History

The School of Accounting & Finance can be traced back to 1966 with the appointment of the first full time lecturer in accountancy, Errol Moore. This full time position was supplemented with the appointment of Allan Coote as part-time lecturer. During the 1960's the University operated as a College of the University of NSW with courses being set and examined by that body. By 1973, when the first professor of accountancy was appointed, the staff at the Wollongong campus had grown to two lecturers and two tutors.

The University of Wollongong became autonomous in 1975 and by this time the University was developing and operating all its courses and subjects. The School of Accounting & Finance had experienced rapid growth which led to the appointment of a lawyer to its full time staff in order that the School could develop the law subjects within the degree.

There were physical resource improvements also and an accounting laboratory was established. This was a room specifically designed to strengthen first year teaching as well as house frequently used books, journals and other resources used in the subjects for which the School was responsible. These included, besides accounting subjects, general management, marketing and the law subjects. The first management subjects had been offered in 1973. Continued demand for these subjects facilitated the School's initiative in developing a postgraduate Diploma in Management which was first offered in 1980. This achievement was followed closely by the School's introduction of a Master of Management in 1981. The School continued developing the management program until 1985 when a separate Department of Management was created.

Another important development in 1981 was the introduction of the Master of Studies in Accountancy. This new postgraduate degree in accounting aimed at providing specialised postgraduate qualifications by undertaking course work which fulfilled the requirements of professional accounting bodies. The degree was later renamed Master of Accountancy.

The School was also responsible for teaching law to non-lawyers as part of the professional requirements of accountants, managers and those specialising in industrial relations. As the number of legal subjects offered grew, the School, in 1984, was renamed the School of Accountancy and Legal Studies. However, in 1989, with the appointment of the first professor of law to the University, the lawyers separated from the School and are now part of the Faculty of Law. The School's name reverted to the Department of Accountancy and later Department of Accountancy & Finance in 1995. In June 2002, the Department of Accountancy & Finance was renamed to the School of Accounting & Finance.

New enrolments within the School have increased dramatically over the last decade. In 1982 there was a total of 192 new enrolments, of which the bulk (140) were BCom (ACCY) undergraduates. Ten year later, in 1992, the undergraduate intake was 623! Over the same period postgraduate enrolments increased from two to forty one. The School also runs a large PhD program which has been offered since 1989.

Incorporating computers in the accountancy degree has always been one of the School's high priorities. In 1985 a compulsory introductory course in computers was included in the BCom program. By early 1988 when a new head of School and Professor of Accountancy, was appointed, computer equipment and support staff were being provided on a Faculty wide basis. Since 1988, however, the introduction of computers within the School has taken on added emphasis and resulted in a computing component in all undergraduate subjects to develop students' accounting skills and to ensure that they have appropriate experience with computer applications in the accounting field on their graduation. Development of computing skills of students and staff was further facilitated with the appointment of a School computer systems officer in 1990. Within five years the School evolved from a two computer School to a fully computerised School with each staff having a PC on their desk and its own local area network. Computer aided and managed accounting learning programs have been developed and are used in all subjects the School offers.

In 1991 the School of Accounting & Finance moved into the new Commerce Building. It is a fine building with beautiful landscaping which makes it a very attractive environment in which to work. The School has continued to grow and mature. A second chair in accounting has been appointed. It has gained an international reputation for its research with staff being invited to other institutions and visitors wishing to come here to work. The School has always taught finance subjects as electives in the commerce degree. From 1995, a full specialisation in finance is offered.

The School now has thirty two full time teaching staff and is supported by an Administrative Assistant, a Professional Officer and an IT Support Unit.