22798 Accounting Ethics and Governance
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.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 22747 Accounting for Managerial Decisions OR 22800 Understanding Accounting and Financial Reports
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject provides a discussion of the importance of ethics in the work of professional accountants and appraises and applies an ethical framework which can be used by accountants in ethical dilemmas they encounter. The subject also describes and compares corporate governance frameworks used in Australia and overseas, and discusses the relationships between corporations, shareholders and other stakeholders. The subject describes and evaluates the broader notion of corporate accountability and analyses how and why corporations report information on their social and environmental performance. The content in this subject is aligned with the material included in the CPA Australia Ethics and Governance subject.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Describe the nature and attributes of the accounting profession, and the roles and responsibilities of professional accountants in the business community and society |
|---|---|
| 2. | Discuss key philosophical approaches to ethics in the professional’s decision-making, and evaluate and apply ethical frameworks to resolve ethical dilemmas faced in accounting |
| 3. | Analyse, from a global perspective, the nature, theory and components of corporate governance frameworks |
| 4. | Examine and appraise the relationship between corporations and their shareholders and other stakeholders in the context of organizational governance responsibilities and regulatory compliance |
| 5. | Explain the nature, role and importance of corporate social and environmental responsibility and its relevance to governance, and examine how and why corporations provide information on their social, environmental and sustainability performance |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject provides a discussion of the importance of ethics in the work of professional accountants and appraises and applies an ethical framework which can be used by accountants in ethical dilemmas they encounter. The subject also describes and compares corporate governance frameworks used in Australia and overseas and discusses the relationships between corporations and shareholders and other stakeholders. The subject describes and evaluates the broader notion of corporate accountability and analyses how and why corporations report information on their social and environmental performance. The content in this subject is aligned with the material included in the CPA Australia ‘Ethics and Governance’ subject.
This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attributes:
- Intellectual rigour and innovative problem solving
- Professional and technical competence
Teaching and learning strategies
This subject adopts the following teaching and learning strategies. These strategies include active learning activities where you discuss in-class the material which you have learned and completed prior to coming to class. The subject also incorporates active in-class learning experiences where you collaborate with other students to discuss real-life cases involving ethical and governance issues.
Preparation outside class: One of the principal learning strategies for this subject involves the preparation of assigned material prior to class. Students are required to read and reflect upon assigned readings and complete answers to problems from the textbook and other sources and are expected to apply this learning when they come to class. This preparation incorporates the completion of self-study problems which are available in the textbook and on the learning management system. The solutions to these questions are not discussed in class but are made available on the learning management system. By comparing suggested solutions to their prepared answers students are able to make a self-assessment of their progress in understanding the material in the subject. This self-assessment activity is designed to provide students with feedback and to guide students on those areas where they may wish to seek additional assistance and feedback from subject staff.
In-class activities: Face-to-face teaching involves seminar-style classes which include active learning activities. Seminars are designed to build upon your prior reading of assigned material to ensure that students comprehend the technical aspects of each topic. Seminars will typically incorporate the application and discussion of issues using real-world cases. Students will also be involved in active learning experiences as a portion of each seminar will be devoted to the discussion and application of material prepared prior to class. This active learning activity will be completed in collaboration with other students and provides students with the opportunity to obtain in-class peer feedback on their learning.
Online activities: Your learning in this subject also requires the participation in online learning activities. This will include the accessing and pre-reading of materials placed on the learning management system which will be discussed in class (e.g., PowerPoint slides, watching videos and other material). The lecture slides provided are intended merely to provide you with an overview of what will be discussed in seminars. You are expected to add your own additional notes and explanations. Slides for each seminar are available before each class for you to download from the learning management system and bring with you to class.
Student learning in this subject is also facilitated through online discussion forums which are available throughout session to all students on the learning management system. These discussion forums can be used to ask questions relating to subject content and subject administration. The forums therefore provide an alternative method of obtaining feedback on your learning from subject staff or other students.
Consultation with subject teaching staff: All subject teaching staff are available for one-on-one consultation with students. The specific times that staff is available for consultation will be advised in class by your lecturer and can also be found on the learning management system. Meeting staff during consultation provides an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their learning in this subject.
Content (topics)
- Discussion of the nature of the accounting profession and the role and responsibilities of professional accountants
- Description and application of ethical frameworks to resolve ethical dilemmas faced by professional accountants
- The theory of corporate governance and Australian and overseas corporate governance frameworks
- The association between corporations and shareholders and other stakeholders
- Accountability of organisations for their social and environmental performance
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Seminar Preparation (Individual)*
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 15% |
| Criteria: | *Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Assessment task 2: Assignment (Group)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 3 and 4 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 25% |
Assessment task 3: Final Exam (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 60% |
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.
Required texts
The required text for this subject is:
- CPA Program: Ethics and Governance, Deakin University and CPA Australia, Second Edition, 2018
The textbook (also called Study Guide) is kindly provided by CPA Australia and made available on UTS e-learning space for learning purposes ONLY.
Please read and accept the following Copyright Notice before using the study materials.
These study materials are copyright CPA Australia. They have been provided for your personal use only to review or proof the study material. You should not reproduce or distribute the materials without permission from CPA Australia.
© 2001–2018 CPA Australia Ltd (ABN 64 008 392 452). All rights reserved. This material is: owned or licensed by CPA Australia and is protected under Australian and international law. Except for personal and educational use in the CPA Program, this material may not be reproduced or used in any other manner whatsoever without the express written permission of CPA Australia. All reproduction requests should be made in writing and addressed to: Legal, CPA Australia, Level 20, 28 Freshwater Place, Southbank, VIC 3006 or legal@cpaaustralia.com.au.
Recommended texts
Dellaportas, S., Thomsen, S., and Conyon, M., Principles of Ethics and Corporate Governance in Financial Services, 1st edition, McGraw-Hill, Sydney, 2012.
CPA Australia Member Handbook, available online at https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/member-services/members-handbook
APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants, available online at http://www.apesb.org.au/uploads/standards/apesb_standards/standardc1.pdf
ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (the Third Edition), available online at http://www.asx.com.au/regulation/corporate-governance-council.htm
OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, 2004, available online at https://www.oecd.org/daf/ca/oecd-principles-corporate-governance-2004.htm
References
http://www.abc.net.au/news/abcnews24/business-in-90-seconds/Wall Street (the 1987 movie, directed by Oliver Stone)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_ethicsWhat are business ethics? toolkit.smallbiz.nsw.gov.au/part/17/85/368
Why business ethics matter... to your bottom line - Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand ... http://www.charteredaccountants.com.au/~/media/Files/Industry%20topics/Business%20management/Working%20in%20Business/041320%20CC%20Ethics%20Paper_WEB_FAi.ashx
What are Business Ethics? http://businesscasestudies.co.uk/anglo-american/business-ethics-and-corporate-social-responsibility/what-are-business-ethics.html
What is Corporate Governance, Institute of Company Directors http://www.companydirectors.com.au/director-resource-centre/governance-and-director-issues/corporate-governance