Assessor Resource

ICAICT208A
Operate accounting applications

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit applies to information and communications technology (ICT) personnel who need to understand and use commercial accounting tools and packages to support the financial area within a small to large office environment. A variety of commercial accounting tools and packages are readily available. A basic knowledge of double-entry accounting and the ability to read financial reports are considered an advantage for this unit.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to operate common accounting software packages in order to maintain enterprise financial records.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

load and configure accounting software

create and maintain enterprise financial records, meeting business and legislative requirements

record and track transactions

back up data

reconcile accounts and generate reports.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

use of printer and PC with appropriate specifications to run the software

use of industry standard commercial accounting applications

documents detailing business requirements

legislative requirements if required

appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of accounting operations

direct observation of candidate creating and maintaining enterprise financial records

review of reports, including reconciliation and discrepancy checks.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

communication skills to:

communicate with peers and supervisors

seek assistance and expert advice

literacy skills to:

interpret user manuals and help functions

read and write basic workplace documents

numeracy skills to use mathematical ideas and techniques related to recording and analysing basic financial data

problem-solving skills to address common operational problems when using accounting applications

technical skills to operate a personal computer (PC) and peripherals.

Required knowledge

basic accounting concepts:

assets

cost of sales

creditors

debtors

equity

expenses

income

liabilities

basic accounting devices:

accounts

chequebook register

general ledger

invoices

purchases

sales journals

transaction journals

current legislative requirements relating to enterprise requirements:

goods and services tax

income tax rates

pay as you go

superannuation

features and functions of common accounting reports:

balance sheet

business activity statements

chart of accounts

profit and loss

features and functions of common accounting software.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Accounting software may include:

commercial accounting software applications:

Microsoft Money

MYOB

Phoenix

Quickbooks

Quicken

organisation-specific accounting software.

Operating instructions may include:

help desk

user manual

verbal request

written instructions from meetings.

Business and legislative requirements may include:

customer

inventory

payroll

supplier

tax requirements of the organisation and the taxation department.

Disk may include:

internal and external storage devices, such as:

CD

DVD

blu-ray

universal serial bus (USB) flash drive.

Accounting data may include:

balance sheets

expenses

profit and loss statements

revenue.

Financial reports may include:

balance sheets

business activity statements

profit and loss statements.

Appropriate person may include:

authorised business representative

client

supervisor.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Select accounting software to meet business requirements 
Load, register and configure accounting software according to operating instructions 
Establish chart of accounts according to business and legislative requirements 
Create and add data on customers and sales 
Create and add data on suppliers and purchases 
Create and add payroll details 
Create and add inventory details 
Add required or suitable tax codes 
Generate invoices and track their progress 
Record customer payments and update customer details 
Record and track purchases 
Record payment of wages, allowances, taxation and superannuation 
Update business data as required 
Save accounting data to disk 
Make a regular backup of accounting data and store in a safe location 
Reconcile accounts 
Generate and print financial reports based on accounting data 
Check financial reports for errors and discrepancies 
Discuss errors with appropriate person and rectify as required 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICAICT208A - Operate accounting applications
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

ICAICT208A - Operate accounting applications

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: