FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING - 2020/1

Module code: ECO2055

Module Overview

The module examines the processes which underlie the preparation of the financial statements of listed companies in Europe which are the main source of financial information available to external stakeholders, and the assessment of an organisation’s performance through analysis and interpretation of its financial statements.

Module provider

Economics

Module Leader

GOLSON Eric (Economics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 128

Lecture Hours: 22

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:


  • Overview: Financial Position Statement / Income Statement and the underlying transactions which create them.

  • Accounting framework: accounting concepts and conventions, accounting standards; valuation

  • Evaluation of results: performance analysis tools; cash flow statements


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
School-timetabled exam/test CLASS TEST - 50 MINUTES 30
Examination 2 HOUR EXAM (CLOSED BOOK) 70

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate


  • their knowledge of the accounting framework and the manner in which a  range of transactions would be reflected in the financial statements

  • their ability to use the performance analysis tools and evaluate the results shown in a listed company financial report



Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • A mid-semester test that assesses students’ understanding of the accounting framework and the manner in which a range of transactions would be reflected in the financial statements. Written and computational questions

  • A final semester exam



Formative assessment and feedback

Students will receive verbal feedback during lectures through direct questioning, also from class exercises which will challenge their understanding of the building blocks.

Class exercises and indicative questions given before the test, will be the basis of the midsessional test – students will be encouraged to research these and ask questions. After the class test students will be able to view their marked script so that they can judge their own performance and ask further questions to prepare for the final exam.

Module aims

  • help students by providing a broad introduction to the main principles of financial accounting
  • help students to become familiar with and make sense of the reports of listed companies.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
1 Discuss the conceptual framework of accounting and its evolution; the Statement of Principles and accounting concepts; the statutory / non statutory rules which surround accounting for the different types of business entity (including groups of companies)  KC
2 Explain the function and key features of the main financial statements (financial position statement, income statement and cash flow statement) and their limitations. KC
3 Identify the key transactions which impact on each asset or liability KCP
4 Discuss the performance review process and its limitations  KC
5 Interpret financial statements and discuss performance in terms of both profit and cash  KCP

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:


  • enhance skills in information processing, evaluation and written and verbal presentation

  • appreciate the complexities of a framework designed to maintain clarity, consistency and comparability in financial reporting in Europe



The learning and teaching methods include:


  • 2 hour lecture/class including illustrative practical exercises per week x 11 weeks


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ECO2055

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
Business Economics BSc (Hons) 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module
Economics and Finance BSc (Hons) 2 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 40% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.