Swinburne’s Master of Professional Accounting (Extended) is our top-of-the-range MPA program. This professionally accredited course includes a choice of three specialisations: business analytics, finance, and the CPA Australia extension*. Gain specialised knowledge and research skills relevant across industry sectors and prepare for senior roles where you will be relied upon for your valuable insights and analysis.

Swinburne’s strong industry connections will ensure your learning experience is practical with expert guest speakers, topical projects, real-world case histories and embedded use of industry software Xero. Choose the business analytics specialisation and develop your expertise in booming areas such as data visualisation, predictive analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and insights, mobile applications and social networks. Choose the finance specialisation to delve more deeply into finance and banking areas of interest, such as corporate financial management, capital markets, business and entity valuations and risk management.

Course description

The Master of Professional Accounting (Extended) is designed for students who wish to obtain specialized knowledge and research skills in accounting and related areas of business. Students will learn to apply advanced conceptual and practical accounting knowledge to undertake rewarding careers in accounting and related areas of business. This course also provides a pathway for further specialized learning as successful completion of the Master of Professional Accounting (Extended) may qualify students for associate membership to CPA Australia, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) or provide entry to the Chartered Accountants program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ).

Career opportunities

This course provides an avenue for graduates to achieve professional recognition and help fill the shortage of professionally recognized accountants. As many candidates may already be established in a business career, the key vocational outcomes may arise from better current job performance together with new opportunities opening in the accounting and finance areas.

Aims and objectives

apply coherent and developed knowledge of accounting and business-related concepts in diverse contexts and applications using critical thinking

apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to identify and provide innovative solutions to complex problems with reference to established frameworks

communicate proficiently in professional practice to a variety of audiences, function as an effective member or leader of a diverse team, and use the basic tools and practices of accounting within project work

demonstrate integrity, ethical conduct, accountability, respect and a developing awareness of professional practices and cultural norms in a global and sustainable context

apply accounting and business fundamentals to the analysis, design and operation of a business model using appropriate accounting and business methods and tools

reflect on and take responsibility for their own learning and self-management processes, and develop skills to review, reflect on and plan to improve their professional performance