Undergraduate Course: Advanced Financial Accounting (ACCN10008)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course will build on knowledge obtained in the Financial Accounting modules of Accountancy 1 and 2 to explore some of the more complex and controversial areas of financial reporting. The object will be to develop a critical understanding of conceptual issues in financial accounting as well as to enhance technical and analytical skills. The course will cover the advanced analysis and interpretation of the annual report, some of the more complex accounting standards not addressed in earlier modules, and current issues in financial reporting. |
| Course description |
The course broadens students' horizons by examining the regulations, techniques and debates surrounding topics such as: fair value accounting; accounting for financial instruments; revenue recognition; intangible assets, and accounting in specialist sectors. Students are also introduced to accounting for capital reconstruction. The increasing importance of accounting narratives and imagery in annual reports is also explored. The course reviews ways of analysing the corporate report and introduces new techniques for analysing quantitative and qualitative data.
This course forms a bridge between the financial accounting modules of Accountancy 1 and 2, and senior honours options in accounting such as Developments in Financial Accounting, Accounting and Everyday Life, and The Accounting Profession.
Course Outline Content
Accounting for fair value
Advanced analysis and interpretation of financial statements
Financial instruments
Intangible assets
Revenue recognition
Accounting in specialist sectors
Narrative reporting
Imagery in the annual report
Liquidation and reconstruction
Student Learning Experience
The course is based on weekly two-hour lecture sessions. Students will also attend four one-hour workshop sessions for the accounting package SAGE.
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Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students must have at least 4 Accountancy courses at grade B or above. This MUST INCLUDE at least one Financial Accounting course at intermediate level. This course cannot be taken alongside 'Accountancy 2A'; 'Accountancy 2B'; 'Accountancy 1A' or 'Accountancy 1B'. We will only consider University/College level courses.
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| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2023/24, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 20,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 4,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2,
Summative Assessment Hours 7,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
161 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
25 %,
Practical Exam
5 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
70% Written Examination (Individual) - 3 hours - Assesses all course Learning Outcomes
25% Report (Group) - 2,500 words - Peer review makes up 25% of the report - Assesses course Learning Outcomes 3,4
5% Completion of Sage workshops (4 hours) - Assesses course Learning Outcome 3 |
| Feedback |
Formative: Feedback will be provided throughout the course.
Summative: Feedback will be provided on assessments within agreed deadlines. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 3:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand and critically evaluate how theory underpins accounting regulation.
- Critically evaluate fair value as an alternative to the traditional historic cost model.
- Question and challenge practices and ideas in specific accounting standards and specialist sectors, and to recognise the context within which financial reporting operates.
- Discuss the factors which impact on accounting and those on which accounting impacts, by reference to current issues in financial accounting.
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Reading List
There is no specific textbook. You should retain the textbook used in second year for Accountancy 2A (Melville, Alan, International Financial Reporting: A Practical Guide, (4th Edition).
Other sources such as books, academic journal articles (available as electronic journals) and reports from regulatory bodies (available on the internet) will be used. Readings will be provided for each week's topics. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Communication, ICT and Numeracy Skills
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
Convey meaning and message through a wide range of communication tools, including digital technology and social media; to understand how to use these tools to communicate in ways that sustain positive and responsible relationships.
Critically evaluate and present digital and other sources, research methods, data and information; discern their limitations, accuracy, validity, reliability and suitability; and apply responsibly in a wide variety of organisational contexts.
Knowledge and Understanding
After completing this course, students should be able to:
Demonstrate a thorough knowledge and understanding of contemporary organisational disciplines; comprehend the role of business within the contemporary world; and critically evaluate and synthesise primary and secondary research and sources of evidence in order to make, and present, well informed and transparent organisation-related decisions, which have a positive global impact.
Identify, define and analyse theoretical and applied business and management problems, and develop approaches, informed by an understanding of appropriate quantitative and/or qualitative techniques, to explore and solve them responsibly. |
| Keywords | AFA |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Arturs Praulins
Tel:
Email: a.praulins@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Scott Fitzsimmons
Tel:
Email: sfitzsim@ed.ac.uk |
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