MQ1BUF: Business Finance

Module code: MQ1BUF

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

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Full year

Module convenor: Mrs Sian Weatherburn, email: s.l.weatherburn@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: No placement specified

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students:

Talis reading list:

Last updated: 19 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

The Business Finance module provides students with the foundation knowledge and skills to enable them to understand, analyse and make sense of the role of finance in their respective organisations. The module introduces theory and practice of financial accounting and management accounting, and as such through the workshop and seminars, it equips students with knowledge and practical skills that they can apply in their work. 

The module aims to develop the students’ understanding of the concepts and principles of financial and management accounting and to be able to evaluate and interpret these within the context of their organisation.  

The module aims to enable students to:  

• Understand, analyse, and interpret financial data and information.  
• Understand and support key management accounting tasks of planning, controlling and decision making   
• Develop a level of confidence in their ability to communicate financial issues.  
• Understand the economic context of the organisation and the principles of effective procurement 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Explain the role of Finance within organisations and the importance of strategic financial management including budgets, financial management and accounting. 

2. Create and analyse financial reports

3. Discuss the economic context of organisations and approaches to procurement and contracting

4. Assess the commercial context in an organisational setting and how this changes over time.

Module content

The module covers the following topics: 

• Introduction to Business Finance and financial management 
• Creation and analysis of financial reports and statements 
• Understanding an organisation's planning and budgeting, including procurement 
• Financial planning and budgeting (deep dive) and budgetary control 
• Synthesis of business finance for corporations 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning take place through a blended learning approach. The teaching and learning methods comprise a combination of self-study via a range of online materials on the Canvas learning platform, weekly one-hour virtual seminars with a Learning Coach, and face-to-face workshops with Faculty. 

Materials on Canvas include content on-screen, videos, PowerPoint presentations, journal articles, book chapters, practical activities, and reflection points.  

The contact hours are shown for one semester in the table below for illustrative purposes only. The actual timing will vary depending on your cohort start date. 

Study hours

At least 7 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

This module is subject to the Penalties for late submission for Postgraduate Flexible programmes policy, which can be found at:

https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmissionpgflexible.pdf

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties to work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar month 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; 
• where the piece of work is submitted more than one calendar month after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

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.

Facilitated learning activities are undertaken during the seminars and workshops, including formative feedback on these activities.

Reassessment

Additional costs