Accounting

These inherent requirements apply to the following courses: Bachelor of Accounting, Master of Professional Accounting and Master of Professional Accounting (Professional Practice).

Admission to the accounting profession in Australia is governed by the requirements of the major professional bodies, namely the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (ICAA), Certified Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA) and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA). These rules describe minimum standards and requirements pertaining to academic study. 

Prospective and current students who are concerned about their capacities in relation to inherent requirements are strongly encouraged to contact the CDU Access and Inclusion team to discuss possible adjustments or alternative courses

E: inclusion@cdu.edu.au

These inherent requirements should be read in conjunction with other course information and related information such as:

• Academic and Scientific Misconduct Policy
• Student Code of Conduct
• Accounting Professional and Ethics Standards Board
• Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA)
• Chartered Practicing Accountants Australia (CPA)
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

There are eight domains (some with sub domains) of inherent requirements for Accounting courses and units at CDU.

Each domain has five levels: 

1. Introduction
2. Description
3. Justification
4. Adjustments
5. Exemplars 

Acting in ways consistent with the recognised values of society and avoiding activities that do harm.
In the context of inherent requirements, students undertaking a course of study may be governed by practice standards and codes of ethics.

1. Introduction
   Accountancy is a profession governed by professional standards and codes of conduct. These standards can be found at: Accounting Professional and Ethics Standards Board. Students must be able to demonstrate their ability to meet these standards.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the requirements of ethical behaviour in practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to comply with professional accounting and finance codes and standards facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support the recognised codes of conduct and values of society and must not result in unethical behaviour.
5. Exemplars:
   • Engage with the accounting industries in a professional manner
   • Demonstrate ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.

The maintenance of conduct that is acceptable and appropriate, according to the recognised norms of society over a given period.

1. Introduction
   Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively in a demanding program of study.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the behavioural stability required to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic environment.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Behavioural stability is required to work individually and in groups in the academic environment. Accounting students will be required to have behavioural stability to manage their academic responsibilities.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in academic and professional settings.
5. Exemplars:
   • Being receptive and professional in responding appropriately to constructive feedback
   • Managing own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals both in classroom and placement settings
   • The ability to engage with peers and staff appropriately and with sensitivity in discussion settings in the classroom and in team tasks.

Related to the law. In the context of inherent requirements, this refers to the legal requirements of professional bodies relevant to specific courses of study.

1. Introduction
   Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and Certified Practicing Accountants Australia operate a best practice governance model which is overseen by a Council, Board of Directors and Strategic Leadership Team. Accounting is governed by related legislation, rules and codes of conduct to enable the professional delivery of accounting services.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates knowledge of, and compliance with, Australian Business Law, professional regulations, and scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary to meet professional registration criteria. Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian Law facilitates professional, responsible and accountable accounting practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must be consistent with legislation, rules, codes of practice and regulatory requirements.
5. Exemplars:
   • Preparing financial statements in accordance with relevant accounting and finance standards and Corporations Law
   • Applying appropriate legal principles and disclosure requirements in preparing financial reports
   • Understanding and applying the reporting requirements for related and associated companies, joint ventures and company groups.

Verbal communication: Conveying messages, ideas, or feelings through speech.

1. Introduction
   Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to participate in accounting courses.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
   • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately, and effectively
   • The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
   • The ability to give and receive timely clear verbal reports and feedback
   • The ability to deliver clear presentations to groups.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships is integral to accounting and finance professions. Interactivity of communication is necessary for effectiveness of advice and for resolving complex problems in the course of study. Verbal communication is essential for developing and maintaining effective relationships with peers in tutorials and in group assessment tasks. Effective communication with team members is necessary for building successful teams and completion of academic team assignments. Timely and effective delivery of feedback is critical to academic team tasks. Academic assessment may require verbal presentation of work to peers.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must address effectiveness, clarity and accuracy issues.
5. Exemplars:
   • Participating in tutorial discussions
   • Responding appropriately to feedback during presentations
   • Participating in regular feedback sessions
   • Responding appropriately to an information request in learning environments.

Non-verbal communication: Communication other than speech that conveys meaning including gestures and facial expressions, body posture, stance, touch, eye movements, eye contact and distance from the person/s with whom you are communicating. Non-verbal cues can provide significant additional information to the person with whom you are communicating.

1. Introduction
   Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to the accounting profession and needs to be courteous, respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest, and non-judgmental.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
   • Displays consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   • Responds with sensitivity to individual differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic and professional relationships.  Displaying consistent and appropriate demonstrative behaviour being mindful of space, time, boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of, or appropriate response to, effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Recognising and responding appropriately in classroom situations
   • Recognising and responding appropriately in academic, professional, and placement discussions
   • Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in academic and professional environments.

