AC201: Management Accounting

Module code: AC201

Module provider: Business Informatics, Systems and Accounting; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

Level: 5

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Xing Huang, email: xing.huang@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE MM1F27 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE AC220 (Compulsory)

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module introduces further theory and practice of management accounting in relation to organisational decision-making, planning, control and performance evaluation.

This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the techniques, principles and underlying concepts relating to the provision and use of financial information in organisational decision-making, planning and control. This involves a consideration of the technical language and practices of management accounting, their location within the organisational and business context, and the theoretical and empirical evidence concerning the development and current practice of management accounting.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Explain the role of management accounting in providing information to managers for decision-making, planning and control.
2. Describe and discuss the changes taking place in organisations and the business environment and their influence on management accounting systems and practices.
3. Produce effective solutions to practical decision-making, planning and control problems by analysing and interpreting information and evaluating options using management accounting concepts and techniques.
4. Recognise the qualitative aspects of decision-making, planning and control and appraise these in relation to management accounting problems. 

Module content

• Nature and purpose of cost and management accounting
• Cost classification and behaviour
• CVP and break-even analysis
• Relevant costs and contribution-based decision-making, including pricing decisions  
• Full costing and ABC, including pricing decisions
• Marginal and absorption costing and reconciliation of profits under both methods
• Approaches to budgeting and preparation of functional and master budgets
• Standard costing and variance analysis
• Performance management and measurement

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module is delivered through a combination of interactive lectures which will introduce students to topic areas and practical workshops where students will consolidate their understanding through guided question practice and discussion.

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Opportunities for informal feedback are available throughout the course in lectures and seminars and may take the form of response to questions and activities and feedback from marked independent study. Exam style questions will be practised in seminars and additional material made available on Blackboard for independent study. Marking guides and feedback are provided where appropriate so that students can assess their own performance.

Reassessment

Additional costs