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Module

ACC1012 : Professional Skills for Accounting and Finance

  • Offered for Year: 2025/26
  • Module Leader(s): Miss Melis Besen
  • Co-Module Leader: Dr John Britnell
  • Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

To introduce N400/N401 students to a range of key skills that are vital for success as an Accounting and Finance professional. To introduce the mathematical and statistical techniques and concepts necessary in the field of Accounting and Finance.

Outline Of Syllabus

The key skills element and the mathematics/ statistical element will be taught concurrently.
Professional Skills:
- Introduction: Time management and study skills
- Team working
- Behavioural aspects of the successful professional
- Presentation and report writing skills
Mathematics:
- Basics of linear and non-linear equations
- Linear equations and non-linear equations
- Differentiation, partial differentiation and optimisation
- Descriptive statistics
- Basic probability and distribution
- Estimation and hypothesis testing
- Regression analysis

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture21:002:00PIP Professional skills lectures
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture201:0020:00PIP maths lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion145:0045:00Maths assessment preparation and completion
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion157:0057:00Professional skills assessment preparation and completion.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching31:003:00PIP Maths seminars
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops31:003:00PIP Maths workshops
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops41:004:00PIP Professional Skills workshops
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery11:001:00PiP - Professional skills pre-assessment drop in
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study165:0065:00Maths independent study
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Professional skills sessions will be presented by academic staff with input from library colleagues.

Mathematics and statistics lectures will be presented by colleagues from the School of Maths, who will introduce concepts and techniques. Lectures will be supported by workshop and small group sessions where students will discuss and obtain feedback on their work on case studies designed to put into practice the material taught in lecture materials. Students will also be set weekly Maths practice questions with solutions that develop their ability to apply the key concepts of the module.

The maths element is jointly taught across ACC1012 (the N400 programme) and ACC1053 (the NN14 programme).

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Written Examination1202A50N/A
Exam Pairings
Module Code Module Title Semester Comment
Introductory Quantitative Methods and Assurance2Only the 50% maths and stats exam is paired with the maths and stats exam on AFM1151.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Prof skill assessmnt1M30Group Presentation (10 minutes) and Group Report (maximum 2,500 words)
Prof skill assessmnt1M10CBAs and case studies for a total of 10% of the module marks.
Prof skill assessmnt2M10CBAs, case study and Minitab assignment for a total of 10% of the module mark.
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Prob solv exercises1MFor maths, students can sit practice mode CBAs and will be provided with practice questions.
Prob solv exercises2MFor maths, students can sit practice mode CBAs and will be provided with practice questions.
Prof skill assessmnt1MFormative presentations for academic and peer to peer feedback (up to 10 minutes)
Prof skill assessmnt1MWritten report for formative academic and peer to peer feedback (up to two sides A4).
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The formal mathematics examination and individual assignments will test the mathematics and statistical concepts and techniques introduced in the module.

The key professional skills will be assessed via a group report and a group presentation, relating to a business scenario. In this assessment students will therefore need to demonstrate team working, planning and organisation skills, as well as business awareness, numeracy and data interpretation/ analysis skills.

Self and peer review will take place after the report and presentations, and individuals will receive the group mark adjusted according to self and peer review i.e. their own and their team members' assessment of each other's contributions to 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, including the award of a zero mark for individual students who fail to participate and/or fail to contribute effectively to their group.

In the case of an alternative semester 2 assessment (worth 50% 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.

Reading Lists

Timetable