Module Information
Module Identifier
AC34220
Module Title
Accounting and Finance: Analysis and Application
Academic Year
2015/2016
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 2 (Taught over 2 semesters)
Co-Requisite
Co-Requisite
Co-Requisite
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 17 x 2 Hour Lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Business Game: Group work - Presentation | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | Business Game: Individual diary | 10% |
| Semester Assessment | Business Game: Individual Report | 30% |
| Semester Assessment | Case Study: Presentation in a Pair | 20% |
| Semester Assessment | Case Study Report | 30% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Individual Presentation Repeat Failed Element (Group/pair elements are omitted from the supplementary requirements) | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Case Study Report Repeat Failed Element (Group/pair elements are omitted from the supplementary requirements) | 60% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Appreciate the linkage between: - Financial accounting - Management accounting - Finance - General management
* Be able to select appropriate techniques, apply them and interpret the outcomes
* Identify the broader context in which business decisions are made
* Further develop their decision making and team working skills
* Further develop their report writing and presentation skills on an individual basis
Aims
This module is a core module to the School of Management and Business N400 (Accounting and Finance)
Brief description
The module is designed to run in two parts, integrating and testing the skills and knowledge developed within the module and the degree scheme. These two parts are an interactive business game and a case study.
Interactive business game: Students are assigned into groups where they are required to act as directors running a company making regular decisions. The broad aims of the module are to consolidate technical knowledge by requiring students to make key decisions after performing appropriate analyses of detailed information about their company and its environment.
Case Study: Using high-level business analysis, applied to a topical case study for students to develop and apply their report writing and presentation skills.
Interactive business game: Students are assigned into groups where they are required to act as directors running a company making regular decisions. The broad aims of the module are to consolidate technical knowledge by requiring students to make key decisions after performing appropriate analyses of detailed information about their company and its environment.
Case Study: Using high-level business analysis, applied to a topical case study for students to develop and apply their report writing and presentation skills.
Content
For the first 10 lectures all students will be taught together improving their skill set in analysis an interpretation of financial accounts and in building an integrated appreciation of risk:
- Cross-sectional analysis
- Time series analysis
- Forecasting earnings and cash flows
- Forecast accuracy
- Integrated appreciation, assessment and management of risk (business, operational, financial or reputational)
In addition all students will be given further skill sessions in report writing and presentations.
After this core lecture series finishes the cohort will split into two groups, one taking a business game element and the other a topical case study element in each semester.
Business Game:
Working in teams students take the role of directors of a company through the use of an interactive business game. As a member of the board of directors, students are responsible for the running of a company competing against other student-run companies, requiring students to make key decisions after performing appropriate analyses of detailed information about their company and its environment
As a board of directors students are required to make decisions concerning:
After 2 x 2 hour small group sessions to practice presentation skills taught in the first part of the year, students will be asked to use high-level business analysis to look at a current accounting/business case study to address business situations / problems in an integrated, holistic and useful manner
For both parts students will draw on the disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, finance and management in general, and will use statistical and economic analyses as appropriate.
A key aspect of the module is the further development of personal and inter-personal skills, including: co-ordination, delegation, leadership, motivation, listening skills, responsibility, self-motivation, persuasion, reflection, focus, analyses, prioritising, perceptiveness and communication.
- Cross-sectional analysis
- Time series analysis
- Forecasting earnings and cash flows
- Forecast accuracy
- Integrated appreciation, assessment and management of risk (business, operational, financial or reputational)
In addition all students will be given further skill sessions in report writing and presentations.
After this core lecture series finishes the cohort will split into two groups, one taking a business game element and the other a topical case study element in each semester.
Business Game:
Working in teams students take the role of directors of a company through the use of an interactive business game. As a member of the board of directors, students are responsible for the running of a company competing against other student-run companies, requiring students to make key decisions after performing appropriate analyses of detailed information about their company and its environment
As a board of directors students are required to make decisions concerning:
- Staffing
- Raw material costs, quality and quantities
- Product prices and terms
- Marketing
- Research and development
- Financing
After 2 x 2 hour small group sessions to practice presentation skills taught in the first part of the year, students will be asked to use high-level business analysis to look at a current accounting/business case study to address business situations / problems in an integrated, holistic and useful manner
For both parts students will draw on the disciplines of financial accounting, management accounting, finance and management in general, and will use statistical and economic analyses as appropriate.
A key aspect of the module is the further development of personal and inter-personal skills, including: co-ordination, delegation, leadership, motivation, listening skills, responsibility, self-motivation, persuasion, reflection, focus, analyses, prioritising, perceptiveness and communication.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | * Develop an easy familiarity with numerical data sources and numerical data from the annual financial statements published * Apply numerical data to problem solving and decision making with care and accuracy * Assess the reasonableness of and interpret numerical solutions * Support assertions/arguments with appropriately developed and presented numerical data * Calculate and use descriptive statistics |
| Communication | * Develop confidence and clarity of oral communication via group work and the assessed presentation both in a group and individual setting * Develop clarity and focus of written communication * Develop and use appropriate subject-specific vocabulary in oral and written communication |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | * Identify and distil the key issues covered by group meetings and yearly financial results * Identify and use a range of learning resources * Investigate benefits of small group working on self study * Structure study to accommodate intensive learning |
| Information Technology | * Use a variety of electronic web- and library-based resources to review available information and retrieve pertinent information |
| Personal Development and Career planning | * Develop skills in financial analysis and decision making which are essential to the aspiring general manager in the real world * Develop knowledge and skills of interpretation of financial statement other public financial information which is useful/essential in a number of different occupations. * Identify a variety of potential career routes within the financial and professional services sector |
| Problem solving | * Identify the purpose of the game and what needs to be achieved * Assess which data is pertinent to the problem * Recognize that alternative solution/ methods might be available * Interpret case material, describe and explain the problems, issues and their impact * Select and apply appropriate methods for solving the problem * Assess the reasonableness of problem solutions and interpret those solutions |
| Research skills | * Develop basic information accessing and researching skills * Properly reference/attribute information sources * Select the most pertinent information for retrieval * Retrieve information * Re-assess the pertinence and assess the credibility of retrieved information |
| Subject Specific Skills | * Develop competence in understanding and appropriately applying investment/financial mathematics, accounting and general management * Understand, analyze, interpret and synthesize between financial accounting, management accounting and market-based financial information * Make well-based financial recommendations and decisions * Bring financial analysis and decision making skills to the service of the business; in strategizing, marketing, operating, etc. |
| Team work | * Students are assigned into groups for the practical element of the business game * Develop experience of team work and develop team working skills via small group working and decision making |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6