Introductory description

The module assumes no prior exposure to financial matters outside one’s own personal finances. It builds financial awareness through the introduction of core concepts.
It provides an understanding of the main accounting statements together with an awareness of basic accounting principles, terminology and techniques, so that participants can interpret financial reports and interpret financial information.
This then develops into more complex topics of concern to an international environment; where payment can take much longer, and there are exposures to specific financial risk.

Module aims

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.

This course covers:
Critical analysis of financial data;
Integration of business data with financial models;
Calculation of, and critical assessment of, various investment appraisal techniques (including NPV. IRR, ARR etc);
The use of various risk mitigation techniques dealing with pricing risk (including hedging) and pure risk (including insurance);
The roles of finance and credit control, and the effective design of internal finance/operations teams.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Critically assess a business' financial performance by integrating financial and business data to synthesise a clear opinion.
• Critically assess via calculation or other analysis the costs associated with the production of products or the provision of services
• Select, justify and apply appropriate methods to prepare and review budgets and forecasts
• Select and justify a suitable financial risk mitigation strategy for international financial exposures
• Construct and defend suitable business processes, structures and procedures to maximise cashflow (for example credit control).

Indicative reading list

Dyson, J.R.,(2020) Accounting for Non-Accounting Students, Tenth edition, Harlow, England: FT Prentice Hall.
McKenzie, W, (2010) FT Guide to Using and Interpreting Company Accounts, Harlow, England: FT Prentice Hall.
Goldenberg, D. 20160302, Derivatives Markets, Routledge. Available from: vbk://9781317423553
Bamber, M., Parry, S. 20201203, Accounting and Finance for Managers, 3rd Edition, Kogan Page. Available from: vbk://9781789667523
International finance : theory and policy / Paul R. Krugman, Maurice Obstfeld, Marc J. Melitz.

Subject specific skills

Analysis of complex data sets
Presentation of analytical findings
Ability to manipulate data concerning costing, budgeting, decision making and business financial performance.

Transferable skills

Critical thinking – ability to select and justify selection from a range of complex choices
Problem solving – novel situations and datasets presented for analysis and critical comment
Communication – presentations/exams
Teamwork – team exercises
Organisational awareness – business background and impact of financial choices.
Numeracy
Commerciality