| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ACC1000 | Introduction to Non-Specialist Accounting and Finance |
| ACC1003 | Introduction to Accounting and Finance (for Business School Students) |
N/A
N/A
- to enable students to appraise a company's financial condition and performance from its published accounts, paying particular attention to the context of its operating environment and accounting policy choices
- To develop project management skills
- To develop team working skills
- To develop report writing skills
- To develop presentational skills
Analysis of the business environment, ratio analysis, report writing, working in teams, work on presentations.
A 6000 word project and presentation will be carried out in teams of students, analysing a set of company accounts.
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Examine the key indicators of financial performance and compare the performance of one company with others.
Appraise the impact of accounting policies on financial disclosures
Investigate the interaction of a company with the business environment to appreciate that accounting does not exist in a vacuum.
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Present an analysis of financial statements, including ratio analysis, in a group report and in a group presentation.
Prepare a word-processed group report that illustrates and compares (by means of graphs, tables and charts as appropriate) trends and features of the financial performance and position of a publicly listed company and comparative companies.
Analyse the operating environment and history of a publicly listed company.
Work in a diverse team over a long term project.
Carry out self reflection on their own and their team performance in the module and present this in a multimedia format.
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | PIP lectures |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 66 | 1:00 | 66:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | small group seminars - PIP |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Scheduled on-line contact time | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Online surgery sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Lecture materials (PIP lectures and pre-recorded lectures) and module talk will explain the aims, objectives, structure and operation of the module, and students will form teams and be allocated a different company to each team. Lectures on team working, spreadsheet construction and on the analysis and interpretation of company accounts will provide a framework for understanding the following key indicators of financial performance:
1. level of growth
2. profitability, cost structure and impact of accounting policies;
3. cash generation and liquidity;
4. level of investment as a safeguard for future profitability;
5. structure of a company's finance.
Students are expected to obtain relevant background information for example via the the library, which is well-stocked with periodicals and other relevant sources e.g. Financial Times, industry/economic reports etc. All students have the opportunity to consult with academic staff on a group basis throughout the module. Students are required to take the initiative to arrange team meetings, consultations with staff as required, and to play a full part in the work of the group. Team working, research and report writing skills are thus developed through the project as well as analytical and numerical skills.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 75 | Written group project (6000 words max) and group presentation. |
| Essay | 2 | M | 25 | Reflective Essay on Group Work (up to 2000 words) |
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 1 | M | Students submit a piece of written work (600-1000wd) & will receive formative feedback on their group work during progress meetings |
Individuals will receive the group mark adjusted according to the team members' assessment of each other's contributions to the report and presentation. Each team is to keep a log of its meetings, which should be handed in with the project itself. The Module Leader retains the right to adjust individual marks where it is deemed necessary in the interests of fairness.
The group report and group presentation test the students' knowledge and skills outcomes without exception.
Students will be asked to submit an individual reflective essay on group work. Individual marks received on reflective essays will be added to the adjusted group work marks.
Group Presentations can take place pip or remotely.
Original Handbook text:
Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2022/23 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2023/24 entry will be published here in early-April 2023. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.