BE167-7-SP-CO:
Accounting and Finance for Managers
2023/24
Essex Business School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
20
14 July 2023
Requisites for this module
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It is essential for any manager to be able to analyse the performance of companies and take financial decisions. This module will start by examining how publicly available information can aid in analysing the performance of companies, and critically evaluating the limitations of financial performance measures. .
The first part of this module will cover the contents of the annual report, preparation of main financial statements and evaluating the financial performance of companies based on publicly available information. The second part will critically examine a range of issues that relate to financial and managerial decision-making, including cost behaviour, capital investment decisions, cost volume profit analysis and budgeting.
The aim of this module is to provide students with a practical and critical understanding of financial analysis and financial decision-making relevant to managers.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Recognise and evaluate how publicly available information can aid in analysing the performance of companies and meeting various users’ needs.
- Critically evaluate the use of financial and non-financial performance measures in decision making.
- Develop a critical understanding of short and long-term decision-making principles and techniques, including the use of capital appraisal techniques.
- Critically evaluate the role of budgeting and management control in organisations.
This module is designed for students who have no or little background in accounting.
Students are required:
- To read the appropriate reading materials for each session prior to the class.
- To prepare for any exercises given.
- To attend the sessions.
This module will be delivered via:
- One 1-hour lecture per week.
- One 2-hour interactive seminar per week.
Sessions will be devoted to probing, extending and applying the material in the readings.
It is the students' responsibility to be prepared for each session as detailed in the module handbook. Students are expected to contribute to class discussions. To do well, they should actively participate in presentations and class discussions, which means making well supported, cogent comments and criticisms about the concepts and analyses that are being presented.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
On-line Test (MyAccountingLab) |
|
50% |
| Coursework |
2,000 word essay |
|
50% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Chaminda Wijethilake, email: c.wijethilake@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Chaminda Wijethilake & Dr Jacob Agyemang
ebspgtad@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
Of 47 hours, 45 (95.7%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
2 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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be necessary to make changes, for example to programmes, modules, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements,
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The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications and module directory.
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