ACCG8123 - Session 1, 2023
Research Based Report (15%)
Financial Reporting Disclosures on Leases in the Australian
Corporate Sector
Due: Wednesday 3 May 2023, 11.55 pm
(Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST))
Word limit: 1,200 words
S1 2023 ACCG8123
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According to the 2019 AASB Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting, “the objective of
general-purpose financial reporting is to provide financial information about the reporting entity
that is useful to existing and potential investors, lenders and other creditors in making decisions
relating to providing resources to the entity”. Financial information is considered to be useful if
it is relevant and faithfully represented for the users to make informed decisions.
As a new accounting graduate, you have just joined the financial reporting unit of a listed
company* when your manager, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), approaches you with your first
task. Your company's board members are concerned about the company's reputational standing in
the market relating to the quality of financial information in the annual report and keen to ensure
that assets and liabilities are appropriately reflected and disclosed in the company's latest annual
report. Therefore, the Board decided to have a review of the relevant accounting treatments and
disclosures about leases in the company's latest annual report.
Required:
Based on the Board's decision, the CFO asks you to draft a business research report addressed to
the Board of Directors on the following:
a. Discuss the current lease arrangements of the company (must be from the perspective of
the lessee) for the year ended 30 June 2022. This should include any relevant
classifications, a summary of current accounting treatment (i.e. recognition and
measurement) and presentation/disclosure in the financial statements in accordance with
AASB 16 Leases. (15 marks).
b. Analyse the potential impacts on the company's financial position and performance for the
year ended 30 June 2022 if your company simply recorded lease payments as rent expense,
that is, a debit to expense and a credit to cash. This section requires you to demonstrate
your critical thinking skills by evaluating the consequences of different accounting
treatments. The analysis should be clear, coherent and supported by relevant examples.
(10 marks).
c. Reflect on two concepts or skills you learned in ACCG8123 during this semester, which
you believe have had a significant impact on your professional growth. You must explain
how you applied these concepts/skills to complete this task. This section requires you to
demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios. (15 marks)
You need to attach a copy of the relevant parts of the annual report showing Leases disclosures
and measurements made by the company. Do not attach the entire annual report.
To complete this assignment, you will need to select a suitable company yourself that meets the
following criteria:
• The company must be a constituent of the S&P/ASX 300 index (www.asx300list.com);
• The company must publish audited annual financial reports in English, fully complying
with AASB (not NZASB or accounting standards in other countries) or IFRS
standards;
• The company must have a 30 June year end.
• Choose the annual report for the financial year ended 30 June 2022.
S1 2023 ACCG8123
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Assessment of report
The research-based report represents 15% of your total mark for ACCG8123 and is compulsory. Your
assignment will be marked out of 60, as shown in the Report Marking Rubric on page 6 of this document
and will then be converted to a mark out of 15 percent.
Report submission instructions
Where to submit The written report must be submitted in electronic form using Turnitin (through
iLearn via the ‘Research Report’ section folder). Detailed submission instructions
are provided on iLearn. Please ensure that you are familiar with these instructions
and submit before the deadline in case of technical issues.
A hardcopy submission is not required.
When to submit Due: Wednesday 3 May 2023, 11.55 pm
No extensions will be granted. A 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be
applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day
(including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if
the assessment is submitted.
How to submit The report can be submitted either in a PDF or word format.
The filename of your report must be as follows:
ACCG8123_XXXXXXXX (where the crosses represent your eight digit SID)
S1 2023 ACCG8123
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Report Format
Before you start writing your report, it is recommended that you undertake the following (both of these
can be accessed through the ‘Business Report’ section on iLearn):
1. Watch the e-lecture on business report writing
2. Take a look at the sample Business Research Report provided on iLearn.
Structure The report must contain the following (in this order):
• Report cover page (You can design your own cover page)
• Table of contents
• Executive summary
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Reference list
• Appendix
You should include relevant parts of the annual reports that you have used
and referred to in your report. Do NOT attach entire annual reports. You can
include the relevant parts of annual reports as screenshots rather than copying
and pasting content, since it can impact the Turnitin similarity percentage.
Length Total word count limit = 1,200 words.
Your word count must be included on your cover page.
Included in word count Excluded from word count
• Introduction
• Body
• Conclusion
• Report cover page
• Table of contents
• Executive summary
• Reference list
• Appendix
Penalties for exceeding the word limit are as follows:
Word count Penalty
• 1,201 – 1,319 words
• 1,320 – 1,439 words
• 1,440 or more words
• No penalty
• 10% of total marks
• 20% of total marks
Style The report must be presented as follows:
Font: Times New Roman 12 point Spacing: 1.5 times line spacing
Margins: not less than 2.5 cm
S1 2023 ACCG8123
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Footer Each page must have a footer containing the following:
ACCG8123 S1 2023 Your SID Page number
Referencing In text referencing is required for all sources used and a complete list of
references must be provided using the Harvard Referencing System.
