Accounting analytics develops new insights and understanding of financial and non-financial performance by continuous iterative examination of large data sets pertaining to past financial and non-financial information and events. This course aims to equip students with skills to analyse accounting data to address accounting-related problems. Students are expected to obtain an understanding of different types of data analytics methods, and how to apply these methods to analyse accounting-related problems. 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Identify and synthesise useful sources of financial and non-financial data that help accountants’ decision-making.
2. Demonstrate the cognitive skills to master the major concepts, and use current applications, of typical accounting analytics methods.
3. Critically analyse accounting case studies to gain an understanding of the opportunities and challenges brought by large financial and non-financial data set.
4. Use and evaluate analytics techniques to interpret accounting data, analyse business environments, and develop solutions for authentic (real world and ill-defined) problems in accounting processes.
5. Interpret and effectively communicate the findings of accounting analytics to both specialists and non-specialists.
6. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of contemporary accounting analytics relevant to accountants’ work in professional contexts.

Research-Led Teaching

This course builds on current data analytics research and methods to examine contemporary issues in accounting. The discussions in class will be problem based. Also, students are provided with, and encouraged to directly engage in, published research. 

Required Resources

The following resources are available electronically:

[1] ACCA (The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IMA (Institute of Management Accountants) (2013) Big Data: Its Power and Perils. Available at http://www.accaglobal.com/bigdata

[2] Alles, M. (2015) "Drivers of the Use and Facilitators and Obstacles of the Evolution of Big Data by the Audit Profession", Accounting Horizons, 29(2), pp. 439-449.

[3] KPMG (2013) Data Analytics for Internal Audit. Available at https://www.kpmg.com/ch/en/library/articles-publications/documents/advisory/ch-pub-20150922-data-analytics-internal-audit-en.pdf

[4] Vasarhelyi, M., Kogan, A. & Tuttle, B. (2015) "Big Data in Accounting: An Overview", Accounting Horizons, 29(2), pp. 381-396.

[5] Warren, J., Moffitt, K. & Byrnes, P. (2015) "How Big Data Will Change Accounting", Accounting Horizons, 29(2), pp. 397-407.

Recommended Resources

The following are recommended resources (available from the Chifley Library):

[1] Howson, C. (2013), Successful Business Intelligence, Second Edition: Unlock the Value of BI & Big Data, McGraw-Hill Education; 2 edition (November 5, 2013) (ISBN-10: 007180918X; ISBN-13: 978-0071809184)

[2] Minelli, M., Chambers, M., & Dhiraj, A. (2012) Big Data, Big Analytics: Emerging Business Intelligence and Analytic Trends for Today's Businesses, John Wiley & Sons, (ISBN-10: 1118239156, ISBN-13: 9781118239155)

Staff Feedback

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

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups 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). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

ASSESSMENT REQUIREMENTS

As a further academic integrity control, students may be selected for a 15 minute individual oral examination of their written assessment submissions.

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 Misconduct 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. Notifications of emergency cancellations of lectures or tutorials will be posted on the door of the relevant room.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to accounting analytics
2	Traditional accounting data analysis and its limitations
3	Tools and techniques for accounting analytics
4	Production planning: optimization and sensitivity analysis (1)	Individual assignment 1 [8%] Due
5	Production planning: optimization and sensitivity analysis (2)
6	Revenue cycle analytics (1): forecasting sales demand	Individual assignment 2 [4%] Due
7	Mid-semester examination	25%
8	Revenue cycle analytics (2): clustering analysis
9	Expenditure cycle analytics: rule induction and decision tree	Individual assignment 3 [4%] Due
10	Forensic accounting applications
11	Auditing: Processing unstructured data	Individual assignment 4 [4%] Due
12	Ethics related to accounting analytics

Tutorial Registration

No tutorials in this course.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Individual assignment 1	8 %	16/03/2020	30/03/2020	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Individual assignment 2	4 %	30/03/2020	13/04/2020	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Individual assignment 3	4 %	04/05/2020	18/05/2020	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Individual assignment 4	4 %	18/05/2020	01/06/2020	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Mid-semester exam	25 %	30/03/2020	08/05/2020	1, 2, 4, 5, 6
End-of-semester exam	55 %	04/06/2020	02/07/2020	1, 2, 4, 5, 6

* 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 Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

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 ANU Online 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.

Examination(s)

Both the mid-semester exam and the end-of-semester exam are not redeemable assessments. Both the mid-semester and end-of-semester exams are closed-book examinations. More information will be provided on Wattle after the semester starts.

Assessment Task 1

Individual assignment 1

This is a written assignment to be undertaken individually. Details of the assignment will be provided two weeks prior to the assignment due date.

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. 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.

Assessment Task 2

Individual assignment 2

This is a written assignment to be undertaken individually. Details of the assignment will be provided two weeks prior to the assignment due date.

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. 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.

Assessment Task 3

Individual assignment 3

This is a written assignment to be undertaken individually. Details of the assignment will be provided two weeks prior to the assignment due date.

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. 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.

Assessment Task 4

Individual assignment 4

This is a written assignment to be undertaken individually. Details of the assignment will be provided two weeks prior to the assignment due date.

Assignments are submitted using Turnitin in the course Wattle site. 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.

Assessment Task 5

Mid-semester exam

The mid-semester exam is a 2-hour closed-book exam. The assessment task covers the content from Week 1 to Week 5.

Centrally administered examinations through Examinations, Graduations & Prizes will be timetabled prior to the examination period. Mid-semester exams will be held in either Week 6 or Week 7. The due date listed in the assessment summary is the earliest possible date. Please check ANU Timetabling for further information. Exam scripts will not be returned. Students may review their exam scripts by appointment during scheduled sessions at the RSA School Office.

Assessment Task 6

End-of-semester exam

The mid-semester exam is a 2-hour closed-book exam. The assessment task covers the content from Week 1 to Week 12.

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. Exam scripts will not be returned. Students may review their exam scripts by appointment during scheduled sessions at the RSA School Office.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

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

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Student assignment is returned through Wattle or emails within two weeks after submission.

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.

Resubmission of Assignments

We do not accept resubmission of assignments.

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 Diversity 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 undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students