University of Technology Sydney

22753 Cost Management and Analysis

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Business: Accounting
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 22747 Accounting for Managerial Decisions
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Description

This subject examines the role of cost management and analysis practices used within organisations. The subject focuses on a range of quantitative techniques that use cost information for business planning and control, including cost classification cost estimation, product costing and pricing, standard costing and variance analysis. Students learn the basic principles underpinning these techniques, gain proficiency in applying them to analyse and solve practical organisational problems and learn how information and communications technology supports cost management and analysis in contemporary organisations.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
1. explain how cost accounting techniques support the achievement of organisational strategies and goals
2. apply a range of appropriate cost analysis techniques to solve practical problems faced by organisations
3. interpret and critically evaluate cost information to support managerial decision-making
4. understand and apply relevant information and communications technology tools to support cost accounting management and analysis

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following program learning objectives:

  • Communicate accounting information and decisions clearly in an appropriate form to business stakeholders (2.1)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This management accounting subject is designed to connect strongly to contemporary practices. The aim is to provide knowledge and skills for a broad range of essential cost management and analysis practices. The subject is relevant to accountants and also to non-accounting managers. The overall focus is the modelling and analysis of complex cost behaviours.

This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attribute(s):

  • Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
  • Social responsibility and cultural awareness
  • Professional and technical competence

This subject also contributes specifically to develop the following Program Learning Objective(s) for the Master of Professional Accounting:

  • Collaborate with peers and stakeholders to achieve desired business outcomes (2.2)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is designed on the philosophy that, to become practice-ready: (1) students learn best by using cost accounting tools common in practice and; (2) students learn best by solving cost modelling and analysis problems sourced from professional practice. This strategy aligns with the UTS Model of Learning for graduates to be “work-ready” and to provide a “practice-oriented education”. The group assignment task is a cost system design and analysis case study designed to encourage critical thinking about the textbook and lectures' content.

The subject is delivered through a three-hour seminar each week. Pre-assigned materials (readings, case studies and audio-visual) and learning tasks will also be made available for students to complete independently.

Students of this subject are required to:

  • Attend all scheduled seminars
  • Complete all subject assessments
  • Check for announcements on the learning management system regularly
  • Read the entire subject outline

Act in an ethical manner in the completion of the requirements of this subject and to not engage in any malpractice that will provide you with an unfair advantage over other students.

In particular, the University has strong policies regarding plagiarism and cheating, which can lead to severe penalties or expulsion.

It is expected that students will have read the online and/or other material that has been allocated for a particular week and are prepared to discuss those materials in seminars. Students must listen, take notes and actively participate in the weekly class. Students should be active in asking questions and participating in discussions. Students will need to learn a variety of theoretical concepts in order to solve the numerous and diverse practical problems contained in the subject.

Content (topics)

  • Business processes and strategy
  • Costing principles, behaviour and estimation
  • Product costing and pricing
  • Job costing
  • Process costing
  • Activity-based costing
  • Standard costing and variance analysis
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Datasets and database design
  • Database management systems and documentation

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Quizzes (Individual)*

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2, 3 and 4

Weight: 30%
Length:

Duration for each quiz is 60 minutes.

Criteria: This assessment will be graded on the following criteria:
  • correct application of costing techniques and theories
  • accuracy of answers
  • level of detail and the clarity of your answers

*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero.

Students who do not attend one or both quizzes (15% each) will have the weighting of that assessment added to the final examination conditional on the students submitting, receiving approval and complying with the requirements of special consideration in accordance with the UTS rules. If the composite mark for the final exam totals more than 50 percent and the student is in the final subject of their degree, the UTS rules on borderline result (range of 45-49) shall apply whereby students will be allowed to undertake a supplementary final examination. Where a student completes and passes the supplementary examination, the maximum mark awarded for the subject will be 50 Pass.

Assessment task 2: Individual Assignment (Individual)

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

1, 2, 3 and 4

This addresses program learning objectives(s):

2.1

Weight: 20%
Length:

The report detailing the results of your analysis which includes numeric tables of results and associated explanations should not exceed 15 pages, excluding the coversheet, reference list and appendices

Criteria:
  • The extent to which the student can appropriately apply management accounting analysis techniques, tools and software to the case problem
  • The quality of the written analysis supporting the accounting analysis outputs
  • The quality of the recommendations provided based on critical analysis and creative thinking
  • The extent (quantity and quality) of the academic research used to support the analysis and recommendations
  • Clarity and appropriateness of communication of accounting information and decisions

Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)

Intent:

This assessment task is a compulsory component of the subject. A student must attain no less than 40% of the marks in this assessment to pass the subject irrespective of the subject’s total marks.

Objective(s):

This addresses subject learning objective(s):

2, 3 and 4

Weight: 50%
Length:

Duration: 2 hours

Criteria: The Final Exam assessment task will be graded on the following criteria:
  • correct application of costing techniques and theories
  • accuracy of answers
  • level of detail and the clarity of your answers

Minimum requirements

A student must achieve 50% or more of the subject’s total marks AND achieve 40% or more in the final exam to pass the subject.
A Fail (X) Grade is awarded to a student who attains 50% or more of the overall subject assessment marks but attains less than 40% of the final exam marks. To pass the subject, the student must then attain 50% or more of the marks in the supplementary task, in which case the student is awarded an overall mark of 50P.

Required texts

Course Textbooks:

Eldenburg, Management Accounting, 4th Edition. John Wiley and Sons. Print ISBN : 9780730369387 | Digital ISBN : 9780730369424

Richardson, Data Analytics for Accounting, 3rd Edition (International), McGraw-Hill, Print ISBN: 9781264444908 | Digital ISBN: 9781264460571

Other resources

Required software:

During semester students will need to use Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Office (including Excel). Links to free software downloads of all programs are provided on Canvas