A copy of the Harvard Referencing System is available on iLearn.
Please note that as this is a research assignment it is NOT appropriate to
reference to textbooks or lecture slides.
Plagiarism All assignments will be manually and electronically checked for plagiarism
and it is extremely important that you are familiar with the policy on
Academic Honesty.
A link to the policy is available in the Unit Guide on iLearn.
Not attempted Fail Pass Credit Distinction High Distinction
The measurements and
disclosure requirements
for Leases as per AASB
16
15 marks
Not attempted or
entirely or significantly
plagiarised from other
sources.
0 marks
Chosen company is not
suitable/ Leaves out several
relevant aspects of
measurement and disclosure
requirements and/or many
details are incorrect.
6 marks
Explains the majority of relevant
measurement and disclosures in
some detail and is mostly correct,
although significantly more
analysis is needed.
8 marks
Explains most relevant
measurement and
disclosures in sufficient
detail. Critical analysis is
provided but not in detail.
11 marks
Includes nearly all relevant
measurement and
disclosures. Analysis is
mostly accurate with
adequate detail.
13 marks
Includes all relevant and possibly
unusual details regarding the
measurement and disclosures.
Analysis is accurate and
insightful.
15 marks
potential impacts on the
company's financial
position and
performance if your
company simply recorded
lease payments as rent
expense
Not attempted or
entirely or significantly
plagiarised from other
sources.
Chosen company is not
suitable/Does not include
relevant details, uses faulty
analysis
Includes the majority of relevant
details, although some
analysis/discussion may be
faulty
Includes most relevant
details. Analysis/discussion
mostly accurate but more
needed
Includes nearly all relevant
details. Analysis/discussion
mostly accurate with
adequate detail.
Includes relevant and possibly
unusual details.
Analysis/discussion accurate
and insightful.
10 marks 0 marks 4 marks 5 marks 7 marks 8 marks 10 marks
Reflection on two
concepts or skills
learned and how to
apply in this task
Not attempted or
entirely or significantly
plagiarised from other
sources.
Reflection is unclear,
incomplete and/or irrelevant
in places, little or no
demonstration of the ability
to identify, analyse and
synthesise knowledge from
a range of experiences
and/or incorporate this
knowledge into critical self-
reflection to formulate
professional development
strategies.
Reflection is generally clear,
comprehensive and relevant,
and with some limited
demonstration of the ability to
identify, analyse and
synthesise knowledge from a
range of experiences and/or
incorporate this knowledge
into critical self-reflection to
formulate professional
development strategies.
Reflection is generally
clear, comprehensive and
relevant, and occasionally
demonstrates the ability to
identify, analyse and
synthesise knowledge from
a range of experiences
and/or incorporate this
knowledge into critical self-
reflection to formulate
professional development
strategies.
Reflection is clear,
comprehensive and relevant,
and frequently demonstrates
the ability to identify, analyse
and synthesise knowledge
from a range of experiences
and incorporate this
knowledge into critical self-
reflection to formulate
professional development
strategies.
Reflection is clear,
comprehensive and relevant,
and consistently
demonstrates the ability to
identify, analyse and
synthesise knowledge from a
range of experiences and
incorporate this knowledge
into critical self-reflection to
formulate professional
development strategies
15 marks 0 marks 6 marks 8 marks 11 marks 13 marks 15 marks
Document formatting
and structure (including
length, organisation of
sections and
paragraphs)
Not attempted or
entirely or significantly
plagiarised from other
sources.
Fails to follow assignment
requirement.
Too short or too long/Strongly
affect reader due to
formatting errors and
confusing organisation.
Occasionally meets the
assignment requirement.
Distract reader due to formatting
errors. Organisation causes some
confusion.
Occasionally meets the
assignment requirement.
Occasionally include
formatting errors.
Organisation of sections and
paragraphs generally clear.
Mostly meets the assignment
requirement. Rarely include
formatting errors. Clear
organisation of sections and
paragraphs.
Meets all the assignment
requirements.
Use professional, correct
formatting. Clear organisation of
sections and paragraphs with
excellent flow.
10 marks 0 marks 4 marks 5 marks 7 marks 8 marks 10 marks
Written expression and
referencing
Not attempted or
entirely or significantly
plagiarised from other
sources. Did not use
referencing system
correctly.
Too informal or errors in
grammar make meaning
unclear. Minimal referencing.
Did not use referencing
system correctly.
Sometimes too informal or errors
in grammar make meaning
unclear in places. Noticeable
errors in referencing. Frequently
used referencing system
correctly.
Generally appropriate tone.
Language is generally clear
but may be repetitive or
simple. Frequently used
referencing system correctly.
Appropriate tone. Language
clear and shows variety.
Used referencing consistently
and accurately with very few
minor errors.
Appropriate tone. Language is
clear, varied and easy to read.
Used referencing consistently
and accurately in all aspects.
10 marks 0 marks 4 marks 5 marks 7 marks 8 marks 10 marks