Financial reporting and analysis
Module information>
This module examines the financial reporting of companies, and how such reporting can be analysed to evaluate performance.
A basic prior knowledge of accounting is assumed: students learn how accounts are constructed and analysed, then examine the impact of various issues on the reported numbers. These include the reporting of tangible and intangible assets; continued and discontinued operations, historic costs vs fair value accounting and business combinations.
The module takes a global perspective and refers largely to the regulatory regime of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).
Topics covered
- Introduction to Financial Reporting
- Introduction to Financial Statements and Other Financial Reporting Topics
- The Balance Sheet and the Shareholder Equity
- Income Statements and Reported Income (Earnings) Quality
- Property Plant and Equipment
- Intangible Assets and Fair Value Accounting
- Liquidity of Short-Term Assets Related Debt-Paying Ability
- Financial Ratio Analysis
- The Financial Statements of Special Industries: Banks, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Transportation, Insurance and Real Estate Companies
- Group Accounts and Business Combinations
Learning outcomes
If you complete the module successfully, you should be able to:
- comprehend the theory and practices of corporate financial reporting.
- use financial reporting theory and practices to analyse the performance of a company.
- design appropriate business policies and strategies to meet stakeholder and shareholder needs in the light of the recent changes in financial reporting.
- identify and evaluate financial statements.
- explain the reasoning behind the rules underpinning corporate financial reporting and the history of their development.
- describe how the rules of corporate financial reporting effect the application of standards.
- identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, to detect false logic or reasoning, to identify implicit values, and to define terms adequately and to generalise appropriately.
- create, evaluate and access a range of different outcomes and the ability to justify the chosen outcome.
- demonstrate numeracy and active quantitative problem solving and decision making skills (including data analysis, interpretation and extrapolation).
- have the ability to interpret information based on scientific analysis.
- apply research skills into financial reporting issues.
- demonstrate effective communication skills.
- demonstrate time management skills (including effective self-management in terms of time, planning and behaviour, motivation, self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise).
- gain digital and information literacy skills.
Assessment
This module is assessed by:
Coursework (50% weighting):
- There is one item of coursework for this module which contributes to the final assessment mark for this module.
- Coursework: a written essay of a maximum of 2,000 or 2,500 words (deadline – weeks 9-12) The coursework is designed to check student progress, extend and reinforce concepts covered and also test individual performance.
Examination (50% weighting):
- The final piece of assessment will be an unseen written examination of 2 hours’ duration.
Essential reading
The following is provided as part of the module materials after you register:
- Charles H. Gibson, Financial Statement Analysis, International Edition, Cengage, 2012
- John Dunn, Financial Reporting and Analysis, Wiley, 2010