Accounting for International Managers

Module title	Accounting for International Managers
Module code	BEAM045
Academic year	2021/2
Credits	15
Module staff	Ms Joanne Abraham (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	200

Module description

Summary:

Managers are constantly making decisions which have financial consequences: How much to charge for X? How much does Y cost to make? How much profit could be made if…? Should there be investment into this new venture, product, or market?

Questions are always being asked by a wide range of stakeholders: How successful is the business? Should I invest in it? Work for it? Buy from it? Sell to it? Lend to it?

Management and financial accounting information supports internal and external business decision-making by all those with an interest and influence.

BEAM045 recognises that good managers need to be able to appreciate and use a variety of accounting information and techniques with professional scepticism in business decision-making.

Additional Information:

Internationalisation:

The concepts and techniques explored in this module have global application; Learning is undertaken in international context and students are encouraged to share knowledge and experiences from their own and other countries.

Ethics and Corporate Responsibility:

These are embedded within all topics studied: concepts and techniques are taught to reflect that it is the responsibility of all organisations to make ethical financial decisions and actions and to provide financial information so that stakeholders can make their own informed decisions.

Employability:

The module is taught and assessed to develop awareness, understanding, and active appreciation of how to use accounting as part of business decision-making and performance evaluation. It aims to facilitate intelligent verbal and written conversations, both with accountants and other managers.
A wide range of common accounting tools and concepts are introduced and used.
Assessment requires written professional communication and recommendations based upon accounting outcomes, plus other decision-making considerations. Group discussion and information-sharing in study is actively encouraged.
The module content is linked with accreditation to CMI (Chartered Management Institute) and ICAEW (Institute or Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) professional bodies examinations.

Sustainability:

Resources for this module are available in a variety of web-based formats.

Module aims - intentions of the module

BEAM045 is not intended to turn students into accountants; it is taught from a manager perspective and aims to provide a broad and useful appreciation of how to benefit from understanding and applying accounting information and tools as part of decision-making. The module also provides opportunity to develop and practice skills in research, analysis, and evaluation, and to be able to effectively communicate to other stakeholders with professional scepticism.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

1. use and appraise accounting outcomes alongside a wide range of quantitative and qualitative information as part of business decision-making;
2. communicate client-relevant information and recommendations, based upon financial and management accounting analysis, and advise on further considerations in the wider decision and business context.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

3. explain the accounting and finance contexts within which managers act, to be able to create value towards optimising business performance;
4. explain what the financial statements in an annual report represent and summarise, explain the common components; and interpret and advise upon the information provided for stakeholder decision-making;
5. use common accounting tools and measures for both short-term and long-term decision-making.

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

6. assimilate and use a variety of information and tools to understand a business situation and prioritise key drivers or issues;
7. structure and analyse a range of available information to provide creative and pragmatic evaluations and solutions with professional scepticism;
8. summarise and communicate conclusions, recommendations and reservations in formats relevant and appropriate to the recipient and other relevant stakeholders;
9. operate in both individual and team-based contexts to achieve objectives;
10. start to build confidence to use own perspective, views and ideas to understanding problems and opportunities, and in appreciating the value of others contributions to improving business performance.

Syllabus plan

Purpose, context, and presentation of financial information
Analysis and interpretation of financial statements for stakeholder decision making
Cash management and Financing
Pricing and Costing
Accounting tools for short- and long-run decision making
Planning and evaluating internal performance

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
32	118	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	22	Lectures/Videocasts/Topic Documents
Scheduled Learning and Teaching	10	Tutorials/Drop-In workshops
Guided Independent Study	118	Pre-Reading; Weekly Self-study packs (reading activities, web-based resources, practice questions; formative assessment opportunities)

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Weekly practice questions	1-2 hours per week	1-10	Suggested answers and guidance within resources
Assigned work	1-2 hrs preparation / review; 1 hr in-class discussion	1-10	Solutions and guidance provided. Discussions in tutorials Peer and Tutor feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Group Written Report	25	1,000 words	1-10	Mark and feedback form
Individual reflection on group work	15	1,500 words	1-10	Mark and feedback form
Individual Written Report	60	2,500 words	1-10	Mark and feedback form
	0

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

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Group Written Report (25%)	Individual Assessment (1000 words) (25%)	1-10	August/September Reassessment Period
Individual Reflection on Group Work (15%)	Individual Reflection on Module Work (15%)	1-10	August/September Reassessment Period
Individual Written Report (2500 words) (60%)	Individual Written Report (2500 words) (60%)	1-10	August/September Reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

A suggested text to supplement core understanding (and for which guidance for study is provided in the weekly self-study packs):

Dyson, J. & Franklin, E. (2020). Accounting for non-accounting students (10th ed.). Harlow, UK: Pearson

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

The common topics, concepts and tools considered in the module can be found in all accounting texts and in many articles and online resources.
Students are expected to supplement guided knowledge with their own reading from texts and articles as well as practitioner and real-world examples.
The coursework assessments require research of publicly available information.

Key words search

Accounting; managers; stakeholders; decision-making; financial statements; management accounting.

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	03/09/2007
Last revision date	23/09/2021