BSc Business Accounting with Industrial/Professional Experience

The course comprises two main sections. The first section is organised around three main themes: (i) the nature of the basic issues underlying financial reporting choices, accounting principles and concepts of income and value; (ii) major theoretical approaches to the analysis of the production and use of financial statements; and (iii) the framework established to ensure the quality of financial reporting, through the legal and professional structure of regulation and financial statement auditing.

The second part of the course, which is completed in the second semester, looks at accounting methods on a number of specific issues/controversies where financial reporting standards influence how organisations report externally in practice. This section begins by looking at attempts in the UK and elsewhere to develop a general ’conceptual framework’ to guide financial reporting practice. A number of specific areas of reporting will then be referred to, for example: reporting of earnings, valuation of tangible assets, accounting for research activity, group accounting, intangibles and provisions.

The course is concerned with the principles on which organisations report to external interest groups and what evidence from actual reporting practice reveals about the motivations associated with financial accounting. It is expected that students will become competent with intermediate level accounting methods in a number of areas of practice, but there is also emphasis on the conceptual issues linked to accounting methods - what theory would suggest regarding practice, how accepted accounting conventions are applied and what actual company behaviour illustrates about the nature of financial reporting. Some technical aspects of financial reporting will be highlighted in classes during both semesters.
 

BMAN 21020B has pre-requisites of BMAN10501. Core and only available for BSc Business Accounting with IPE.

Pre-requisite course units have to be passed by 40% or above at the first attempt unless a higher percentage is indicated within this course outline. If the pre-requisite unit is defined as a compulsory course unit within your programme of study (Maths with Finance, IBFE, Accounting, BA Econ pathways for example) then progression onto the dependent unit is permitted as long as you have gained the appropriate amount of credit to progress on to the following year of your registered undergraduate programme.

Pre-requisites

BMAN10501 Financial Reporting with an examination pass mark of 40% or above or

BMAN10621(A), (B) or (M) Fundamentals of Financial Reporting with an examination pass mark of 40% or above

This course builds upon the learning from the above pre-requisite courses. Students must have a good knowledge and understanding of:

• The structure of financial statements, particularly the Statement of Financial Position and Income Statements
• The 4 main transaction types (Assets, Liabilities, Income & Expenditure)
• The working of dual effect transactions on the accounting equation, i.e. debits and credits.

Co-requisites: None

Dependent course units: BMAN30030 Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting & Regulations, BMAN30131 Accountability and Auditing, BMAN30211 Corporate Governance in Context.

BMAN21020 aims to develop students' knowledge and understanding, both theoretical and practical, of: 
- the framework of regulations which influence financial reporting practice;
- theoretical approaches which have been offered as guides to financial reporting; 
- group accounting; and 
- accounting techniques and methods adopted in practice.

It is expected that on successful completion of this course students should be able to:
- Explain and apply basic theoretical ideas about financial reporting, including its role in a framework of governance and accountability and the measurement of income and value;
- Describe the principal elements in the regulatory structure applying to financial statements and how this structure has developed over time;
- Explain the role of auditing in relation to financial statements;
- Describe and evaluate the components of conceptual frameworks for accounting;
- Analyse the way in which theory, practice and rules (primarily accounting standards) apply to specific reporting issues which have been subjects of controversy and regulation in recent years;
- Explain and apply the main principles and methods recommended in a number of accounting standards.

In addition, through studying this course students should develop their skills in:
- The preparation, use and interpretation of financial accounting statements including those for group companies;
- Evaluation and presentation of quantitative and qualitative information;
- The use of academic literature and critical analysis;
- Problem solving, numeracy and data manipulation;
- Communication of structured information.
 

44 one-hour lectures with in-lecture activities (2 per week) over the duration of the course (22 lectures per semester)

Total study hours: 200 hours split between lectures, problem-based sessions, self-study and preparation for classes, coursework and examinations.

Informal Contact Methods

•       Office Hours - booked through SOHOL

•       Email tutors directly

•       Drop in Surgeries (extra help sessions for students on material they may be struggling with)

•       Blackboard discussion board

•       Online Virtual Drop-in Surgeries

Semester 1: 2 and a half hour examination at the end of semester one (45%).

Semester 2: 2 and a half hour examination at the end of semester two (45%).

Active Learning assessment: In both semesters: participation in peer instruction lecture activities, via polling system (Point Solutions) (10%)

Semester 1 exchange students admitted via the Alliance Manchester Business School International Office on course code BMAN20641 will undertake a separate exam consisting of a technical accounting question and a written essay. 

The following methods will be used to give feedback:

• Informal advice and discussions during lectures.
• Online exercises and quizzes delivered through the Blackboard course space.
• Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff including feedback provided to the cohort via an online discussion forum on Blackboard.
• Generic feedback posted on Blackboard regarding overall examination performance.

Core Text Book:

H. Morgan (2018), Financial Reporting and Accountability, 5th Edition, McGraw Hill. (customised)

This Core Text is available as an e-book free to students registered on this course, as part of the University’s "Books Right here Right Now" scheme.

WARNING: Do not buy earlier editions of the above text book as they are now technically out of date.

Supplementary Reading:

B. Elliott and J. Elliott (2017), Financial Reporting and Accounting, (18th edition), Prentice Hall.

Alexander, D. Britton, and Jorissen, A (2014), International Financial Reporting and Analysis, 6th ed. Thomson Learning.

C. Deegan and J. Unerman (2014), Financial Accounting Theory; 2nd European Edition, McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.

Kim, K.A., Nofsinger, J.R. and Mohr, D.J (2010) Corporate Governance, 3rd Ed. Prentice Hall.

Collins and McKeith (2013) Financial Accounting and Reporting, McGraw Hill.

Length of course: 23 weeks

Course Coordinator: Huw Morgan

Other Teaching Staff: Reimi Sivalingam.

Pre-requisite course units have to be passed by 40% or above at the first attempt unless a higher percentage is indicated within this course outline. If the pre-requisite unit is defined as a compulsory course unit within your programme of study (Maths with Finance, IBFE, Accounting, BA Econ pathways for example) then progression onto the dependent unit is permitted as long as you have gained the appropriate amount of credit to progress on to the following year of your registered undergraduate programme.

Pre-requisites:
BMAN10501 Financial Reporting with an examination pass mark of 40% or above or
BMAN10621(A), (B) or (M) Fundamentals of Financial Reporting with an examination pass mark of 40% or above

This course builds upon the learning from the above pre-requisite courses. Students must have a good knowledge and understanding of:

•       The structure of financial statements, particularly the Statement of Financial Position and Income Statements

•       The 4 main transaction types (Assets, Liabilities, Income & Expenditure)

•       The working of dual effect transactions on the accounting equation, i.e. debits and credits.

Co-requisites: None

Dependent course units: BMAN30030 Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting & Regulations, BMAN30131 Accountability and Auditing, BMAN30211 Corporate Governance in Context.

BMAN21020(B) is ONLY available to BSc Business Accounting.

For Academic Year 2024/2025

Updated: May 2024

Approved by: March UG Committee