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Unit information: Financial Statement Analysis in 2024/25

Please note: Programme and unit information may change as the relevant academic field develops. We may also make changes to the structure of programmes and assessments to improve the student experience.

Unit name Financial Statement Analysis
Unit code ACFI30002
Credit points 20
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director Dr. Ruby Brownen-Trinh
Open unit status Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)

Either EFIM10030 Accounting and Finance for Managers or ACFI10003 Fundamentals of Accounting and Finance or ACCG10052 Introduction to Accounting and
either EFIM20024 Strategic Finance or ACFI20001 Principles of Finance or EFIM10029 Financial Markets, Institutions and Instruments and EFIM10028 Risk and Return

Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)

N/A

Units you may not take alongside this one

N/A

School/department School of Accounting and Finance - Business School
Faculty Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Unit Information

Why is this unit important?

This unit aims to demonstrate how information in financial statements can be used to analyse and evaluate a company’s financial performance and accounting quality through the fundamental analysis process. It draws on theoretical and empirical research to derive, appraise, and apply equity valuation models and to examine how accounting information is employed to assess and manage risk.

How does this unit fit into your programme of study

This unit is designed to enable students to expand upon the foundational technical knowledge acquired in accounting and finance from previous years. It offers students a unique opportunity to critically assess, evaluate, and apply financial accounting information from the perspective of financial statement users. These users encompass a broad range of stakeholders including corporate managers, both financial and non-financial stakeholders, as well as information intermediaries within financial markets, shifting the focus away from the traditional preparer-centric viewpoint.

Furthermore, the unit fosters strong connections with other courses within the accounting and finance discipline. This integration enhances the learning experience by creating a cohesive and comprehensive understanding of the field, ensuring that students can effectively link theoretical concepts with practical applications. This approach not only deepens students' grasp of accounting and finance but also equips them with the critical thinking and analytical skills necessary to navigate and influence the dynamic financial landscape.

Your learning on this unit

An overview of content

This unit delves deeply into the process of fundamental analysis, undertaking extensive analyses to not only understand a company's historical performance but also to forecast its future prospects and accurately assess its equity value. It seamlessly bridges theoretical concepts with real-world applications through a series of practical exercises, ensuring that students gain hands-on experience. The skills and tools learnt will be those that a security analyst outside the firm may use to advise clients about investing in a firm, and also those that a manager within the firm may use to evaluate investments and choose the strategy.

How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit

  1. Students will be able to develop and apply critical and analytical skills to evaluate a company’s financial performance and financial position
  2. Students will be able to work independently on problem-solving.
  3. Students will be able to communicate more effectively in writing.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:

  1. Analyse and interpret financial statements to understand the organisational financial position and performance.
  2. Analyse, appraise, and make judgments about earnings quality
  3. Manipulate and analyse financial information to make critical judgements of corporation’s performance and its prospects.
  4. Apply financial statement analysis to forecast and value companies by using accounting-based methodologies.
  5. Analyse, appraise, and make judgments about credit risk.
  6. Analyse and critique the empirical research about equity valuation, earnings management, and financial reporting information.

How you will learn

Lectures: 2hrs x 10 weeks
Exercise lectures: 1hrs x 5 weeks
Tutorials: 1hr x 8 weeks

How you will be assessed

Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):

  • Individual coursework: 1000 word essay (30%) covering ILO1, ILO2, ILO3, ILO4, ILO5 and ILO6
  • 2-hour written exam (70%) covering ILO1, ILO2, ILO3, ILO4, ILO5 and ILO6

When assessment does not go to plan

Any re-assessment required will be a like for like assessment.

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACFI30002).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.

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