MQM2FFL: Finance for Leaders

Module code: MQM2FFL

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

Credits: 10

Level: 7

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

This module forms part of the PGDip Leadership (Senior Leader Apprenticeship) programme and, as such, sets out to provide the knowledge, skills and behaviours required by senior leaders in today’s world.  The module covers essential financial understanding for people in leadership roles, including contributing to decisions about organisational resource requirements (budgets, people, technology) based on strategic insight and ensuring that their area of responsibility is compliant with internal and external governance, such as any regulatory and statutory requirements. 

The module aims to develop knowledge and understanding of financial management and governance so that individuals can oversee financial strategies and related issues. 

Module learning outcomes

Assessable learning outcomes: 

By the end of the module, it is expected that programme members will be able to demonstrate their ability in the following areas: 

To know and understand: 

• K8: Financial strategies, for example scenarios, modelling and identifying trends, application of economic theory to decision-making, and how to evaluate financial and non- financial information such as the implications of sustainable approaches. 
• K9: Financial governance and legal requirements, and procurement strategies.  

Additional Learning Outcomes: 

Skills: 

• S8: Apply principles relating to relevant Governance and Regulatory compliance. 
• S10: Oversee development and monitoring of financial strategies and setting of organisational budgets based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and challenge financial assumptions underpinning strategies. 
• S11: Uses financial data to allocate resources. 
• S12: Oversee procurement, supply chain management and contracts such as consideration of sustainable approaches. 

Behaviours 

• B1: Work collaboratively enabling empowerment and delegation. 
• B2: Take personal accountability aligned to clear values. 
• B3: Curious and innovative - exploring areas of ambiguity and complexity and finding creative solutions. 

Additional Outcomes 

• Confidence 
• Understanding the importance of financial understanding in effective leadership 

Module content

The module covers the following topics: 

• Introduction to accounting and finance 
• The three main financial statements and the key concepts underlying their preparation. 
• Economic concepts 
• Budgeting: planning, control and performance 
• Costing and decision making 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching and learning takes 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, face-to-face workshops with Faculty and a Learning Coach, who supports the cohort throughout the module.   

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

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 50% 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 module, including formative feedback of the assignment. 

Formative assessment requirements: 

Formative assessment is either a “Proceed” or “Revise”, and emphasis is placed on providing feedback. 

Formative reassessment arrangements: 

One resubmission.

Reassessment

Additional costs