THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

Timetable information in the Course Catalogue may be subject to change.

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Accounting

Undergraduate Course: Accountancy 2A (ACCN08009)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis is an intermediate level course focusing on international financial reporting. Key topics include, the regulatory framework of corporate reporting, the accounting profession, preparation of published financial statements, accounting standards, tangible and intangible assets, liabilities and related issues, overseas involvement and accounting for groups.
Course description Accountancy 2A is an intermediate course which builds on the knowledge gained in Accountancy 1A by examining more advanced aspects of financial accounting/and reporting. Students are expected to have a solid grasp of the basics of financial accounting, particularly the double-entry system for recording business transactions and period-end adjustments and the preparation of financial statements. It is intended that this course (together with Accountancy 2B in Semester 2) will offer a bridge for students proceeding to the study of accounting at honours level.

The course begins with a review of the topics covered in Accountancy 1A relating to the preparation of financial statements. This will be followed by issues relating to the preparation and presentation of corporate published financial statements, the regulatory framework for financial reporting and the accounting profession. We will examine the financial reporting standards and issues relating to the following: tangible and intangible assets; liabilities, equity, group accounts, statement of cash flows and accounting for overseas involvement.

Outline Content

Preparation & presentation of financial statements
The regulatory framework
The accounting profession
Statements of cash flows (direct/indirect & analysis)
Assets (including asset impairment & assets held for sale)
Group accounts
Associates & joint ventures
Related parties & changes in foreign exchange rates
Provisions and events after the reporting date
Leases

Student Learning Experience

Students will experience the identification and evaluation of different ways of learning including the assimilation of presented material, structured and free choice reading, interaction with staff and other students, practice by doing, use of learning facilities such as library and IT support. While the collaboration with others in the learning process is encouraged the enhancement of independent learning and self-management in finding, organising, assimilating information and in applying this knowledge is central to the course.

Lectures will introduce each new topic and materials/resources will be made available on Learn during the previous week.

Tutorials supplement the material covered in lectures. These consist of groups of around 14 students, engaging in weekly sessions facilitated by a tutor. Students prepare for the tutorial by completing quizzes, practical exercises and/or reviewing annual report extracts or other reading assignments for review/discussion during the session. The tutor is an important link with the class work and is there to help you in your learning.

Working through practical exercises is an essential part of learning accounting. Certain lecturer led activities are structured as workshop sessions where the class will be involved in solving practical exercises.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Accountancy 1A (ACCN08007) AND Accountancy 1B (ACCN08008)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students must have at least 1 introductory level course in Financial Accounting at grade B or above for entry to this course. We will only consider University/College level courses. It is recommended that Full Year students also take Accountancy 2B (ACCN08010).
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 30, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 9, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 9, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 145 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 90 %, Coursework 10 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) 90% Written Exam (Individual) - 3 hours - Assesses all course Learning Outcomes.

10% Coursework (Individual) - MCQ tests (Best 2 out of 3) - 45 minutes - Assesses all course Learning Outcomes.

Resit exam in August: 3 hours (100%)
Feedback Formative: Feedback will be provided throughout the course.

Summative: Feedback will be provided on the assessments within agreed deadlines.

Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Accountancy 2A Exam3:180
Resit Exam Diet (August)Accountancy 2A Resit Exam3:00
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Prepare corporate financial statements for groups and individual companies in accordance with the requirements of the regulatory framework.
  2. Understand and discuss the regulatory framework for financial reporting.
  3. Understand and critically examine the accounting standards, techniques and issues relating to: tangible and intangible assets; liabilities, equity, group accounts, statement of cash flows and accounting for overseas involvement.
  4. Understand and discuss issues relating to the accounting profession.
Reading List
International Financial Reporting: A Practical Guide
8th Edition
Alan Melville
2022
ISBN: 978-1-292-43942-6


This textbook is core reading for the course and complements the lecture material, providing more detailed narrative and additional exercises for topics covered in lectures. The textbook will also be used for many tutorial exercises. The companion website provides quizzes for each chapter.

Please note that there have been a number of new financial reporting standards issued in recent years and the 8th edition has been updated accordingly and therefore it is not advisable to use an earlier edition.

Additional resources (e.g. company annual reports, articles from academic journals, online resources, reports from regulatory bodies and other supplementary reading) will be available to students through the course Resource List on Learn.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Generic Skills
- The ability to learn.
- Teamwork.
- Communication.
- Analytical and Problem Solving.
- Numeracy and IT.
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserMrs Frances-Helen Hay
Tel: (0131 6)51 5248
Email: Frances-Helen.Hay@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Emma Allison
Tel:
Email: ealliso2@ed.ac.uk
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