BAEcon Accounting and Finance

The course explores theoretical concepts, practice, design and broader issues of cost and management accounting. It examines the characteristics of costing systems and the use of cost information in management decision-making, at both the operating and strategic levels. Topics covered include (in no particular order): cost behaviour, cost accumulation and assigning costs, intermediate costing methods, strategic cost management, pricing intra-company transfers, pricing decisions and the role of costs, profit planning and the full process of preparing the master budget, flexible budgets and management by exception, beyond budgeting, case studies on costing, pricing and budgeting, pricing product design, target costing analysis, reverse-income analysis, strategy and long-term allocation processes, intra-firm coordination and capital budgeting, the role of management accounting for decision-making under different scenarios of uncertainty (e.g. environmental management accounting). Issues relating to the behavioural, organisational and social aspects of cost and management accounting systems will be infused throughout the delivery of the course. 

BMAN21040 has pre-requisites of: BMAN10512 or BMAN10632 / 10632(M). Core for BSc Accounting & BSc ITMB (Accounting). Available to Mgt, IM, IMABS, IBFE & ITMB. Also taken by BAEcon & MathswFinancial Maths level 3 & 4.

Pre-requisite course units must be passed with 40% or more at the first attempt, unless a higher percentage is indicated in 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: BMAN10512 Introductory Management Accounting or BMAN10632/10632(M) Fundamentals of Management Accounting

Co-requisites: None

Dependent course units: BMAN31040 Advanced Management Accounting 

The course builds upon material introduced in BMAN10512 Introductory Management Accounting and BMAN10632/10632(M) Fundamentals of Management Accounting. The primary aim is to extend students’ understanding of the theories, techniques, and practices of management and cost accounting, and how they apply in practice to inform decision-making. Particular emphasis is placed on issues in the design and use of management accounting and control systems in and between organizations. 

Students should be able to:

The course explores theoretical concepts, practices, design and broader issues of cost and management accounting.  It examines the characteristics of managerial accounting systems and the use of cost information in management decision making, at both the operating and strategic levels.  

Key themes developed in the course include:

• the importance of cost information and costing systems to the successful strategic management of organisations in a competitive business environment, 
• traditional and newer techniques for appraising and controlling resource allocation decisions,  
• issues concerning the choice of appropriate means of costing products and services,
• issues and problems of using accounting practices as devices of control within organisations and between organizations in a network, 
• the selection and use of managerial accounting techniques to support firms’ competitive advantage,  
• issues and techniques related to performance measurement.

Lectures: 30 hours per year 
Workshops: 6 hours per year 
Private study: 164 hours per year (recommended minimum)

Total hours: 200 hours per year

1. Office Hours 2. Online Learning Activities (blogs, discussions, self-assessment questions)

KU1: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of alternative concepts, tools, practices, roles and terminologies of cost and management accounting. 
 

IS1: Interpret, and critically appraise, the use of cost and management accounting techniques within their broader (organisational, environmental and managerial) contexts. 

PS1: Skilfully apply key calculative cost and management accounting techniques. 

TS1: Appreciate the behavioral, organisational and social dimensions affecting the design of managerial accounting and control systems within and between organizations.   
 

Examinations  

First examination (January exam period): 50% of total marks. 
Second examination (May-June exam period): 50% of total marks.  

Further information on the structure of the examinations, and guidance toward revision, will be provided by the course conveners during semesters 1 and 2.    

Semester 1 exchange students only (admitted via the Alliance Manchester Business School International Office that take this course as BMAN20671) are expected to sit the same semester 1 assessment as the rest of the cohort, worth 100% for 10 credits for semester 1.

 

• Informal advice and discussion during the lecture, consultation, and discussion sessions.
• Responses to student emails and questions from a member of staff

Seal, W., Rhode, C., Garrison, R. H., & Noreen, E. W. (2018). Management Accounting (6th Edition). McGraw –Hill, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £34,800 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

Learn more about student finance options for UK students.

Learn more about fees and finance for international students.

As an international student you may be eligible for our Global Futures Scholarships. This is open to students starting their studies in September 2026.