Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

None

Co Requisite Comment

NBS8003 – Financial Information Analysis.
NBS8005 – Corporate Strategy & Valuation

Aims

1. To empower students with the knowledge, understanding and confidence to analyse and interpret the information in companies’ annual reports

Outline Of Syllabus

1. Fundamental concepts of financial accounting
2. Introduction to the work of a financial analyst
3. Conceptual and regulatory framework for financial reporting
4. Structure and content of companies’ financial statements
5. Revenue recognition and disclosure
6. Asset recognition and valuation
7. Analysis and interpretation of financial statements using ratios
8. Consolidated financial statements
9. Goodwill and intangibles
10. Equity, financial instruments and tax
11. Cash flow statements

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to have a critical understanding and ability to appraise:

1. The structure, format, and content of annual reports; their capabilities and limitations as a source of information about company activities and performance.

2. The impact of accounting policies on results; the choices of accounting policies available to directors under IFRS; and the incentives and potential for earnings and impression management.

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to:

1.Analyse and interpret financial statements, restating the figures using different accounting policies where necessary in order to better understand company performance and facilitate comparisons

2. Prepare single company and consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

1. At master's level the distinction between lecture material and small group teaching can be rather more fluid than at undergraduate level. Sessions will set out basic knowledge and techniques, but will also involve discussion to foster deeper understanding and develop skills.
2. The module will start with an intensive three-week introduction to accounting designed to ensure that all students have the basic understanding of accounts required for the programme.
3. Later teaching will be more evenly paced over the rest of the year, and will involve regular use of financial statements and real world examples.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The first exam is to assess how students stand after the first three weeks of intensive delivery. It is formative as well as summative in its intention given that students will need to apply the knowledge tested in the remainder of the module.

The group project is designed to give students practice in reading published literature in a critical way and will be particularly important in assessing the development of professional skills. Students will also gain by getting formative feedback on these.

The end of year examination will assess a wide range of learning outcomes including knowledge outcomes as well as skills outcomes. Some questions will focus on problem solving, whereas others will require students to analyse and interpret real-world data from company reports. The high weighting attached to the examination is to ensure that students demonstrate understanding and skills in a controlled environment and is in line with other modules on the programme.

In the case of an alternative semester 2 assessment (worth 75% of the overall module mark) being necessary due to circumstances, the module leader will in the first instance consult with the DPD as to the requirements of the professional accrediting body to discuss possible acceptable alternatives. In 2020/21 this alternative was a 24 hour take home exam delivered online, and it is envisioned that if circumstances do not allow a present-in-person timed exam at the end of semester 2, and the professional body agrees, then this may well be an example of the type of alternative assessment which could be put in place.

General Notes

N/A