This course provides a critical review on the meaning and role of financial accounting theory in financial reporting practices internationally. Students will be exposed to the major areas of research in financial accounting reporting practices. It is hoped that by the end of this course, students would have developed awareness regarding the problematic nature of accounting, disclosure of information, accounting regulations, the role of accounting information in promoting social change and emerging issues in global financial reporting practices. This course is primarily a seminar that involves independent study on specific contemporary reporting practices topics, as well as discussions on research papers of the various financial accounting theories and reporting practices. Students are exposed to a wide range of research paradigm in accounting, including from the positivistic, interpretive and critical perspectives. The topics are generally drawn from areas of share market valuation of financial information, positive accounting theory, contracting and corporate governance and auditing. Additionally, students are introduced to the application of various financial accounting theories within a particular topic for example earnings management and other future corporate reporting.