The Australian health care system must account for use of resources, and ensure their equitable and efficient use. Increasingly devolution of management function to cost centre level in health care organisations is occurring. Managers must consider the financial implications of clinical decisions, understand and act on accounting information. They are held responsible for the financial outcomes of their activities. This subject develops a basic knowledge of accounting principles, health services funding arrangements, government reforms, financial reporting, preparation of budgets, business cases and economic appraisals. There are 140 hours of placement in the field working with health managers on financial issues.