Graduate Diploma of Professional Accounting

What you'll learn

Accelerate your career potential with applied learning and practical skills. Explore with an applied focus:

• Specialised accounting and finance knowledge and skills
• Management and business decision-making
• Business and company law
• Business reporting
• Data analytics
• Cognitive skills and critical thinking

Graduates of the GDPA will be well-versed in current accounting theories, practices and processes and will be able to work with teams of finance professionals to identify and develop sustainable solutions that address a range of challenges. Graduates of the GDPA will not be eligible to practice as a qualified accountant.

This course is made up of 6 Core Units and 2 Elective Units

Unit Type: Core Credit points: 6 Prerequisites: None

Unit Description:

This unit provides a comprehensive overview of accounting and the associated systems and processes used across the profession. You will be introduced to accounting, in both theory and practice, looking at the principles that drive how accounting numbers are recorded and the ethical considerations that underpin these principles. In this unit, you will develop a sound understanding of how business decisions are made and how businesses record and report on the results of those decisions. You will critically evaluate a business from financial, environmental, and social viewpoints and draft plans for a more sustainable future. This unit provides the foundation for further study in both financial and managerial accounting.

To be successful in this unit you will need to engage with and prepare a range of assigned materials prior to class. You will be required to read and reflect upon assigned texts and other resources and be ready to apply your learning from these when you come to class. This preparation includes the completion of self-study problems in the Moodle online class space.

Learning outcomes:

• Explain and evaluate the different business structures entities use to conduct business in a range of contexts.
• Analyse the role and purpose of accounting standards and evaluate the accounting principles and concepts that underlie current accounting and financial reporting practices.
• Analyse and record business transactions using both manual and computer-based methods.
• Explain and critically evaluate the nature, role, and importance of ethics in business.
• Critically analyse financial data and statements to evaluate business performance.
• Communicate findings clearly and concisely utilising a range of presentation formats including oral, written and multimedia.