Written communication: Communication by written symbols including electronic means, print or handwriting.

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental element of Accounting practices. Accounting students must be able to acquire, understand, apply, and convey information in a written format.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances
   • The capacity to use a range of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to complete academic assessment requirements. 
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Construction of written text-based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter. Accurate written communication is essential to provide consistent professional services.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy, and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in academic, and placement settings.
5. Exemplars:
   • Constructing an essay or research report to academic standards in English
   • Constructing accounting and finance reports and documents.

The mental action or process of acquiring knowledge and understanding through one's thoughts, experience, and senses.

Knowledge and cognitive skills: Acquired skills that reflect an individual's ability to think. Cognitive skills include verbal and spatial abilities, concentration, memory, perception, reasoning, planning and organisation, flexible thinking, and problem solving.

1. Introduction
   Consistent knowledge and effective cognition skills must be demonstrated to provide professional and competent accounting services.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
   • Ability to comprehend and process information
   • Ability to integrate and implement knowledge.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure effective assessment and advice in professional settings. The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for understanding and applying accounting and finance principles.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.
5. Exemplars:
   • Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items
   • Demonstrating the capacity to apply knowledge of policy and procedures in class discussions and professional contexts.

Numeracy: This relates to the ability to understand and work with numbers.

1. Introduction
   Accurate numeracy skills are essential to accounting studies
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to acquire evidence and accurately convey appropriate information both in data and numerical formats
   • The ability to reason with numbers and other mathematical concepts and apply these in a range of contexts and to solve a variety of problems.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in accounting and finance professions to facilitate effective information and advice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes in an accurate and effective manner.
5. Exemplars:
   • Demonstrate accurate calculation and interpretation of complex accounting and financial transactions involving numeracy skills
   • Demonstrate a capacity to undertake complex financial analysis of accounting and finance reports.

Actively listening to someone express their thoughts, feelings or experiences and showing understanding by consciously responding through skills such as paraphrasing, summarising or mirroring.

1. Introduction
   Competent listening and comprehension skills are essential to provide professional and effective delivery of accounting advice to a client.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   The student demonstrates:
   • The ability to accurately reflect on their professional performance
   • The ability to accept feedback on their professional performance and respond constructively
   • The ability to accurately acquire information and convey appropriate messages.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Studying in learning environments involving teamwork requires a well-developed understanding of oneself to appropriately engage with others. Working in work integrated learning settings requires a well-developed understanding of oneself and the ability to effectively manage one's reactions to a variety of situations that may arise. The ability to acquire information in a variety of circumstances and to accurately convey messages is necessary to demonstrate the capacity to deliver effective accounting advice and assistance to clients. The ability to read, decode, interpret, and comprehend multiple sources of information is necessary to demonstrate the capacity to deliver effective accounting advice and assistance to clients.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the demonstration of a capacity to effectively reflect on one’s own actions and adapt appropriately to a variety of situations. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Identifying when a learning activity is outside one's scope or expertise or when one's practice may be negatively affected by personal experience and/or reactions
   • Demonstrating the ability to accept constructive feed-back and adjust one’s own behaviour accordingly
   • Effectively using relational and interpersonal skills to manage relationships in academic and work integrated learning settings.

The ability to undertake a task/s over a pre-determined length of time. This could include physical performance such as standing for a length of time, or cognitive (mental) performance such as concentrating for a particular length of time.

1. Introduction
   Accounting practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet client needs.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates:
   • Consistent and sustained level of physical and mental energy to complete an assigned task in a timely manner
   • The ability to perform research activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is appropriately completed
   • The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to complete academic tasks and provide professional accounting services.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
5. Exemplars:
   • Reading and comprehension of vast amounts of text, oral and numeric information as the basis of formal decision making.
   • Summarising significant amounts of information into a context that can be understood within a team.
   • Planning time and workload effectively including the ability to self-manage competing commitments and take responsibility for own wellbeing.

The ability to competently use Information Communication Technology (ICT) to communicate information and complete complex tasks.

1. Introduction
   Competent ICT (computing) knowledge and skills are essential to communicate with associates, professional and regulatory bodies, and clients. ICT skills are also essential to research information and issues, analyse data, and report on and present the outcomes of analysis.
2. Description of inherent requirement
   Student demonstrates the ability to use various ICTs to successfully complete academic and professional tasks.
3. Justification of inherent requirement
   The ability to use spreadsheet and accounting software packages is fundamental to accounting practice.
4. Adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the effective use of the range of ICT relevant to accounting. 
5. Exemplars:
   • Advanced use of spreadsheet function for analysis
   • Use of accounting packages such as MYOB.