This course is aimed at introducing students to financial and management accounting and related financial management, with an emphasis on basic knowledge of the accounting concepts, rules and principles and the application of these elements to the business environment. The course is structured around six interactive lectures and self-study and designed as an intensive six-week 3 EC course (equivalent to 84 hours). Students examine the accounting function and its role in modern business, Basic accounting theory and principles are examined, and some of the more important contemporary accounting developments are reviewed. This course is designed for consumers as opposed to producers of accounting.
The idea is to make the exercises in advance – in groups -, in order to reinforce your knowledge and understanding. Moreover I will hand over case studies which we will work out in class and related articles as readers. To enliven the presentations, I will share with you personal practical experiences and personal appearances of guest speakers, also to match the link with ICT. For the exam itself, I will make use of one case study.
Learning objectives
By the end of the course, the student should be able to:
Understand and discuss the role of financial and management accounting and related financial management;
How basic knowledge of the accounting concepts and rules and their impact and application to the business environment;
Critically assess published studies and be able to read, interpret and analyze the primary financial statements and financial reports;
Understand and be able to use and analyze the balance sheet and income statements, based on the accounting equation and accrual accounting;
Understand and be able to use and analyze the statement of cash flows;
Master the skills involved to use accounting information to make judgments about firm performance, including trend analysis, profitability analysis and liquidity analysis.
Readings and other course material
Atrill & McLaney (2006) Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialists (5th ed.), Pearson.
Additional articles will be made available through blackboard and assigned for each session.
Grading
You will be evaluated and graded for this course on the following basis: 20% class participation Accounting is an international business language and is to a large degree about discussing and communicating ideas, argumentation and results. This course is no exception, and training –and assessing- your ability to constructively engage in discussions about accounting concepts is essential. 20% Presentation In session 3-5 we will cover presentations by teams of students who will be asked to present and discuss the exercises assigned for each chapter. For this you will be assigned to a team. Detailed instructions will be given on the first day of class. 20% Quizzes Session 2-5 will start with a short multiple choice quiz and questions (10 minutes) related to the reading materials assigned for that day. Each assignment is worth 5%. 40% Final exam A closed-book exam, with essay questions on all materials discussed in the lectures and the assigned readings.