Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2012 - 2013

Module Title	Accounting for Business Decision Making
Module Code	AC570
School	DCUBS
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Mr Patrick Mulcahy	Office Number	Q237
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This module provides students with an introduction to and overview of financial and management accounting. Students will be introduced to key topics in accounting such as financial statement analysis, cost volume profit analysis, performance measurement, finacial v management accounting and cash flow analysis. In addition, students will address core issues facing the professional accountant such as corporate goverance, earnings management, the regulatory environment and models of decision making and performance appraisal. Students will undertake a significant group based continious assessment focusing on the financial statement analysis and informed investment decision making The module is delivered via a serious of lectures.

Learning Outcomes

1. Outline the fundamental principles underlying the preparation of financial statements
2. Appraise cost planning techniques used for managment accounting purposes
3. Identify and explain various budgeting techniques
4. Describe the main costing techniques used in management accounting
5. Discuss current issues in accounting including corporate governance and accounting regulation

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Weekly lectures
Group work	50	Prepartion for group based continious assesment
Independent Study	18	Revision of lecture materials following lecture
Independent Study	33	Preparation for year end examination
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to Accounting
Nature and purpose of accounting, users of accounting information, role of finacial accounting and management accounting and their inter-relationship, accounting information system, fundamental accounting concepts, desirable characteristics of accounting information, the current operating enviornment and the firms competitive strategies, uses and limitations of accounting information.

Financial Statement Analysis
Core financial statements, the annual report and its contents, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow Statement and how it differs from profit, directors report, corporate social responsibility, corporate governance, auditors report, relationship between accounting information, share price and company performance, limitations of financial statements, other information sources, exercises in the use of financial statement analysis using ratios and critical commentary focusing on profitability, efficiency, liquidity, gearing and investment, limitations of ratio analysis, regulation of accounting (legal, taxation, stock exchange and professional).

Planning and Decision Making
Long-term and short -term planning, translating strategy into financial plans, financial analysis in typical decision-making situations mainly Cost-Volume Profit Analysis.

Control and Performance Measurement
The nature of performance and control, the role of budgets, budget period, budget administration, budgetary process, master budget and the various individual budgets, interrelationship of budgets, effective budgeting, problems associated with budgeting, different types of controls, controls at organizational level, responsibility centres, management accounting control systems, critique of using profit as a performance measure and the need for alternative, non-financial indicators, critical success factors and the Balanced Scorecard, performance measurement for various sectors, how firm dependent factors and industry based factors can effect a firms performance measurement and management.

Current Issues and Future Directions
The Hybrid Accountant, Corporate Governance, Earnings Management.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	40%	Examination Weight	60%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Atrill P. and McLaney E: 0, Accounting and Finance for NonSpecialists, Prentice Hall (Pearson Education).,
Drury C: 0, Management and Cost Accounting,
Horngren C.T., Datar S.M. and Foster G: 0, Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

GDBM	GDip in Management
IFPBM	PG Int. Foundation Prog.: Business Mgt.
MECB	MSc in Electronic Commerce (Business)
MSBM	MSc in Management (Business)
MSCM	MSc in Mgmt (Cloud Computing & Commerce)
PBSSA	PG Exchange(Business School)
PBSSAO	PG Study Abroad(Business School)

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