressures such as regulation in driving changes to organizational performance measurement and reporting. It provides students with an appreciation of the range of organisational stakeholders and the changing expectations for social and environmental responsibility and accountability. In particular, students will explore issues relating to social and environmental accounting, triple bottom line measurement and disclosures and corporate governance.
Accounting Professional Engagement
This unit focusses on the role that Accountants play in the effective management of businesses, using consulting problems and "real" case studies involving a wide range of business related issues.
Special Topic in Accounting B
This unit critically studies selected topics in accounting not addressed in detail in other masters units in accounting. The topics addressed relate to one theme. Unit available for masters only.
Special Topic in Accounting A
This unit critically studies selected topics in accounting not addressed in detail in other masters units in accounting. The topics addressed relate to one theme. Unit available for masters only.
Two electives may be chosen from any other Masters level units offered by UWS and approved by the head of program. Students must ensure that prerequisite requirements have been satisfied prior to enrolling into any electives. Two of the following units offered within the Master of Professional Accounting program may be chosen:
Revenue Law (PG)
Australian taxation law is complex and varied. This unit briefly introduces the various types of taxes and the overall scheme for the application of taxes in Australia and then focuses on the key provisions of Income Tax Law (including fringe benefits tax)
Commercial Law (PG)
This unit deals with concepts of Australian law and commercial legal obligations that are of importance both to professional practice and to studies in later units. The unit topics are: Australian Legal Institutions and Sources of Law, Case Law and Doctrines of Precedent, Legislation and Statutory Interpretation, The Australian Federation and Concepts of Constitutional Law, Principles of Tortious Liability, and the formation, vitiation, performance and discharge of contracts, including agency, sale of goods and consumer transactions.
Company Law
This unit deals with legal issues concerning various aspects of company; incorporation, regulation, membership and capital, company management, corporate officers, meetings, relations of the company with outsiders, accounts, reports and other disclosures, arrangements and reconstruction, receivers and winding up, share acquisition and takeovers. It also focuses on a review of public policy underlying law in the above areas.