THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2024/2025

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Business School : Accounting

Undergraduate Course: Advanced Financial Accounting (ACCN10008)

Course Outline
SchoolBusiness School CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThe 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.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Accountancy 2A (ACCN08009) AND Accountancy 2B (ACCN08010)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting 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.

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 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 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 70 %, Coursework 25 %, Practical Exam 5 %
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)ACCN10008 AFA Exam3:180
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understand and critically evaluate how theory underpins accounting regulation.
  2. Critically evaluate fair value as an alternative to the traditional historic cost model.
  3. Question and challenge practices and ideas in specific accounting standards and specialist sectors, and to recognise the context within which financial reporting operates.
  4. Discuss the factors which impact on accounting and those on which accounting impacts, by reference to current issues in financial accounting.
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.
KeywordsAFA
Contacts
Course organiserProf Christine Cooper
Tel: (0131 6)51 5077
Email: Christine.Cooper@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Ellen Hunter
Tel:
Email: Ellen.Hunter@ed.ac.uk
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