This course is about financial reporting, but not how to report or account for activities. Two key features of the syllabus are the explicit linkage to the research literature and the emphasis on empirical evidence. The adopted approach is largely based on the economics of accounting and finance. The course also aims to introduce students to the theoretical and practical skills required to conduct their own empirical research.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Discuss the literature concerning the information content of published financial statements and the use of accounting information in contracting
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the key issues presented in the above literature and the implications of these issues for accounting research and practice
3. Conduct empirical research on issues related to financial reporting.

Research-Led Teaching

This course is a research-based course, which aims to familiarize students with the contemporary research themes, techniques and outcomes in the financial accounting and capital market area. Students will gain research skills through:

1. a systematic review of seminal research papers in various areas of accounting research;

2. class presentations and discussions of a selective list of research outputs; and

3. a practical research project that helps students use statistical method to undertake scientific inquiries.

Examination Material or equipment

Details regarding materials and equipment that is permitted in an examination room can be found on the ANU website:

http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-conduct

Information regarding permitted examination materials for the course will be available on the examination timetable website when the examination timetable is released:

http://timetable.anu.edu.au/

Required Resources

There is no prescribed book for the course. Please refer to the course webpage on Wattle for list of readings.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments to whole class and individuals

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

Any student identified, either during the current semester or in retrospect, as having used ghost writing services will be investigated under the University’s Academic Integrity Rule.

COMMUNICATION

Email and the Wattle Course Website

Email and the Wattle course website are the preferred ways of communication.

If necessary, the lecturer and tutors for this course will contact students on their official ANU student email address. Students should use this email address when contacting staff as spam filters used by ANU may not allow other email addresses to be received. Information about your enrolment and fees from the Registrar and Student Services' office will also be sent to this email address.

Announcements

Students are expected to check the Wattle site for announcements about this course, e.g. changes to timetables or notifications of cancellations.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction & Understanding Statistical Evidence	Topic 1 reading
2	Accounting Information & Capital Markets	Topic 2 reading
3	Introduction to Wharton database and Statistical software
4	Earnings Management	Topic 4 reading
5	Earnings Quality	Topic 5 reading
6	Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)	Topic 6 reading
7	Accounting Conservatism and Voluntary Disclosures	Topic 7 reading
8	Non-GAAP reporting	Topic 8 reading
9	Management Compensation	Topic 9 reading
10	SEC Comment letters	Topic 10 reading
11	Practical Assignment Presentations
12	Accounting and Capital Market Review

Tutorial Registration

Not applicable.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Practical Research Assignment	30 %	28/05/2024	20/06/2024	1, 3
Seminar Presentation	20 %	12/03/2024	19/03/2024	1, 2
Final Exam	50 %	30/05/2024	27/06/2024	1, 2, 3

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Course delivery: on-campus lecture. Attendance at all classes, while not compulsory, is expected in line with “Code of Practice for Teaching and Learning”, clause 2 paragraph (b).

Assessment Task 1

Practical Research Assignment

Details of task:

The practical research assignment will require you to conduct rudimentary empirical research on a sample of real firms. You will be required to:

• Identify and download a sample appropriate for your purpose
• Manipulate the data in this sample using MS-Excel’s advanced functions
• Import your data to a statistical program such as SAS and STATA.
• Conduct rudimentary multivariate analysis of your data
• Test the sensitivity of your model to the effect of outliers
• Prepare a professionally presented report detailing your research motivation, method and findings

Further information will be provided by Week 6.

You will be asked to present your work during class in Week 11. While marks are not awarded for this presentation, it is an important part of the learning process as you will receive feedback during your presentation. Your presentation and the in-class feedback will assist you in improving your assignment prior to submission. Submission of the assignment is via Turnitin.

REFERENCING REQUIREMENTS: Harvard Referencing

Assessment Task 2

Seminar Presentation

Details of task:

Starting in Week 4, each student will be required to lead the class discussion on an academic article on at least two occasions. All the articles will be available on Wattle in Week 1. Depending on the enrolment, there may be more than one student assigned to a particular article. While you are not expected to present a complete "lecture" on your topic, you should prepare a small number of PowerPoint slides highlighting key issues, tables, equations, and diagrams relevant to your readings. Students will choose their presentation time in Week 2 based on a first-come, first-served basis. However, the articles will be assigned two weeks prior to the presentations. Every student is required to present at least once and receive feedback by the end of week 6. Students will be assessed on their demonstrated understanding of the assigned articles and their relevance to key issues studied in this course. Presentations will be video recorded, which will enable later validation and verification of assessment if required (in accordance with point 7 in the ANU Student Assessment (Coursework) policy.

 

Due date: The due date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible date.

Return date: The estimated return date is one week after the due date. The return date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible return date.

Assessment Task 3

Final Exam

In-person exam with a duration of either 2 or 3 hours writing time plus 15 or 30 minutes reading time. Details will be provided no later than Week 10. Mock exam questions will be provided.

Centrally administered examinations through Examinations, Graduations & Prizes will be timetabled prior to the examination period. The due date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible date. Please check ANU Timetabling for further information.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

   Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Returning Assignments

Assignment will be returned online.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students