LF911-10 Accounting and Financial Management
Introductory description
The primary goal of this module is to provide students, who have no or limited prior experience of business, with a solid foundation in the essential aspects of accounting and financial management.
Module aims
The aim is to offer an introduction to the key areas of financial accounting, management accounting and financial management with a focus on issues of particular relevance to managers in bio-technology and bio-process based businesses. The course will also emphasise the role and importance of accounting and financial management within the wider business (and in particular the process, bioprocess and biotechnology business) context.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
Typically, the syllabus material includes (but is not limited to):
- Introduction to accounting
- Financial analysis (customers, suppliers and competitors)
- The importance of internal financial information and control
- Further methods in costing (ABC and Customer profitability analysis)
- Cash – the accounting number that really matters!
- Investment appraisal; Budgeting and pricing
- Managing for Shareholder Value
- Accounting and strategy
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Understand the role and importance of accounting and financial management within the general business context.
- Identify and evaluate the role of accounting in general business management and in particular situations.
- Know and utilise the terminologies, concepts and methods for accounting and finance.
- Research, synthesise and apply financial knowledge to real and practical examples.
- Use financial techniques appropriately. These include ratio analysis, contribution analysis, costing methods, investment appraisal and introductory valuation techniques.
- Assess financial performance from published accounts
- Communicate findings in appropriate language/terminologies.
- Improve business presentation skills.
Indicative reading list
Atrill, P. and McLaney, E. (2003) Accounting and Finance for Non-specialists (4rd ed.)
Dyson, J.R. (2004) Accounting for non-accounting students (6th edition)
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Subject specific skills
Research, synthesise and apply financial knowledge to real and practical examples.
Understand the role and importance of accounting and financial management within the general business context.
Transferable skills
Communication and business presentation
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 13 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (15%) |
| Seminars | 5 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (6%) |
| Other activity | 3 hours (2%) |
| Private study | 70 hours (56%) |
| Assessment | 26 hours (21%) |
| Total | 126 hours |
Private study description
Self-directed Study.
Other activity description
Assessed seminars
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.
Assessment group A2
| Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 15% | 4 hours | No |
|
In-module |
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| Group executive summaries | 15% | 4 hours | No |
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In module- linked to presentations. |
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| Individual Written Assignment | 70% | 18 hours | Yes (extension) |
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Two sub-elements: A short practical report focused on financial data and their meaning for a business case (300 words) and a financial analysis of a biotech company (1,700 words). |
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Feedback on assessment
Written individual feedback to each student on written individual assignment and group presentation + summary assessments. Face-to-face feedback on any assessment provided on request from the student.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of TLFS-J7N2 Postgraduate Medical Biotechnology and Business Management
- Year 1 of TBSS-C5N2 Postgraduate Taught Biotechnology, Bioprocessing and Business Management
This module is Core optional for:
- Year 1 of THRA-D4A3 Postgraduate Taught Food Security