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LF911-10 Accounting and Financial Management

Department
Life Sciences
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Graham Sara
Credit value
10
Module duration
2 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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 web page

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. (2021) Accounting and Finance for Non-specialists (12th ed.)

Dyson, J.R. (2020) Accounting for non-accounting students (10th 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 (4%)
Private study 70 hours (56%)
Assessment 30 hours (24%)
Total 124.5 hours

Private study description

Self-directed Study.

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 A3
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
3 Group executive summaries 30% 12 hours Yes (extension)

In module- Group - marked collectively. Each assignment 330 words approx Each assignment counts 10% weight

Individual Written Assignment 70% 18 hours Yes (extension)

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).

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