Apply a country classification analysis for financial reporting, plus discuss and critically evaluate the success of harmonisation initiatives within financial reporting;

Critically appraise the impact that alternative valuation approaches have on financial statements, plus understand and evaluate the issues in the fair value debate and the importance of information quality;

Appreciate the potential impact of the impairment review process within financial statements and critically evaluate the factors that influence earnings management;

Critically evaluate current developments relating to consolidated financial statements, plus review the practice of foreign currency consolidation, and appreciate the potential problems that this can cause for corporations.

(LO1) Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the issues relating to international harmonisation within financial reporting;

(LO2) Critically evaluate the importance of a conceptual framework for international financial reporting and the link to an over-arching theoretical framework;

(LO3) Critically assess the different approaches available for the recognition, measurement and valuation of elements within the international financial reporting framework;

(LO4) Assess the relevance of tangible and intangible assets within the international financial reporting framework and critically appraise their alternative accounting treatments;

(LO5) Evaluate the use of financial instruments, provisions and contingencies within the international financial reporting framework;

(LO6) Critically assess the significance of earnings management;

(LO7) Apply advanced consolidation techniques for a range of different ownership structures;

(LO8) Critically evaluate current developments relating to consolidated financial reporting.

(S1) Communication Skills: Students will have opportunities to develop written and oral communication skills through group discussions, in-class presentations and coursework. This will be assessed by written assignments, reports, the dissertation and short individual and group presentations.

(S2) Problem Solving and Decision Making: Students will be challenged to think critically about organisational issues and dilemmas. They will do this by gathering and synthesising information, analysing alternative perspectives and options and presenting a considered opinion or course of action in their course assessment.

(S3) Numeracy Skills: Students will learn to apply financial and statistical techniques. These are developed as part of the modules covering finance, accounting, economics and econometrics.

(S4) Information and Communication Technology Skills: Students will have opportunities to improve their ICT skills. Students will demonstrate skills in the use of software applications including word processing, visual presentations, data bases, econometric packages, spreadsheets and using the internet for information searches in the course of researching and presenting coursework.

(S5) Group Working and Networking Skills: In class assignments for students will require them to work in groups and manage the interaction and relationships with other group members. In doing so, they will gain experience in negotiation, persuasion, influencing and managing conflict. Furthermore, students will be required to engage with fellow students and external business contacts in establishing a networked resource for the exchange of ideas and the development of future business relationships.

(S6) Personal Effectiveness: This applies to all modules where students will be encouraged to think critically about theory and practice and to challenge and critique assumptions about management, economic and financial theory.

(S7) Time management. This applies to all modules of the programme and is relevant for planning scheduled work and meeting assessment deadlines. This will be evident in the students’ independent management of their assignments and coursework and by meeting coursework deadlines.

Teaching Method 1 - Virtual classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected in the virtual classroom in discussion, dedicated to group work and individual assessment is 7.

Teaching Method 2 - Non-classroom hours (for online modules)
Notes: Number of hours per week, per student expected for reading, research and other individual work to support engagement in the classroom is 13.

International accounting differences and financial reporting;

Harmonisation, conceptual frameworks and accounting theory;

Recognition, measurement and valuation;

Fair value and information quality in financial reporting;

Tangible and intangible assets;

Financial instruments, revenue, provisions and contingencies;

Advanced consolidation techniques and foreign currency translation.