AC103 Half Unit
Elements of Management Accounting, Financial Management and Financial Institutions
This information is for the 2020/21 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Farooq Mahmood
Mrs Chris Constantinou (Course Leader)
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Actuarial Science, BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Management and BSc in Mathematics, Statistics and Business. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Course content
This is a half-unit course that introduces students to fundamental principles of management accounting, financial management and, because it allows the study of some core financial concepts, the accounts of pension funds and insurance companies.
AC103 begins by focusing on internal decision making by way of an introduction to cost and management accounting. This includes a discussion of key concepts of cost calculation and various costing systems relevant for decision making. The aim is to help students understand how accounting information can help managers make crucial decisions, such as about the pricing of products or services, or even whether to offer or discontinue a product or service, or whether to expand the product/service range or to invest in new product development. AC103 then develops into key concepts of financial management including the role of the financial system in relation to sources of finance. Because it allows the study of some core financial concepts, AC103 finally covers the accounts of pension funds and insurance companies which also play an increasingly important role in the financing of organisations.
Teaching
22 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT. 2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of classes in the ST.
Formative coursework
Written answers to numerical problems and discussion questions will be expected weekly; some will be collected during classes for marking and feedback.
Indicative reading
Detailed reading lists will be made available at the beginning of the course in a syllabus. Illustrative texts include Atrill, P. and McLaney, E. (2018) Management Accounting for Decision Makers, 9th edition, Pearson; Atrill, P. (2017) Financial Management for Decision Makers, 8th edition, Pearson.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.
The exam duration is 1 hour and 45 minutes. The first 15 minutes will be reading time.
Student performance results
(2017/18 - 2019/20 combined)
| Classification | % of students |
|---|---|
| First | 68.5 |
| 2:1 | 16.6 |
| 2:2 | 6 |
| Third | 6.5 |
| Fail | 2.4 |
Important information in response to COVID-19
Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.
Key facts
Department: Accounting
Total students 2019/20: 334
Average class size 2019/20: 16
Capped 2019/20: No
Value: Half Unit
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills
