ACCOUNTANCY

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Professor D Heald

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

An introduction to accounting:

• The need for performance measurement and accounting


• An introduction to business planning

• Recording and classifying transactions: Double entry systems


• Analysing transactions: preparation of financial statements - trading and manufacturing

• Understanding costs - behaviour, labour, materials and overheads


• An introduction to costing systems - absorption and marginal costing


• Short term decision making


• Budgeting

Structure

2 one-hour lectures and 1 two-hour workshop per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%).

Resit: 1 written examination (70%). Continuous assessment (30%), where it is in the interest of the student they would normally be given the opportunity to resubmit coursework.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr K H Tee

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

All businesses make decisions about how to finance investment projects. This course provides the fundamental principles and practices about how companies make these decisions. The course begins by considering the role of the financial manager and the institutions and mechanisms that affect business activity. The role of risk is looked at in detail through careful analysis of the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) and application of this model is considered. By outlining the relevant issues surrounding capital structure, dividend policy, this course provides the fundamental information required for further study of corporate finance issues at level 3.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: two multiple choice tests (20% each) and one 2-hour examination paper (60%).

Resit: The in-course assessment mark is carried forward and the examination is taken again in the resit diet.

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr K H Tee

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 2 or above.

Overview

This course explains the principles and practices of personal finance and professional investment techniques. Personal finance issues such as tax-efficient saving, mortgages, credit cards, insurance and pensions are examined with respect to the present day environment. A core component is the development of investment strategies and the opportunity for students to invest in their own portfolio and monitor its progress in “real time”. Other topics include, financial markets, such as the London Stock Exchange, financial analysis of shares, bonds, options, futures, and an understanding of the jargon that is often used by financial practitioners and in the financial press.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures, 2 one-hour computer classes per week; 1 one-hour tutorial fortnightly; 1 one-hour workshop fortnightly.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (50%) and in-course assessment (15% group presentation, 15% individual report based on group presentation and 20% invidividual report).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S How

Pre-requisites

AC 1511.

Overview

The course builds upon the material presented in AC 1511 by looking at the framework for financial accounting for companies and develops students’ technical skills in financial statement preparation. It looks in particular at the regulation, preparation and evaluation of the financial statements of groups of companies, including those with overseas operations and diversified activities.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Mr A Arthur

Pre-requisites

AC 1511.

Overview

This course develops and extends the operational tools and techniques introduced in AC 1008 and AC 1510, by developing more complex applications and by showing how quantitative methods and analytical techniques can be applied to management accounting problems. It also emphasises the diverse industrial, commercial and not-for-profit settings in which management accountants work. The focus is upon understanding the nature of management accounting information, and upon developing an ability to select and apply appropriate techniques in specific contexts.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination paper (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor C Roberts

Pre-requisites

AC 2524

Overview

Building upon the material of Financial Accounting 2, the course examines in greater detail theoretical frameworks applicable to financial reporting. Conceptual frameworks and income theory are used to critically evaluate the accounting treatment of assets and liabilities and the measurement of performance with particular emphasis being placed upon controversial areas of financial reporting.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 two-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Mr A Arthur

Pre-requisites

AC 2525

Overview

This course focuses on developing students’ understanding of management accounting in an organisational context. It uses recent research to help students explore the behavioural, social, and organisational aspects of management accounting. In addition, there is an operations research component which contributes to the accredited core.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture per week and 1 one-hour tutorial or computer lab per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 two-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

To be confirmed

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 who have passed either (i) AC 2026 and PO 2001 or (ii) EC 2002.

Overview

This course investigates how the value of a company can be affected by corporate actions. These possible actions include: investment decisions, financing decisions, changes in the scope of the corporation's business, dividend policy, debt policy, mergers, leveraged buy-outs, warrants and convertibles, and changes in management rules. Standard problem solving techniques are used so that students will develop a good working knowledge of the theory and valuation methods that are used worldwide in major corporations and financial institutions.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week and 1 one-hour problem solving class per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and 2 in-course assessment pieces (15% each).

Resit: Examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor R Buckland

Pre-requisites

AC 2026 and PO 2001.

Overview

The course will develop basic models of financial markets and financial management from level 2 courses to honours depths of critical analysis. Material will focus on financial management issues in an internationalised context, with coverage of corporate investment, growth and risk management and financial strategy. Material will be covered with the aid of case material and inputs from corporate finance practitioners.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures, 1 two-hour computer laboratory per week; 1 two-hour seminar per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour closed examination at end of half-session (50%), 1 CAA objective test in week 9 (20%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Molyneaux

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 3 or above taking the Designated or Honours degrees in Accountancy.

Overview

This course introduces students to the concepts and the techniques of auditing and the legal and professional framework within which it operates. Areas covered include the historical development of auditing, legal and professional requirements, case law, auditing concepts, standards and techniques, and computerised auditing. Some teaching will be resourced by incorporation of visiting lecturers from local professional accountancy firms.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour workshop per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 three-hour written examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor D Heald

Pre-requisites

Available to students in Programme Year 3 or above who have passed AC 1510 and AC 2524.

