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Unit outline_

ACCT3015: Accounting Data Analytics

Semester 2, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Traditional accounting techniques and practices have changed little since their development in the industrial era (a low information environment). Financial reports tend to be historical and financial in nature, heavily aggregated, static and paper based. This unit of study introduces students to current accounting research to consider how the mega-trend of 'Big Data', artificial intelligence and robotics is shaping current accounting, financial reporting and auditing practices and their likely future impact. The unit also explores specific aspects of how Big Data and artificial intelligence are currently used in accounting practice and their potential to shape future practices in specific areas such as accounting measurement and forecasting, audit sampling and the timing and frequency of reporting (as examples).

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Accounting
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
ACCT2011 and (ACCT2012 or ACCT2019)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Completion of INFS3110 (or INFS2001) is desirable

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Paul Blayney, paul.blayney@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Paul Blayney, paul.blayney@sydney.edu.au
Ravi Seethamraju, ravi.seethamraju@sydney.edu.au
Emily Neo, emily.neo@sydney.edu.au
Bala Rajaratnam, bala.rajaratnam@sydney.edu.au
Nurul Alam, nurul.alam@sydney.edu.au
Stewart Jones, stewart.jones@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 September 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
hurdle task
Final Exam
Written and numerical questions. Further details provided on Canvas.
50% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Supervised test
? 
Mid-semester exam
Written and numerical questions. Further details provided on Canvas.
25% Week 07
Due date: 14 Sep 2024 at 18:10
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Assignment
Written Task. Further details provided on Canvas.
25% Week 13
Due date: 01 Nov 2024 at 23:59

Closing date: 15 Nov 2024
n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Final exam: This assessment is listed as MANDATORY which means you must undertake the assessment and achieve at least 45% of the available marks in that assessment. Students who fail to achieve this minimum standard in this assessment, even when their aggregate mark for the entire unit of study is above 50%, will be given a Fail grade for this unit. As a result a student's academic transcript will show a Fail grade and the actual mark achieved if the final mark of the unit is between 0-49 and a Fail grade and a capped moderated mark of 49 for all other final marks.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to the unit: Data Analytics in Accounting / Big Data, Artificial Intelligence/Automation/Robotics – Implications to Accounting and Auditing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 02 Data Issues in Accounting – Big Data Sources Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 03 Data Issues in Accounting – Enterprise Level Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 04 Data Issues in Auditing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 05 Introduction to Analytical Tools: Excel Modeling Methods Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 06 Data Management with Excel Data Forecasting Using Exponential Smoothing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 07 Data Extraction & Filtering with Excel Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 08 Introduction to Excel VBA Excel’s Get & Transform Methods (linking Excel data to the web) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 09 Introduction to Machine Learning Analysis I Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 10 Introduction to Machine Learning Analysis II Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 11 Alternative machine learning methods Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 12 Alternative machine learning continued Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  
Week 13 Revision Lecture and tutorial (3 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Lecture recordings: All lectures are recorded and will be available on Canvas for student use. Please note the Business School does not own the system and cannot guarantee that the system will operate or that every class will be recorded.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand and interpret various accounting issues in the context of Big Data and the 4th industrial revolution. Students will learn how to use and apply advanced analytical tools and master the basics of Big Data analytical tools such as machine learning.
  • LO2. Analyse and critically evaluate highly complex real data problems within real-world constraints and critically evaluate the advantages and limitations of various analytical tools.
  • LO3. Identify appropriate data analytic and machine learning tool(s) for business decision making within the context of accounting and Big Data issues. Learn how to harness high-velocity of information and apply data analytics skills to improve effectiveness, efficiency and efficacy in various problem solving tasks.
  • LO4. Develop verbal and written communication skills within the context of accounting and Big Data considerations. Learn how to effectively interpret the outputs of various data analytic techniques and communicate those outputs to decision makers.
  • LO5. Develop ethics and privacy principles and social skills within the context of accounting and Big Data issues; including the interpretation and application of various data analytic outputs.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback has provided the impetus for several minor enhancements have been made to this unit since its last offering.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.