Competency areas and learning outcomes

Content Summary

Intellectual skills enable a professional accountant to evaluate data and information, apply critical thinking to solve problems, make decisions and exercise good judgment in complex organisational situations.

Learning outcomes

At a minimum, graduates are expected to be able to:

LO1	Evaluate data and information from a variety of sources and perspectives through research, integration, and analysis
LO2	Apply critical thinking skills to identify and solve problems, inform judgments, make decisions, reach well-reasoned conclusions and make recommendations where applicable

Interpersonal and communication skills enable a professional accountant to work with others for the common good of the organisation, receive and transmit information, form reasoned judgments and make decisions effectively.

Learning outcomes

At a minimum, graduates are expected to be able to:

LO1	Demonstrate an understanding of collaboration, cooperation, and teamwork when working towards organisational goals
LO2	Communicate clearly and concisely when presenting, discussing and reporting knowledge and ideas in formal and informal situations
LO3	Demonstrate an awareness of cultural and language differences in all communication
LO4	Apply active listening and effective interviewing techniques
LO5	Apply negotiation skills to reach solutions and agreements

Personal skills relate to the attitudes and behaviour of professional accountants. Developing these skills helps individual learning and personal improvement.

Learning outcomes

At a minimum, graduates are expected to be able to:

LO1	Set high personal standards of performance and monitor through reflective activity and feedback from others
LO2	Manage time and resources to achieve academic, personal and/or professional commitments
LO3	Anticipate challenges and plan potential solutions
LO4	Apply an open mind to new opportunities
LO5	Identify the potential impact of personal and organisational bias
LO6	Identify the implications of professional values, ethics and attitudes in decision making

An understanding of ethical and professional values and attitudes are important elements in the development of accounting professionals. It is expected that higher education providers will pay attention in their programs to the fundamental ethical values of integrity, objectivity and confidentiality, as well as professional competence and due care.

Learning outcomes

At a minimum, graduates are expected to be able to:

LO1	Explain the nature of ethics
LO2	Explain the advantages and disadvantages of rules-based and principles-based approaches to ethics
LO3	Identify threats to compliance with the fundamental principles of ethics
LO4	Explain the role and importance of ethics within the profession and in relation to the concept of social responsibility
LO5	Explain the role and importance of ethics in relation to business and good governance
LO6	Explain the interrelationship of ethics and law, including the relationship between laws, regulations and the public interest

Providers of accounting programs in Australia may evidence the professional skills set out in Section 3: Technical and professional competency areas and learning outcomes and this page by referencing initiatives undertaken to meet the national accounting academic learning standards released by the Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) in 2016*. These standards prescribe threshold learning outcomes across six interrelated areas, that all providers of bachelor and coursework master degree programs in accounting are expected to meet. To comply with the professional competence area detailed above, higher education providers would need to demonstrate that the accredited course or program covers PCA 04 Ethical principles, professional values and integrity in addition to the national accounting academic learning standards.

Appendix 3: Professional competency areas and learning outcomes

Content Summary

PCA01: Intellectual skills

Learning outcomes

PCA02: Interpersonal and communication skills

Learning outcomes

PCA03: Personal skills

Learning outcomes

PCA04: Ethical principles, professional values and integrity

Learning outcomes