Course Title: Work effectively in the accounting and bookkeeping industry

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2025

Course Code: ACCT5447C

Course Title: Work effectively in the accounting and bookkeeping industry

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities. 

School: 525T Business & Enterprise

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4435 - Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping

Course Contact: Nick Reynolds

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 0791

Course Contact Email: nick.reynolds@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Course Coordinator and teacher: Nurjis Sethi

Phone: +61 3 9925 5701

E-mail: 

nurjis.sethi@rmit.edu.au

Contact hours (appointment only):

Mon to Fri: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work autonomously and in teams to complete work activities relating to the provision of accounting and bookkeeping services.

The unit applies to individuals who occupy accounting and bookkeeping roles with some responsibility, communicate professionally with stakeholders, and use a range of research and organisational techniques to establish and carry out their work requirements in the accounting and bookkeeping industry.

Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. Users are advised to check with the relevant regulatory authorities to confirm those requirements.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

FNSACC418 Work effectively in the accounting and bookkeeping industry

Element:

1. Develop professional working relationships

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Clarify business needs and expectations of work through clear communication with key stakeholders 1.2 Determine roles and responsibilities of various members of the accounting and tax profession according to business needs 1.3 Identify activities that fall outside own role and responsibilities, and identify alternative service providers able to carry out those activities 1.4 Refer business owner to networks for advice and services where applicable 1.5 Request feedback on range, scope and quality of service to be provided and act on feedback, where applicable 1.6 Identify and apply ethical principles and practices in own role and responsibilities

Element:

2. Identify compliance requirements and support materials

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Obtain access to publications and software tools required to carry out own work 2.2 Research legislative, statutory, regulatory and industry requirements for carrying out own work activities

Element:

3. Set up and maintain systems to meet compliance requirement

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Develop systems that support user needs 3.2 Develop instructions and guidelines for carrying out daily activities according to compliance requirements 3.3 Design processes and procedures for regularly reviewing and adapting systems according to compliance requirements

Element:

4. Complete work activities autonomously and in a team

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Identify tasks to be done and required conditions for working autonomously and in team environment 4.2 Document required resources, timelines, and priorities for work activities in work plan 4.3 Communicate priorities from work plan with team members, as required 4.4 Provide feedback to team members to encourage, value and reward individual and team efforts, and contributions 4.5 Support team to identify and resolve problems, as required 4.6 Adapt work plan according to changes in technology and work organisation

Element:

5. Develop and maintain own competency

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Identify and document own professional development needs and goals in professional development plan 5.2 Confirm compliance with competency, authorisation and licensing requirements relevant to own role 5.3 Research and document professional development opportunities that reflect own needs and goals in professional development plan 5.4 Confirm professional development plan includes timeline and actions to meet documented needs and goals

Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work autonomously and in teams to complete work activities relating to the provision of accounting and bookkeeping services.

The unit applies to individuals who occupy accounting and bookkeeping roles with some responsibility, communicate professionally with stakeholders, and use a range of research and organisational techniques to establish and carry out their work requirements in the accounting and bookkeeping industry.

Work functions in the occupational areas where this unit may be used are subject to regulatory requirements. Users are advised to check with the relevant regulatory authorities to confirm those requirements.


Teaching Schedule

Course syllabus

There will be a 3 hour Face to Face class every week on RMIT campus for this course. Please check your timetable for class location and timings.

Week

Topic

Assessments/Quiz

Week 1 beginning 14 April 2025

Pre-class work:

· Familiarize with Canvas shell navigation

· Reading help and support information

· Understanding RMIT guidelines

· Checking Collaborate Ultra- Student guide

· Viewing Course guide information

· Getting information on learning resources 

Chapter 1 Develop Professional Working Relationships

1.1 Clarify business needs

1.2 Determine roles and responsibilities

Quiz 1

Mid- Semester Break 18-25 April

Week 2

Chapter 1 Develop Professional Working Relationships

1.3 Identify alternative service providers

1.4 Request feedback on service provided

1.5 Identify & apply ethical principles

 

