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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 13 | 2:00 | 26:00 | 5 PiP Lectures each semester. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Analysis Report Writing |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 30:00 | 30:00 | Information collection and analysis |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | PiP - 6 Tutorials in Semester 2. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | 1 Drop-in Session in Semester 1; and 2 Sessions in Semester 2 - PIP |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 84:00 | 84:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Module talk | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | 1 module talk in Semester 1 for whole cohort. PIP |
| Total | 200:00 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 100 | Complete 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 exercise | 1 | M | Writing 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
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- ACC4053's Timetable