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Study information

Introduction to Management Accounting

Module titleIntroduction to Management Accounting
Module codeBEA1009
Academic year2024/5
Credits15
Module staff

Mr Ian Andrews (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

200

Module description

Summary:

Think of an iPhone. How much do you think that it cost Apple to make? Think of recent business news stories, with factory and store closures. As ways of cutting costs, how successful will these actually be? Or, maybe news stories announcing the launch of a new tablet PC – how has the manufacturer decided that this is a worthwhile product? Management accounting provides information which supports business decisions like these, whether it is setting selling prices, or understanding costs, assessing performance, and investing in new products. At an introductory level, this module considers costs and revenues, and how they can be measured and used to calculate profit and help make decisions, both in the short and long term. It also examines how budgets are prepared, and used as benchmarks to assess performance. Accounting? Boring? Never!

Additional Information:

Internationalisation

This module introduces subjects like costing, decision making, budgeting and budget outcomes which are relevant across countries.

External Engagement

The module content meets the standards of the professional accountancy bodies (e.g. ICAEW, ACCA, ICAS, CIMA) and the module is accredited by them.

Sustainability

Sustainability is discussed in relation to wastage and the comparison between actual and expected performance.

All of the resources for this module are available on the ELE (Exeter Learning Environment).

Employability

Students develop their skills in team-working and problem-solving, as well as their numeracy and discursive skills.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of the module is to provide students with a range of computational and analytical skills, from estimating the cost of a product and reporting on profit earned, to preparing analyses to support operating and investment decisions. The need to present results in an accessible way is also highlighted. All of these skills will be useful to those entering a wide range of occupations where financial data need to be handled professionally and with insight.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. describe the purpose and role of cost and management accounting
  • 2. identify different cost characteristics
  • 3. explain and apply the different techniques used in accounting for materials, labour and production overheads
  • 4. describe job and batch costing; and prepare accounts in job costing situations
  • 5. describe process costing and its uses for inventory valuation and the costing of joint and by-products
  • 6. describe marginal costing and its use in cost-volume-profit analysis
  • 7. explain the role of budgeting in financial planning and control, and explain different budget types
  • 8. prepare budgets for sales, production, materials (usage and purchases), labour and overheads
  • 9. explain and prepare fixed, flexible and flexed budgets
  • 10. explain the purpose and principles of standard costing
  • 11. calculate and interpret variances for: sales, materials, labour, variable overheads and fixed overheads
  • 12. apply management accounting information for long-run decision making, employing basic investment appraisal techniques

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 13. explain how managers use accounting information to aid decision making, planning and control
  • 14. apply management accounting concepts and practices to analyse business problems
  • 15. identify and present appropriate information to assist management with controlling the business and taking financial decisions

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 16. demonstrate basic written communication skills
  • 17. demonstrate basic problem solving skills

Syllabus plan

  • Introduction to management accounting
  • Cost classification and costing systems
  • Accounting for materials, labour and overheads
  • Overhead accounting: absorption costing v. activity-based costing
  • Job versus process costing
  • Marginal costing and contribution
  • Cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis
  • Planning and control
  • Budgeting
  • Standard costing and variance analysis
  • Long term decision making and investment appraisal
  • Revision

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
311190

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity20Lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity10Tutorials
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity1Revision
Guided Independent Study119Reading and preparation for lectures, tutorials and assessments

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Tutorial problems for focussing discussion2-3 hours preparation by student/ I hour in-class discussion1-17Tutor comments and suggested solutions

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
01000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
In-Term Test201 hour1-17Mark awarded. Indicative answers posted on line
Examination802 hours1-17Mark awarded. Indicative answers posted on line

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Examination (80%)Examination (2 hours) (80%)1-17August/September Reassessment Period
In-Term Test (20%)In-Term Test (1 hour) (20%)1-17August/September Reassessment Period

Re-assessment notes

If you pass the module overall you will not be referred in either component – even if you have not passed one of the components.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:
Burns, J., Quinn, M., Warren, Oliveira, J. (2013) Management accounting, Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education

Seal, W., Garrison, R., & Noreen, E. (2012) Management accounting (4th ed.), Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill Education

Drury, C. (2018) Management and cost accounting, 10th ed., Andover: Cengage Learning EMEA

Key words search

Management Accounting, Costing

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module co-requisites

BEA1008 Introduction to Financial Accounting

Cannot be taken with BEA1013 Introduction to Accounting

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

10/09/2012

Last revision date

23/09/2021