Accounting systems and controls
| Module title | Accounting systems and controls |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEA2025DAZ |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 12 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 50 |
|---|
Module description
Accounting systems and controls are essential components of financial management within organisations. They are designed to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of financial information, as well as compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Within this module you will explore the principles and practice of designing, implementing and maintaining internal controls that mitigate risk and prevent issues, such as with quality, accuracy, fraud, cyber-attacks, or other irregularity.
You will be able to document organisational manual and digital internal controls, identify weaknesses, and make practical recommendations for improvement. In doing so you will use a variety of approaches to internal controls for both manual and digital systems and processes, with consideration for the control environment.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to explore how those working within the accounts department play a pivotal role in guarding against misuse of resources, and will provide you with the tools to evaluate internal controls and to recommend improvements. Within this module you will review accounting systems to identify weaknesses and will make recommendations to mitigate identified weaknesses in future operations. In doing so you will apply several analytical methods to evaluate the implications of any changes to operating procedures.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Evaluate the legal and organisational framework for managing receivables, credit control, and internal and external relationships.(K28)
- 2. Evaluate the approaches to using technology that manages credit control for internal and external stakeholders (K29)
- 3. Assess the principles and practice of designing, implementing and maintaining internal controls that mitigate risk and prevent issues, such as with quality, accuracy, fraud, cyber-attacks, or other irregularity.(K30)
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Critically analyse the approaches to internal controls for both manual and digital systems and processes, with consideration for the control environment.(K31)
- 5. Analyse, design, implement, communicate, monitor and review internal control systems and processes that mitigate risk, including error, fraud, and cyber risks. (S29)
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Document organisational manual and digital internal controls, identify weaknesses, and make practical recommendations for improvement.(S30)
Syllabus plan
This module cover accounting systems and internal control topics including but not limited to:
- The role and responsibilities of the accounting function within an organisation
- Internal control systems
- An organisation’s accounting system and underpinning procedures
- The impact of technology on accounting systems
- Improvements to an organisation’s accounting system
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 266 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled teaching and learning activities? | 34 | masterclasses and webinars? |
| Guided independent study | 60 | Reading, research, web based activities on ELE?? |
| Guided independent study | 206 | Work activities?? |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekly tutorial problems for discussion | Four to five hours a week (inclusive of preparation time) | 1-6 | Tutor comments and suggested solutions |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 0 | 50 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Case study report | 50 | 3000 words with artefacts | 1-6 | Written |
| Exam | 50 | 90 minutes | 1-6 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case study report | Case study report | 1-6 | 6 weeks |
| Exam | Exam | 1-6 | 6 weeks |
Re-assessment notes
Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
- Amos, S. and Fardon, M. (2021) Internal Accounting Systems and Controls Tutorial : Osbourne
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 23/03/24 |
| Last revision date | 28/11/2024 |
