Financial Accounting (5 cr)

Objectives (course unit)

This course introduces the key financial accounting fundamentals to new degree students. It also provides them with necessary knowledge of how to evaluate the corporate performance by using performance measures and public financial closing information.

After completing the course, the students will be able to:

Master the key contents and basic logic of financial accounting, from daily business events to ready-made financial closings.

Read and interpret financial closing information, including especially the contents of the income statement and the balance sheet.

Understand the importance and basic principles of cash flow management.

Solve the values of selected external financial performance measures and actively utilize the Internet and Microsoft Office for calculations, problem solving and reporting.

Perform basic-level financial analysis through choosing and using relevant performance measures for the corporate performance evaluations, case by case.

Content (course unit)

Why is mastering the double-entry accounting system and the financial accounting process essential for a company?
What does an external financial closing include and inform the stakeholders of?
How can the key contents of the balance sheet and the income statement be utilized in decision making?
What are the roles of cash management and cash flow statement in financial control?
Which financial performance measures can be used to evaluate the corporate performance from an external point-of-view?
How can the external performance measurement and evaluation process be performed successfully in different business cases?

Exam schedules

During weeks nr. 46-47/2015, either on the Thursday Nov 12th or Nov 19th contact teaching lesson. Students can use a calculator in this exam.
Two retake chances later on during the academic year 2015-16 ==> See the TenttiWilho retake system for the exact TAMK School of Business and Services retake dates, later on.

Evaluation methods and criteria

Student's overall activity and performance in discussions, exercises and group work has a weight of 40-50% and her/his exam performance has a weight of 50-60% in deciding on the overall course grade.

Teaching methods

Contact teaching, series of lectures, study conversations, cooperative learning, problem-based learning, exercises, assignments, group work, field work/company visits, web learning, exam.

Learning materials

1. Course book:
Horngren, C., Sundem, G., Elliott, J. & Philbrick, D. 2014. Introduction to Financial Accounting. 11th New International ed. Pearson Education.
2. Other learning material will be assigned or delivered to the course participants during contact teaching or through Tabula learning environment.

Student workload

Contact teaching takes some 30-33 hrs, and students' other studies including exercises, group assignment and preparation for the exam are planned as some 80-95 hrs, depending on the student's efficiency. Altogether max. 130 hrs.

Content scheduling

I Basics of Financial Accounting
II Financial Closing / The Balance Sheet
III Financial Closing / The Income Statement (incl. the very basics of Cash Management issues)
IV Financial Analysis and Corporate Performance Evaluation

Completion alternatives

-

Practical training and working life cooperation

We'll make one company visit, at least, or invite a guest lecturer into one of our lessons during the course.

International connections

One international guest lecturer is always warmly welcome to give one relevant lesson in this course implementation, if a visit to TAMK happens to be there during the implementation.

Further information

The first lesson of the course will be there in classroom C2-14 on Thursday Sept 3, 2015, with a start at 11.15 a.m.

Assessment criteria - fail (0) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has failed the exam, or his/her contribution in the compulsory group assignment has not been an acceptable one.

Assessment criteria - satisfactory (1-2) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course sufficiently. Student understands the premises and principles of the subject matter. Student recognizes, is able to determine and use the concepts and models.

Assessment criteria - good (3-4) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course well although the skills and competences are somewhat in need of further development. Student is able to determine and apply the concepts and models of the subject matter well and is able to apply them in simple tasks.

Assessment criteria - excellent (5) (Not in use, Look at the Assessment criteria above)

Student has achieved the objectives of the course excellently. The student masters the concepts and models of the subject matter in an excellent manner. Student is able to conduct fluent and reasoned analysis and has good capabilities to apply the learning.