Every manager must face the tasks of finding, interpreting and utilising accounting information. This paper explores the process of accounting for organisations, focusing on financial and management accounting areas as well as financial management concepts.

Sessions will introduce participants to a range of accounting techniques and concepts. The accounting systems provide information for decision-making and it is important to understand the strengths and limitations of the information.

Themes covered include: where financial information comes from, how it is recorded, and how it is reported. The paper explains: accounting conventions and principles, key performance indicators, as well as the control of financial systems. Management accounting themes covered include short run decision making, taxation, both domestic as well as international issues, as well as considerations of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and financial analysis. An introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Stakeholder Management and Sustainability will be provided, and their influences on corporate decision making discussed. Issues relating to contracts, Consumers Guarantees Act and the Fair Trading Act in the business context will also be discussed in this paper.

Throughout this paper, topics will be introduced and illustrated with case examples and practical exercises to encourage discussion and debate. This approach of linking theory to practice will ensure that any limitations or difficulties associated with the models and concepts are identified.

Sstudents are strongly encouraged to attend sessions in person at the Hamilton campus. The teaching philosophy of this paper benefits most from in-person interaction with lecturers and fellow students. However, for those students who are not in Hamilton or need to self-isolate, a FLEXI option is offered. Students can join sessions online via Zoom. Whether you attend in-class or on Zoom, sessions are synchronous**, meaning that you need to be present and participate during the scheduled slot. Although sessions are recorded, group activities cannot be recorded and much of your learning will happen during these activities.