FP056-15 Introduction to Finance
Introductory description
This module is an introduction to the basic principles of finance and students will learn how these concepts are applied to financial decision making. Students will learn how incorporated firms are structured and how they interact with financial markets and institutions to invest and to raise finance to support the growth and diversification goals of the firm. The main financial statements of firms will be used to assess financial performance and methods of evaluating investment options, their associated risks and costs will be introduced.
Module aims
To prepare students for undergraduate studies in Finance by introducing students to the core principles of finance:
- the role of finance in supporting the goals of the firm
- the business frameworks governing financial decision making
- the role of financial accounts in financial decision making
- sources of finance in the short, medium and long term
- investment appraisal and the time value of money
- the cost of capital and shareholder wealth
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.
The syllabus will include the following topics:
- The role of finance in investment decision-making
- Financial Markets and Institutions
- Bond and Equity Markets
- Measuring financial performance:
- interpreting accounts
- performance ratios
- managing working capital - Investment appraisal and the time value of money
- Measuring risk and diversification
- Sources of finance
- Cost of capital
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- Identify the variety of contexts in which financial decisions are made and explain the outcomes for stakeholders.
- Evaluate the operational performance of firms using ratio analysis to interpret firms’ financial statements
- Use financial modelling skills to: (i) Evaluate an investment opportunity using a variety of investment appraisal techniques, interpret the results and their sensitivity to change. (ii) Estimate the cost of capital for an investment opportunity.
- Compare and contrast the main sources of financing for a firm in the short, medium and long term.
- Evaluate a variety of real world financial scenarios, requiring the application mathematics, business and economics.
Indicative reading list
McLaney, F. 2016 Business Finance, Theory and Practice, 10th edn, Harlow, Pearson
Vernimmen, P., Quiry, P., Dallocchio, M., Le Fur, Y., Salvi, A. (2017) Corporate Finance Theory and Practice 5th edn, Chichester John Wiley & Sons.
Mishkin, F. and Eakins, S. 2017 Financial Markets and Institutions, 9th ed., Pearson
Hillier, D., Clacher, I., Ross S., Westerfield, R., and Jordan B. 2017 Fundamentals of Corporate Finance, 3rd ed., McGraw-Hill
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Interdisciplinary
Links to business, microeconomics, macroeconomics (global economy) and mathematics
Subject specific skills
Application of mathematics to analyse financial performance
Application of mathematical models to evaluate investment options
Interpretation and analysis of financial data
Transferable skills
Development of a range of skills in the application of mathematics
Development of analytical and evaluative skills to improve critical thinking
Study time
| Type | Required |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 12 sessions of 1 hour (14%) |
| Seminars | 36 sessions of 1 hour (43%) |
| Online learning (independent) | 12 sessions of 3 hours (43%) |
| Total | 84 hours |
Private study description
Set readings in preparation for lecture and seminars. Weekly set tasks and appointments with staff. Revision for summative assessments and pre-released case study.
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A1
| Weighting | Study time | |
|---|---|---|
| Financial Performance Report | 50% | 15 hours |
|
The focus of the first summative assessment will be an analysis and evaluation of the financial performance of a firm using a variety of resources, including financial accounts. The assessment will be a written report submitted to Tabula. |
||
| Problem based learning tasks with pre-released case study | 50% | 15 hours |
|
Students will be be provided with a pre-released case study that will form the basis of their second summative assessment, which will be a 50 minute test. |
||
Feedback on assessment
Tabula, face to face meetings as required.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- Year 1 of FIOE Warwick International Foundation Programme