ACCOUNTANCY

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr C Alawattage

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

The constitution of society: economy, polity and civil society; their interdependencies and contradictions; and understanding the role of accounting within these contradictions and interdependencies.

Constitution of business: various managerial objectives, functions, responsibilities and accountabilities; and the role of accounting within business.

Constitution of accounting as a business function: how accounting is organised within organisations to help achieve their objectives and accountabilities.

Constitution of accountancy as a profession: how accountancy is organised as a profession and how the accountancy profession is regulated.

Future challenges of accountancy: the challenge of accounting and reporting beyond shareholders; and meeting the challenge of global sustainability.

Structure

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

Assessment

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

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%). The student may carry forward their original continuous assessment mark if this is considered to be in their interests.

Formative Assessment

Details to be finalised, however, will build on tutorial material and course content.

Feedback

Feedback on summative assessments will be provided by comments on the students’ work and/or separate individual feedback sheets. There may also be classroom discussions on common issues in students’ work.

Credit Points

15

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

An overview of financial accounting

• Recording and classifying transactions: Double entry systems


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


• Basic cash flow statements

An overview of management accounting

• Understanding costs – behaviour, labour, materials and overheads


• An introduction to costing systems – absorption and marginal costing


• Short term decision making


• Budgeting

Structure

18 one-hour lectures; and 9 two-hour tutorials.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour closed-book written examination (70%) and continuous assessment based on work in tutorials and participation in an online computer assisted learning package (30%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%). Students can carry forward their continuous assessment marks from a previous sitting. Because of the nature of the continuous assessment, this cannot be retaken within the same academic session. Accordingly, where this is in the interests of the student, the student will be assessed on the resit examination alone.  Some of the tutorial test marks count towards continuous assessment.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is conducted in two ways. First, in advance of each tutorial, students are given exercises and problems. The tutor provides feedback to that group and the course co-ordinator also provides feedback via WebCT.  Students are also given tests during tutorials, on which feedback is provided.

Feedback

Customised feedback provided through the return by tutors of marked work. Generic feedback is posted on WebCT by the course co-ordinator.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr M Whittington

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

1. Introduction to the course. Key personal finance concepts and the importance of the time value of money.


2. The FSA and the concept of Savings. (a) Tax implications of alternative savings products.


3. Approaches to investment.


4. The concept of Borrowing and alternative products available to the individual.


5. The concept of Pensions and retirement. (a) Alternative pension arrangements and tax implications.


6. Guest speakers on 'Being a financial advisor' and 'Insolvency' (2 lectures).


7. The concept of insurance and insurance products.


8. Ethical and moral approaches to personal finance.


9. Review of personal finance.

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 one-hour tutorial every two weeks.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (70%); continuous assessment (30%) consisting of: a group oral presentation (10%), and submit the powerpoint slides for external review; and an individual assignment (20%) of 1,500 words in length.

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

This will take place via tutorial discussions and availability of a specimen exam with available model answers.

Feedback

Written feedback is given on the tutorial presentations and on the individual assessments.

On a less formal basis, via verbal feedback during tutorial discussions, and after tutorial presentations.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr C Alawattage

Pre-requisites

AC 1513

Overview

1. Cost volume profit analysis


2. Pricing


3. Cost estimation


4. Inventory management


5. Total Quality Management


6. Budgeting and planning


7. Process costing


8. Activity Based Costing


9. Standard costing and variance analysis


10. Decentralisation, divisionalisation and transfer pricing


11. Capital expenditure and long term planning

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 8 one-hour tutorial through the semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (70%); two pieces of continuous assessment (15% each) consisting of two individual management reports or essays of around 1,500 words.

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

This will take place via tutorial discussions and availability of a specimen exam with available answers.

Feedback

Written feedback is given on the individual assessments.

On a less formal basis, via verbal feedback during tutorial discussions.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr E Balaban

Pre-requisites

PO 1002 Finance, Risk and Investment

Overview

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, five one-hour tutorials during the semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: Examination (60%) two-hours. One hour multiple choice class test (20%). Group report on Investment game (20%)

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

Interim report on investment game (week 6). Feedback on multiple choice (week 8).

Feedback

Feedback on: tutorial tasks; written feedback and CAS on group report.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr S-M How

Pre-requisites

AC 1513.

Overview

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, 1 two-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour examination (70%); Weekly answers to seminar questions (30%). Students will be given a set of questions (numerical and discursive) based on the materials covered in the lectures. They are required to complete the questions and submit their answers at the beginning of the following week, before the start of all the seminar sessions on that week. These submitted answers will be graded and marks will be recorded, and this count towards the continuous assessment for the course. Answers will then be discussed during the seminars after the work is submitted.

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

This will take place via seminar discussions and availability of a specimen exam with model answers.

Feedback

Written feedback is given on the seminar tests and individual assessments.

On a less formal basis, via verbal feedback during tutorial discussions.

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor R Buckland

Pre-requisites

None.

Overview

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week, five one-hour tutorials during the semester.

Assessment

1st Attempt: 1 two-hour written examination (60%). One 3,000 word group report on a case study (40%).

Resit: 1 two-hour written examination (100%).

Formative Assessment

Generic feedback on seminar work following each seminar.
Feedback on group report.

Feedback

Seminar leaders will deliver written feedback to seminar groups after each seminar.
Groups receive written feedback and indicative CAS on the assessed case study report within 2 weeks of submission.

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 M Whittington

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

Dr J Williams

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%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor D Heald

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 1511 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.

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

Dr J Williams

Pre-requisites

Available only to level 4 students, PO 2001.

Notes

The existing AC 4023 Empirical Methods in Finance course runs in parallel with a similar postgraduate 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. AC 4023 shares lectures in weeks 12 to 17, then runs its own lectures for the undergraduate course from weeks 18 to 23. Tutorials/computer labs are 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 (80%); continuous assessment (20%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Professor C Roberts

Pre-requisites

AC 3041 and AC 3042

Notes

Must not be taken with Essentials of Accounting Theory (AC4025).

Overview

Introduction to accounting theory
The financial reporting environment
Normative theories of accounting
Positive accounting theory
Capital markets reactions
Extended theories of accounting
An introduction to critical perspectives on accounting
Consideration of key areas of critical accounting

Structure

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

Assessment

1st Attempt: Portfolio of work (25%), essay (15%), 1 two-hour exam (60%).

Resit: 1 three-hour exam (100%).

Formative Assessment

Feedback

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

1 two-hour lectures, 1 one-hour computer laboratory per week; 1 one-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

Professor C Roberts

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Notes

Compulsory for Single Honours Finance.

Overview

This course provides a framework of introductory and support lectures / workshop, complimentary to a series of sessions with a supervisor and student self-study, for the implementation 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 research work.

Structure

1 two-hour lecture 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

Professor C Roberts

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in Programme Year 4.

Notes

Compulsory for Single Honours Accountancy.

Overview

This course provides a framework of introductory and support lectures / workshop, complimentary 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 lecture 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%).