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Module

ACC4053 : Financial Analysis

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Mr Ben Dickson-Green
  • Owning School: Newcastle University Business School
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 10.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

This module focuses on firm valuation using information and data in corporate annual reports. It aims to develop students’ skills of financial analysis particularly in relation to the use of financial statements and their influence on the investment process. For the purposes of this module, financial analysis is taken to refer to the area of comparing, analysing and assessing the valuation of companies. Throughout the degree programme students have spent time considering financial accounts from the perspective of the company management that prepares the accounts and the external auditors who audit them. The aim of this module is to encourage students to think about financial accounts from the perspective of the intended user of the financial accounts – shareholders.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       Investment analysis strategies and objectives;
•       Relevant aspects of investment theories;
•       Relevant aspects of financial statement analysis;
•       Relevant aspects of other financial analysis techniques.

Students will be encouraged to research various sources of information about companies allowing them to develop an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of financial statements as source of information for investors.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion150:0050:00Analysis Report Writing
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture102:0020:005 PiP Lectures each semester.
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading130:0030:00Information collection and analysis
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching51:005:00PiP - 5 Tutorials in Semester 2.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery52:0010:002 Drop-in Session in Semester 1; and 3 Sessions in Semester 2 - PIP
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study184:0084:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:001 module talk in Semester 1 for whole cohort. PIP
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lecture materials are used to explain the issues, and to introduce theory, concepts and techniques. Students will have the opportunity to develop their understanding and judge their progress.

Small group teaching is used to share understanding at key phases of the project.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report2M100Complete an analyst' report including a comprehensive valuation of a pre-agreed company. (4,000 words).
Formative Assessments

Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.

Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise1MWriting an analysis report on both the Industry/Sector risk and Firm strategy
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module is assessed by a written project/assignment (4,000 words limit) which is designed primarily to test students’ skills of discussion, analysis and evaluation. For this module these skills are appropriately assessed by assignment giving students the opportunity to research the subject area and develop their analytical skills over the course of the module. They will then be required to demonstrate these skills in writing in the written report/assignment.

The assignment is submitted online as it has been undertaken previously, so no alternative way of examination is needed.

Reading Lists

Timetable