 Quiz 2

Week 3

Chapter 2: Identify compliance requirements and support materials

2.1 Access publications and software

2.2 Legislative requirements for work

2.3 Industry regulation

2.4 Industry codes of practice

 

 

Week 4

Chapter 3: Set up and maintain systems to meet compliance requirements

3.1 Develop systems to support user needs

3.2 System compliance requirements

3.3 Develop compliance instructions

3.4 Review and adapt to systems regularly



Week 5

Chapter 4: Work autonomously or in a team to complete work activities

4.1 Determine tasks to be done

4.2 Required resources, timelines in workplan

4.3 Communicate priorities with team members

4.4 Provide feedback to team members

4.5 Identify and resolve problems

4.6 Adapt workplan to changes in technology

Assessment 1 due

Week 6

Chapter 5: Develop and maintain your own competency

5.1 Identify and document PD needs

Discussion on Assignment 2 

 

Week 7

Chapter 5: Develop and maintain your own competency

5.2 Comply with licensing requirements

5.3 Research and document PD needs

5.4 Confirm PD plan including timeline & actions

Discussion on Assignment 2 

 

Week 8

Assessment Feedback & Resubmission if required

Assessment 2 due

Week 9

Final week for resubmission if required

  

Student support

Your first point of contact for any support needs with your assessments should be your teacher and assessor. If you require further support, you should consider contacting the following support services at RMIT. 

Assessment adjustments

Students requiring support or adjustments for their formal assessments task or exams should contact Equitable Learning Services (ELS), for more information on the types of adjustments provided, access RMIT adjustments to assessment.

Special consideration

If unexpected circumstances affect your ability to complete an assessment you can apply for special consideration.  For more information access RMIT special consideration.

Appeals

As an RMIT student you are entitled to seek a review of decisions that impact on your studies. For more information access RMIT appeals.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

ISBN: 978-1-76073-281-3

References


Other Resources

Available on Canvas


Overview of Assessment

Performance Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:

  • identify key roles and responsibilities of organisation’s accounting team and alternative service providers
  • research and identify compliance requirements and ethical practices relevant to own role
  • develop at least one system and guidelines for work procedures that comply with legislative requirements
  • plan, communicate and support the team to complete at least three work activities that contribute to the team environment
  • identify and undertake at least two professional development opportunities to increase skills for own work role.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:

  • roles, responsibilities and limitations of bookkeepers and accountants
  • methods to develop effective working relationships
  • methods to establish and maintain clear communication channels
  • requirements of accounting and bookkeeping industry codes of conduct
  • components of accounting and bookkeeping work activities
  • functions and features of resources, timelines and activities in work plans relating to performance evidence
  • policies and procedures relevant to own role in accounting and bookkeeping industry
  • functions and features of professional development plans
  • methods to update professional development plans
  • statutory, legislative and regulatory requirements relevant to licensing in the accounting and bookkeeping industry and own role
  • organisational operational protocols relating to performance evidence.

Assessment Conditions

Skills in this unit must be demonstrated in a workplace or simulated environment where the conditions are typical of those in a working environment in this industry.

This includes access to:

  • organisational policies, procedures, legislation, regulations and codes of conduct required for own role
  • office equipment, technology, software and consumables required for own role.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the requirements for assessors in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions.  You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.


Assessment Tasks

You will be required to successfully complete the following assessments to be deemed competent in the course. Students MUST successfully complete ALL below mentioned assessment tasks to gain competency in order to pass this course:

Assessment 1- Develop Professional Working Relationships and Compliance Requirements 

Assessment 2- Teamwork and professional development 

Students can be asked to reproduce any assessment piece in front of the teacher.


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS under Assignments.

All assessments will utilise a competency-based model and will be deemed as either Satisfactory or Not Yet Satisfactory.

Other Information

The text book for this unit is available via SCORM on CANVAS:

by Anne Collins & Vivian Rowden 3rd Edition (January, 2023)

ISBN: 978-1-76073-281-3

Course Overview: Access Course Overview