ULMS Electronic Module Catalogue

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Finance and Data Analysis for Managers
Code MGTK723
Coordinator Mr RS Stephens
Finance and Accounting
Robert.Stephens@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 7 FHEQ Whole Session 15

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:

 

Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours   2

      24

26
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 124
TOTAL HOURS 150

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Individual project Reassessment Opportunity: new assignment with the same brief submitted to the module instructor. Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment:   -2000 words    30       
Individual video presentation Reassessment Opportunity: new assignment with the same brief submitted to the module instructor. Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous A  10 minutes    20       
Financial analysis and commentary Reassessment Opportunity: new assignment with the same brief. Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment: Yes  -500 words    25       
Financial analysis and commentary Reassessment Opportunity: new assignment with the same brief. Penalty for Late Submission: Standard UoL penalty applies Anonymous Assessment: Yes  -500 words    25       

Aims

This module aims to:

Enable students to broaden their understanding of finance techniques and tools which impact on business management decisions and actions;

Equip students with technical financial skills which will allow them to participate in finance-related organisation projects, including project appraisal, financing decisions, budgeting and data analysis;

Equip students with the skills to be able to appreciate where the financial and data management skills learnt on this module might be most appropriate / useful to their own area of business practice or specialism, as well as appreciating the limitations of techniques;

Equip students will the skills and understanding to be able to use financial data in order to strategically influence within their workplace contexts.


Learning Outcomes

(LE1) Internationally aware.
The use of real-world learning materials, podcasts, and authentic assessments, as well as the sharing of experiences with fellow students will make students aware of international business issues and how they can be managed.

(LE2) A life-long learner.
The module will embed key finance skills and an awareness which will continue to grow as graduates are exposed to future experiences in their careers.

(LE3) Numerate.
Key numeracy skills are developed in this module to meet the stated learning outcomes.

(LO1) Students will be able to understand the different types of financial statements, critically evaluate the interlinkage between them and their usefulness to business decisions and challenge the basis from which various forms of data analysis take place.

(LO2) Students will be able to critically analyse company performance from financial statements using financial data ratio analysis.

(LO3) Students will be able to financially appraise potential business projects using investment appraisal techniques, critically evaluate the usefulness of these techniques and be able to demonstrate techniques to deal with risks and uncertainties.

(LO4) Students will be able to support business planning and control through the adoption of budgets. Students will be able to critically evaluate the usefulness of budgeting techniques and appraise the usefulness of data from such control systems.

(LO5) Students will be able to understand the various sources of finance available to businesses and be able to recommend suitable types of finance to meet the needs of individual business situations.

(LO6) Students will have an understanding of the calculation of discount rates for use in investment appraisal as well as the ability to explain problems and limitations of their use.

(LO7) Students will be able to understand the non-financial and other financial risks facing businesses and be able to demonstrate and explain how such risk data can be managed.

(LRE1) A problem solver.
Students will not only develop technical skills to solve problems, but their breadth of understanding will make it easier for them to appreciate the wider impacts to consider when tackling issues.

(LRE2) A team player.
Collaborative and constructive feedback to assessments during the module will help develop students’ teamwork skills.

(LRE3) Organised and able to work under pressure.
The scope of work covered and the required interaction by students in discussion forums will be a useful aid for students to develop improved organisation skills. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and ability to meet deadlines.

(LRE4) An excellent verbal and written communicator.
Students will have the opportunity to develop written and oral communication skills through virtual group discussions, presentation, and individual assessment.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

The module will be delivered over an 8-week period, primarily through a series of weekly e-lectures. These will be supported by individual online tasks and discussion boards, which will be used to develop and apply learning. These will be moderated by the module instructor. Students will also be directed to key academic and practitioner readings to further develop their learning.
Unscheduled Directed Student Hours: 24 hours

Description: The e-Lectures/seminars will equate to 3 hours/week over 8 weeks, undertaken asynchronously.
Attendance Recorded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Additionally, one scheduled synchronous seminar will be delivered (if there are issues with time zones another seminar will be provided).

Scheduled Directed Student Hours: 2 hours

Description: The scheduled seminar will equate to 2 hours undertaken synchronously. The date and time of the seminar will be confirmed at the start of the module.
Attendance Reco rded: Yes – tracked via the learning platform.

Self-Directed Learning Hours: 124 hours

Description: This will involve directed and independent reading, independent research, and preparation for assessment.


Syllabus

 

Financial statements overview: The module explores the need for and presentation of financial statements, and provides students with an appreciation of the interlinkage between these statements. Students will also explore the usefulness of the financial statements to business decisions.

Company performance evaluation: Students will learn how to conduct analysis of company performance (profitability, liquidity, investor ratios and gearing) from financial statements using ratio analysis. As well as mastering key calculations used in practice, we will evaluate the usefulness of these calculations to stakeholders.

Investment appraisal: The module prepares students to evaluate potential strategies / projects using financial investment appraisal techniques as well as showing the limitations of these techniques. The module also demonstrates techniques to deal with risks and uncertainties associated with forecasts built into cash flow estimates.

Budgeting and control: S tudents will explore how businesses plan and control operations through the adoption of budgets. The module will explore different types of budgets, and will build students’ ability to understand and challenge the usefulness of these budgeting techniques in relevant business scenarios. In order to study the control of business activities, the module also explores the application and evaluation of non-financial statistics.

Financing: Sources and types of finance available to businesses is critical for managers to appreciate. Students will develop understanding of the funds that are likely to be both available and suitable for business activities through their lifecycle.

Cost of capital: Calculations of discount rates for use in investment appraisal are examined, as well as the ability to challenge the assumptions on which these calculations are based.

Risk Management: Other non-financial and financial risks facing businesses are considered along with risk man agement techniques.


Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.