Study Guide

Objectives (course unit)

This course provides students with advanced knowledge and skills to manage finances in rapidly changing business environment. Emphasis is put on project financing and cash flow management.
When the student has passed the course he/she will know:
- The role of Management Accounting
- Cost-Volume profit analysis, volume and pricing
- Cost accounting basics
- Product costing and activity based costing methods
- Reporting practices
- Project accounting principles
- How to utilize financial estimating
- Investment projections
After completing the course the sudent can:
- Make supportive management calculations
- Understanding the need for cost centers and project dimensions
- Prepare and adopt financial reports
- Obtain ideas for improving business profitability
- Rate investments based on financial outcome
- Provide managerial finance contribution
When the student has passed the course he/she will be:
- Able to contribute business decisions from financial perspective
- Able to make financial projections for future business
- Able to set range of ‘what if analysis’
- Able to compare options form financial point of view
- A project manager with the skill to manage the finances

Content (course unit)

The course focus on managerial finance topics, it requires comprehensive financial knowledge. The themes are more advanced, covering principles and practices for improving business profitability from financial point of view. The aim is to encourage and develop business understanding from financial perspective. Both lecturing and related exercises are to be utililized.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1-2) (course unit)

The student can name the core fields of management accounting, recognises the relevant management accounting principles and practices used by companies and understands the role of management accounting in business. The student is able to identify the common management accounting tools and methods used and provides plain performance in course tasks and participation. The student knows the principles to make basic calculations related to theme. The student can give and receive feedback, minimum level, takes responsibility as an individual learner, acts as part of team under supervision and recognises his/her level of interaction.

Assessment criteria, good (3-4) (course unit)

The student is able to structure and connect the role of management accounting in company operations, apply the management accounting tools and concepts used by companies, explain why and how to use various management accounting methods and explain the need for targeting profitable business. The student can make simple profitability calculations with analysis, company financial projections and relevant financial comparisons for management decision making. The student can simulate various factors for making profitable company.
The student can give and receive constructive feedback, operate in professional manner by recognizing relevant scope and needs, develop his/her interaction skills adding value to the team and take responsibility as needed.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5) (course unit)

The student is able to adapt the course themes at professional level, find and translate the course themes, expand the context by bringing authentic perspectives, experiences and opinions and analyse the selected management accounting themes. The student finds the academic approach to management accounting and uses additional research papers and academic sources. The student activates mindset to connect financial accounting in working life situations. The student can build creative solutions by combining the course themes, evaluate outcomes, look for new opportunities and justify the decisions made. The student is able to look for alternative perspectives for the topics in management accounting. The student uses feedback to iterate the learning process, add collaboration, develops creative and constructive working methods and brings professional commitment throughout the course.

Location and time

Tampere, Kuntokatu main campus.

Exam schedules

The course evaluation is based on a financial report, the details to informed during the first class.

Assessment scale

0-5

Teaching methods

Contact teaching and discussion, team working, individual and team exercises.

Learning materials

Materials instructed by the lecturer, course slides and exercises
Voluntary additional reading: Eddie McLaney & Peter Atrill, Accounting and Finance, an introduction

Student workload

The course is 5cr, which is based on lectures, active individual studies (reading, exercises, report) and collaboration within set teams.

Content scheduling

To informed during the first lecture.

International connections

This is a Masters level course, IBM.