Semester 1 and Semester 2 

Unit(s) of Assessment 

Weighting Towards Module Mark (%) 

Final Examination, closed book, 2 Hours 

60% 

Team assignment semester 1 

20% 

Class Test, closed book, semester 2 

20% 

Qualifying Condition(s) 
None 

Accounting, known as ‘the language of Business’ is concerned with measurement and management.  Measurement is concerned with recording past data, and management with the use of that data to make decisions that will benefit the business. 

The aim of this module is to enable students to understand: 
·              The how and why of recording, preparing and interpreting financial information. 
·              How management uses financial information to make strategic, technical and operational business decisions. 

On successful completion of this module students will be able to: 
·              Record transactions using double entry bookkeeping. 
·              Balance accounts and extract a Trial Balance.
·              Prepare a Profit & Loss Account, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement. 
·              Interpret Financial Statements with regard to solvency, profitability & performance. 
·              Understand the Regulatory Framework that surrounds Financial Accounting. 
·              Understand different types of cost behaviour and different costing methods.
·              Be able to calculate ‘break even’ and make simple pricing and other decisions from the subsequent analysis. 
·              Prepare a simple budget with associated variance analysis. 

·              Structure of accounting systems and double entry book-keeping 
·              Fixed Assets & depreciation 
·              Financial Statements ( P&L, Balance Sheet & Cash Flow) 
·              Interpretation of Accounts 
·              Principles of Variable and Absorption Costing 
·              Break even analysis related decision making strategies 
·              Methods of costing 
·              Budgeting and variance analysis 
Assessment Strategy: 
The Team based assignment will be based on a topical company’s financial statements. Students will be expected to demonstrate their understanding of regulations used to prepare the financial statements and be able to interpret the financial statements. 
The closed book class test will enable the student to demonstrate their understanding of the module content covered to date. 
The closed book examination will be based on the entire module content allowing students to demonstrate all learning outcomes. 

·              One hour lectures to illustrate the principles 
·              Weekly tutorials for students to practice applying the principles 
·              Support of lecture material by directed reading and exercises in selected textbooks 
·              Team based coursework 
·              ULearn will be used as an information portal and will contain lecture notes, practical exercises, solutions to practical exercises, past exam papers & model answers and relevant reading 
·              Individual feedback will be given in tutorials on coursework, general feedback will be posted on ULearn 

Essential Reading 
Brammer, Cox, Fardon and Penning.  Active Accounting.  Osborne Books. 
 ISBN: 1 872962 37 8. 
Recommended Reading 
Howard, M.  Accounting & Business Valuation Methods.  CIMA publishing. 
Fundamentals of Financial Accounting.  Latest edn.  CIMA Official Learning System. 
Fundamentals of Management Accounting.  Latest edn.  CIMA Official Learning System. 
Background Reading 
Journals
Financial Management (Journal of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants)