BUACC 2614 – Management Accounting 2

Semester 2, 2014

Group Assignment

According
to Martin and Steele (2010, p.13), “The two principal professional associations
in Australia – CPA Australia (the CPA) and the Institute of Chartered
Accountants in Australia (the Institute) have indicated their awareness of the
significance of issues of sustainability reporting and development of appropriate
skill sets in word and in deed. The commitment of both organisations to
sustainability principles has been shown by their adoption of, and support for,
sustainability-focused reporting approaches and by their opting to take up
membership of the Accounting for Sustainability Forum”.

According
to Sikka (2008, p.291), “The burgeoning corporate social responsibility
literature rarely focuses on the anti-social practices of accounting
firms…Accountancy firms are on a collision course with civil society”.

Consider the above excerpts.

In a two-part essay:

1. Discuss the stance
   and initiatives of the Australian accounting profession on corporate
   social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. Include your views on the
   role of accounting and the professional accountants on CSR and
   sustainability.

b. Discuss the way in which BHP Billiton has demonstrated its social and
environmental accountability.

BHP
has been publishing Sustainability Reports or alternatively.bhpbilliton.com/home/aboutus/sustainability/reports/Pages/Roll%20up%20Pages/2001%20Annual%20Health%20Safety%20Environment%20and%20Community%20Report%20documents.aspx”>Annual
Health, Safety, Environment and Community Reports for over a decade. For
BHP’s Sustainability Report for 2013, please go to:

.bhpbilliton.com/home/aboutus/sustainability/reports/Documents/2013/BHPBillitonSustainabilityReport2013_Interactive.pdf”>http://www.bhpbilliton.com/home/aboutus/sustainability/reports/Documents/2013/BHPBillitonSustainabilityReport2013_Interactive.pdf

For BHP-related issues in the media, please go to:

.smh.com.au/environment/bhp-mines-set-to-damage-lifegiving-swamps-20100217-odzf.html”>http://www.smh.com.au/environment/bhp-mines-set-to-damage-lifegiving-swamps-20100217-odzf.html

.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-07/an-radio-doco3a-ok-tedi/4455092″>http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-07/an-radio-doco3a-ok-tedi/4455092

You
may also refer to other media reports on BHP’s environmental impact.

Two good starting points for your research are: the textbook (Chapter
17); the IFAC’sInternational Guidance Document on Environmental
Management Accounting and the websites of the CPA and ICAA. For example, go to:.cpaaustralia.com.au/professional-resources/practice-management/toolkit/environmental-accounting”>http://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/professional-resources/practice-management/toolkit/environmental-accounting

References:

Martin,
A. and Steele, F. (2010) Sustainability in Key Professions: Accounting.
A report prepared by the Australian Research Institute in Education for
Sustainability for the Australian Government Department of the Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts.

Sikka,
P. (2008). “Enterprise culture and accountancy firms: new masters of the
universe”, Accounting, Auditing &
Accountability Journal, Vol.21 (2), pp.268-95.

————————————————————————————-

Please
note the following:

• Format: Essay
• Contribution to overall assessment: 25%
• Length: 2000 – 2500 words
• Due date:02^nd October 2014

Your work must comply with the University’sGeneral Guide for
the Presentation of Academic Work.

Useful
links:

.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/164121/FedUni-General-Guide-to-Referencing-2014.pdf”>http://federation.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/164121/FedUni-General-Guide-to-Referencing-2014.pdf

.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/190044/2014-General-Guide-to-Writing-and-Study-Skills.pdf”>http://federation.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/190044/2014-General-Guide-to-Writing-and-Study-Skills.pdf

• This is a group-assignment. Each group needs to have 2 to 3 members
  in it. Please organise yourselves into groups.
• Please make sure that names and ID numbers of
  all group members are stated on the cover sheet of your submission.

As
this is a group assignment, each member of your group is awarded the same mark.
As we know, working in groups has its
pros and cons. I am sure that you will hold constructive and energetic group
discussions on the issues at hand. In
case of any disagreements, you will be able to resolve them in a democratic and
rational way. There will be times when you may have to agree to disagree with
each other. Invariably different group
members bring different skills to a project; it is up to you to make the best
of it. I believe one can learn a lot by discussing the issues with one’s
colleagues.

If
you happen to find your group members are “not pulling their weight” or there
are problems with any member’s commitment, then please try to resolve those
issues amongst yourselves. Open and
honest communication always helps. If
you are unable to resolve these issues, you are most welcome to see me and we will
try to sort out the problems together. Do this as soon as possible and certainly
before the due date.

·
BUACC2614,
Management Accounting 2

·
Semester 2, 2014

·
Group
Assignment

GRADE: