Course

Not-For-Profit and Public Sector Accounting

Faculty
Commerce & Business Administration
Department
Accounting
Course Code
ACCT 4280
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 Weeks
Max Class Size
30
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course Designation
None
Industry Designation
None
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
An accounting procedures, policy and process course in the not-for-profit and public sectors. Part 1 of the course will emphasize the application of accounting concepts used in the not-for-profit sector. Part 2 of the course focuses on how public sector entities of various kind, best use resources entrusted to them in creating value in the public sector. The purpose of the course is to provide students with skills needed to function in an environment of medium complexity. The content will include the application of real world situations using various accounting and/or spreadsheet and/or data analytical applications. NOTE THAT STUDENTS WHO HAVE TAKEN ACCT 4080 and ACCT 4180 CANNOT TAKE ACCT 4280 FOR FURTHER CREDIT.
Course Content

Not-For-Profit Sector

1. Governance and oversight

2. Financial statement concepts

3. Fund accounting

4. Deferral method, restricted funds and endowments

5. Registered charities

Public/Government Sector

1. Governance and decision-making process

2. The planning and budgeting process

3. Operating and capital budgets

4. Public sector accounting and reporting

5. Decision support

6. Auditing

 

 

Learning Activities

Methods of instruction wil include some or all of the following:

  • Lectures 
  • Seminars
  • Online instruction
Means of Assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy.

Quizzes and/or Assignment(s) and/or Project(s) AND Case Analysis   30%
Midterm examination   35%
Final examination   35%
Total  100% 

Students must write both the midterm and the final examinations in order to pass the course.

To pass this course, students must obtain a minimum of 50% on invigilated assessments, with 50% calculated on a weighted average basis. Invigilated assessments include, in-class quizzes, midterm examination and final examination. 

Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:

Not-For-Profit Sector

1. Explain the process of setting up a not-for-profit organization and obtaining appropriate governmental approval;

2. Describe the basics of charitable and not-for-profit organizations;

3. Analyze the major financial reporting issues in not-for-profit organizations;

4. Explain and apply the basics of accounting for and reporting of contributions, restricted funds, deferred contributions and endowments;

5. Analyze and compare the process of measuring value and performance in not-for-profit organizations to for-profit organizations.

Public/Government Sector

1. Explain governance and decision making, including stakeholders at all levels;

2. Explain the planning and budgeting process and their components such as operating and capital budgets;

3. Produce appropriate financial statements, notes and schedules applicable to a governmental body including consolidations;

4. Analyze performance results by using both financial and non-financial performance measurement techniques appropriate for various public sector organizations;

5. Describe the concept of public sector auditing and accountability to stakeholders;

6. Apply internal controls and external audit techniques to public sector organizations with a concern for value for money;

7. Use the CPA Canada Handbook and governmental regulations applicable to the appropriate sector.

Textbook Materials

Access to the CPA Handbook via the library

Textbook(s) and/or materials as approved by the department.

Requisites

Prerequisites

ACCT 2320 and (ACCT 3310 or ACCT 3410)

OR instructor's permission

OR currently active in: PDD Accounting

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for ACCT 4280
Acsenda School of Management (ASM) ASM GEN 4XX (3)
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX COMM 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU ACCT 4XX (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO ACCT 230 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU BFIN 3XX (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN BADM 2XX (3)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC ACC 2XX (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR ACCT 3XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No Credit
LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) LCV BUS 2XX (3)
North Island College (NIC) NIC BUS 4XX (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC BUAD 3XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU BUS 2XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU ACCT 4XXX (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW ACCT 4XX (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC COMM 3XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV BUS 4XX (3)
Yorkville University (YVU) No Credit

Course Offerings

Summer 2024