Notes

This course will be running in the second half session only.

Overview

An introduction to taxation within the UK with specific reference to Personal Taxes; Inheritance Tax; Value Added Tax and to the taxation of Corporate profits. Reference will also be made to Capital Gains Tax. The course encourages students to determine the principles underlying taxation; to use these critically to assess the taxes about which they are acquiring technical knowledge and to consider for themselves the place of tax avoidance and planning, as well as the associated ethical issues relevant to taxpayers and their advisers.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Mr M Whittington

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Years 3 or above who have passed AC 1511.

Notes

Available in 2007/08 and in alternate sessions thereafter.

Overview

This course provides the techniques and practical tools for analysis of financial statements in order to understand the value that a business generates for shareholders. The focus is on interpretation of international financial statements, understanding the international diversity in financial reporting systems and learning how to compare and analyse the fundamental value of comparative companies in different countries.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour computer class per week, 1 fortnightly tutorial.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (70%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

To be confirmed

Pre-requisites

Available only to level 4 students, PO 2001.

Notes

The existing AC 4523 Empirical Methods in Finance course runs in parallel with a similar postgraduate course BU 5546 of the same title. Lectures are shared between the two courses, and students are provided separate tutorials/computer labs.

The new course will run in a similar manner by incorporating teaching from a first half session postgraduate taught course BU 5006 Introductory Econometrics for Finance. This course is a 10-credit level 5 compulsory course and runs for 6 weeks from week 12 to week 17. The new course would then run its own lectures for the new undergraduate course from weeks 18 to 23. Tutorials/computer labs would again be kept separate for the full 12 weeks of the course for the undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Overview

Course will cover topics from the following:

• Introduction to financial econometrics


• Classical linear regression models


• Statistical inference


• Violations of classical linear regression models


• Market behaviour of asset prices


• Time series analysis


• Financial modelling of risk and return

Structure

1 two-hour lecture per week; 1 one-hour computer lab per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%); continuous assessment (40%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Mr A Arthur

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed AC 3541 and AC 3542.

Overview

Topics may include:

• Audit evidence - scientific and legal perspectives


• Accounting research and the philosophy of social sciences


• Corporate social responsibility


• Environmental accounting


• Gender issues in professional practice and in academic research


• 'Giving a true account' - theories of truth and true reporting


• Politics of accounting regulation


• The sociology of professions, and professional ethics

Structure

1 two-hour lecture per week and 1 one-hour tutorial per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%); continuous assessment (40%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Mr A Arthur

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4 who have passed AC 3541; and AC 3042 or AC 3542.

Overview

This course requires students to apply their accounting knowledge in order to resolve problems presented in real world case studies. Students are also required to research an organisation (real or imagined) and create an equivalent case which could be solved and which illustrates the functioning of accounting in organisations.

Structure

2 one-hour seminars; 1 two-hour workshop.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 2 hour written examination (40%) and in-course assessment (60%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor R Buckland

Pre-requisites

AC 3047

Overview

The course will develop the analysis of assets and market efficiency. It will critically evaluate the place and standing within finance of portfolio analysis and of asset/risk pricing models and develop students’ critical analysis of option theory, option pricing models and of the applications of derivatives analysis within the contemporary treasury management function of organisations. Material will be covered with the aid of case and project material and inputs from corporate finance and financial markets practitioners.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures, 1 two-hour computer laboratory per week; 1 two-hour seminar per fortnight.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour closed examination at end of half-session (50%), 1 CAA objective test in week 9 (20%) and in-course assessment (30%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Molyneaux

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Notes

Compulsory for Single Honours Management, Sports & Leisure Management and Accountancy.

Overview

This course provides a framework of introductory and support lectures / workshop, complmentary to a series of sessions with a supervisor and student self-study, for the implmentation of previously acquired knoweldge and skills to dissertation level. Students have the opportunity to study in depth a specialist issue in their chosen area of study, and create their own original piece of reasearch work.

Structure

1 two-hour lectures in first week, 1 two-hour workshop in seventh week, 2 one-hour meeting with supervisor.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 1 Dissertation (90%); self-evaluation critique (10%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr D Molyneaux

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Notes

Compulsory for Single Honours Management, Sports & Leisure Management and Accountancy.

Overview

This course provides a framework of introductory and support lectures / workshop, complementary to a series of sessions with a supervisor and student self-study, for the implementation of previously acquired knowledge and skills to dissertation level. Students have the opportunity to study in depth a specialist issue in their chosen area of study, and create their own original piece of research work.

Structure

1 two-hour lectures in first week, 1 two-hour workshop in seventh week, 2 one-hour meeting with supervisor.

Assessment

1st Attempt: In-course assessment: 1 Dissertation (90%); self-evaluation critique (10%).