BUU22530: Introduction to Accounting

(5 ECTS)

Lecturer:

Amanda Roe 

Email: amroe@tcd.ie 
Office hours: Wednesday 10am – 1pm (Please email to make an appointment)

Module tutor: Dylan Kirby kirbydy@tcd.ie 

Pre-Requisite: 

BUU11510 - Fundamentals of Management & Organisation

Module Description:

This module deals with the construction and interpretation of five key financial statements. The initial focus will be on three of these statements – the Statement of Financial Position, the Income Statement, and the Cash Flow Statement. Later in the module, the two remaining statements, which have been introduced relatively recently, will be considered. These are the Statement of Comprehensive Income and the Statement of Changes in Equity. Throughout the module, underlying theoretical concepts related to matching, income measurement and asset valuation will be explored in detail and the principles of sound financial management will be developed as the course proceeds. Emphasis on double entry book-keeping will be minimized as far as possible.

The overall goal of the course is that students obtain a sound understanding of 'money in organisations' and – more specifically – learn how to analyse and judge (a) whether organisations are performing well and are financially healthy or (b) whether there are weaknesses in their financial performance / financial structure. 

Learning Outcomes:

  1. Explain and discuss the fundamental concepts underlying the construction of the key financial statements;
  2. Prepare a set of basic accounts (the 3 key financial statements) for a commercial enterprise;
  3. Evaluate the financial performance, position and cash flow of an enterprise [based on published financial statements of Public Limited Companies (plcs)];
  4. Recommend appropriate policies and strategies for funding and managing an enterprise's resource base, (re)investment requirements and funding needs.

Recommended Texts/Key Reading:

 Required core course textbook:  

  • Accounting for Business  
  • Authors: Peter Scott (3rd Edition) 

General Supplemental Readings 

  • See lecture slides for supplemental readings.

 Student preparation for the module 

In advance of each lecture, students must read the required material to familiarise themselves with the new accounting concepts. Students must prepare the required questions in advance of the lectures and tutorials.  

Assessment:

In order to successfully complete this module, the student must obtain an overall grade of 40%.  

 There are three forms of assessment for this module.  

Continuous Assessment  

  • Two in-class MCQ tests, 30% of total grade (each test is worth 15%).  
  • Week 6: Friday 20th October: Topic 1 to 3 (15 MCQs)  
  • Week 11: Friday 24th November: Topic 4 to 7 (15 MCQs) 

Final Assessment | Preparation of accounts and Interpretation of Accounts | 70%.  

  • 1.5-hour exam during exam week.  
  • The final assessment equates to 70% of the student’s overall grade.  
  • Breakdown: Section A:
    • Preparation of Accounts (A,B,C) (50 Marks)
    • Section b: Interpretation of PLC Company (50 Marks)