Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2021-2022 (archived)

Module ACCT41510: Accounting (EBS)

Department: Accounting

ACCT41510: Accounting (EBS)

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 10 Availability Available in 2021/22
Tied to N1T817

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To provide students with a critical appreciation of the financial tools of accounting and governance, in particular, the techniques of financial statement analysis, financial planning and investment appraisal.
  • To provide a critical understanding of the factors affecting the financial planning and governance structures of a firm, giving insight into topical issues in the area.

Content

  • Fundamental Concepts of Accounting
  • Measuring and Evaluating Financial Performance
  • Measuring and Evaluating Cash Flows
  • Working Capital Evaluation
  • Financial Planning Techniques
  • Investment appraisal
  • Board of Directors and Audit Committee Accountability and Credibility
  • Audit Data Analytics

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Upon successful completion of the module, the students will have an advanced knowledge and critical appreciation of:
  • the key financial statements;
  • issues relating to working capital management;
  • the concepts of budgeting and short term decision analysis;
  • the factors affecting the capital structure and financing needs of a firm;
  • the fundamentals of annual reports credibility;
  • the mechanisms of corporate governance and accountability;
  • the different benefits and challenges of dealing with big financial and non-financial data.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Upon successful completion of the module, students will:
  • Have a critical understanding of how managers make financial decisions in a world of uncertainty and imperfect information;
  • Be able to use key techniques for interpreting financial statements;
  • Be able to use key techniques of investment appraisal;
  • Critically understand and apply techniques of cash budgeting and working capital management;
  • Be able to identify and evaluate the credibility of governance board and committees structures
Key Skills:
  • Written communication
  • Planning, organising and time management
  • Problem solving and analysis
  • Using initiative
  • Computer literacy
  • Big data analytics

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning outcomes are met through classroom-based workshops, supported by online resources. The workshops consist of a combination of taught input, groupwork, case studies and discussion. Online resources provide preparatory material for the workshops – typically consisting of directed reading and video content.
  • The formative assessment consists of classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module.
  • The summative assessment is a financial analysis, which is designed to test the ability to formulate a problem, apply appropriate business-analytics techniques to analyse it, and critically interpret the results obtained.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Teaching blocks - combination of lectures, groupwork, case studies and discussion 6 Over a 3-day teaching block 4.5 hrs 27
Webinars 2
Preparation and Reading 71
Total 100

Summative Assessment

Component: Written Assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Financial Analysis 3000 words max 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Classroom-based exercises involving individual and group analyses and presentations on specific business situations/problems relevant to the learning outcomes of the module. Oral and written feedback will be given on a group and/or individual basis as appropriate.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University