ICM291-Advanced Financial Analysis

Module Provider: ICMA Centre
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2022/3

Module Convenor: Ms Linda Arch
Email: linda.arch@icmacentre.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module will deepen students’ understanding of published Financial Statements. It highlights how the choices made when preparing Financial Statements can impact upon reported company performance and position and thus investment decisions.

Aims:

The primary aim of this module is to deepen students’ understanding of published Financial Statements and how the choices made when preparing Financial Statements can impact upon reported company performance and position and thus investment decisions.

Assessable learning outcomes:

Students should be able to: 

1. Explain how the choices made when preparing Financial Statements can impact upon reported company performance and position and thus investment decisions. 


2. Discuss some of the key differences between US GAAP and IFRS. 


3. Appraise the uses and limitations of published Financial Statements.

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:

The topics to be covered will include: 

• An overview of financial reporting frameworks 


• Inventory Analysis 


• The Analysis of Long-Lived Assets 


• The Analysis of Debt 


• Off-balance sheet items 


• The Analysis of Intercorporate Investments 


• The Analysis of Pension Reporting 


• Deferred Taxation 


• Curr encies

 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

• Lectures


• Seminars: the seminars are designed to encourage discussion with your peers and critical analysis


• Blackboard Discussion Board

 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		5
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		10
Wider reading (directed)		30
Advance preparation for classes		10
Preparation for seminars		10
Revision and preparation		25
Total hours by term	0	100	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	75
Class test administered by School	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:

2-hour closed book written examination

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1-hour multiple choice test. The test will be held in the first two weeks of the Summer Term.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The below information applies to students on taught programmes except those on Postgraduate Flexible programmes. Penalties for late submission, and the associated procedures, which apply to Postgraduate Flexible programmes are specified in the policy £Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes£, which can be found here: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmissionPGflexible.pdf
The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

50% weighted average mark

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-sit of the 2-hour closed book written examination to be taken in August / September

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

One of the following calculators:  

Casio FX-83GTX (£14.99)

Casio FX-85GTX (£16.99)

Last updated: 29 March 2022