Task
Part A- Critical Analysis (50 marks) 1,500 words
Research and analyse the external reporting of Westpac Group and critique the usefulness of the information as a decision making tool for stakeholders who are concerned about the environmental and social impacts of the firm’s operations.
Use this research and analysis to evaluate, critique and discuss the key Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) disclosures concentrating on the interpretation of the accounting guidelines and frameworks. Your discussion should include:
1. An overview of the environmental and social impacts (positive and negative) of the firm’s operations. (10 marks)
2. A comparison of the quality and depth of environmental and social performance information provided with other firms in the sector. (20 marks)
3. A discussion of the key challenges faced by the firm when complying with the GRI Reporting Standards. (10 marks)
4. An evaluations of whether widespread compliance with the GRI Reporting Standards by other comparable organisations would benefit potential investors, current shareholders and other stakeholders of the firm. (10 marks)
Part B Strategic Initiative (40 Marks) 1,000 words
Jerry Pty Limited is considering a strategic initiative to develop a new range of products. The sales and production teams have developed a high level cost analysis. Prior to pursuing these initiatives they have asked for your management accounting focused input and guidance.
Prepare a short internal briefing document critically analysing the strategic initiative that you will distribute at a team meeting. As part of your briefing, consider the following:
1. What are the likely major costs associated with the ongoing operation for this strategic initiative. Estimate the cost behaviour (fixed, variable or otherwise) of each of the identified costs. (5 marks)
2. Develop a balanced scorecard that could be used to evaluate the success of this initiative. The scorecard should include the following perspectives: (15 marks) a. Financial
b. Customer
c. Internal business processes
d. Learning and growth
▪ Identify one objective for each perspective
▪ Identify two measures for each objective (both financial and non- financial measures can be used).
▪ Briefly discuss the key features of your scorecard and the reasons behind your chosen measures.
3. Critically evaluate whether break-even analysis would be a useful and reliable screening tool to assess the desirability of pursuing this new initiative. (5 marks)
4. Discuss the impact of the initiative on the organisations resources with reference to:
(15 marks)
◦ how many products will be need to be sold to break-even and achieve the given after-tax profit figure;
◦ proposed strategies that you have developed that could enhance the break- even point and forecast profit. These strategies could impact the firm’s sales mix, selling prices, variable or fixed costs; and
◦ include workings which illustrate how your proposed strategies could influence the break-even point and forecast profit.
Your responses to Part A and B must demonstrate an executive level understanding of the accounting concepts and analysis techniques and include at least 3 references to the academic literature.
Further details and guidance is provided in the presentation and requirements sections of this assessment item.
Rationale
This assessment task will assess the following learning outcome/s:
• be able to explain and evaluate the concepts behind the management decision making processes associated with the efficient allocation of business resources.
Assessment Task 3 is designed to assess your understanding of the learning outcome above, covered by Topics 5, “Social and Environmental Accounting”, Topic 6, “Management Accounting and Professional Ethics” and Topic 7, “Introduction to Management Accounting for Decision Making”.

Solution

Introduction

This report is a research and analysis of Westpac Group in comparison to one of its competitors BOG Group. The first part of the report looks at the positive and negative impacts of Westpac on environment and social performance. The second part is a comparison of quality and depth of environmental and social performance information given by Westpac Group and BOG Group. The third part is a discussion of key challenges faced by firms when complying with GRI reporting standards while the last part is an evaluation of benefits potential investors and other stakeholders will gain if firms complied with GRI reporting standards.

Part A

Overview of the environmental and social impacts

Westpac Group, in its sustainability report has indicated that its activities had negative impact on human rights whereby it did not fully respect individual’s right to privacy. The bank is required by law to fully respect people’s right to privacy and to only use or disclose personal information in conducts that people would sensibly respect. Through its business partners and other third parties, Westpac Group did not adhere to this law, which negatively affected the society.………………please following the link below to purchase the solution at $10