AC302: Advanced Management Accounting

Module code: AC302

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

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Edward Tew, email: w.tew@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AC201 OR TAKE AC220 (Compulsory)

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: na

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 28 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module aims to further develop students’ critical understanding of the role of management accounting in organisational decision making, planning, control and performance management. It seeks to provide students with a critical conceptual and technical understanding of management accounting tools and techniques relating to the provision and use of financial and managerial information in organisational decision-making, planning, control and performance management. An emphasis is placed on the strategically focused organisation in the modern business environment.

The module lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is John Clement Tang.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Evaluate the changing role of management accounting and management accountants in the modern business context.
2. Recognise and discuss the quantitative and qualitative aspects, including behavioural aspects, of decision-making, planning, control, and performance management in the modern business context.
3. Organise and communicate information clearly, succinctly and in the required format, both under timed conditions and in assessed work; and
4. Critically assess selected academic and professional literature

Module content

• Contemporary issues and tools developed in management accounting
• Advanced Performance Measurement I: Management Control systems
• Advanced Performance Measurement II: Divisional Performance Measurement and Management
• Advanced Performance Measurement III: Balanced Scorecard
• Strategic Cost Management
• Strategic Pricing Techniques: Pricing theory/decisions and Profitability Analysis

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

A combination of lectures and practical classes/workshops will be used for the delivery of the module. Lectures will be used for the exposition of the main concepts, principles and techniques associated with the discipline. The workshops will focus on numerical practice and discussion of examination style and case study questions.

This module may be taught in a different semester if you are studying at our campus in Malaysia.

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA). 

Study hours

At least 36 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 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.

Formative assessments are available in the textbook for all topics. In addition, exam style questions are available on Blackboard and students will practice exam style questions and case studies in workshops. Marking guides and feedback are provided where appropriate so that students can assess their own performance.

Reassessment

Additional costs