AF4035 - Management Accounting and Analytics I

You will learn through 2 x 2 hours of weekly lectures, in addition to two hours of seminars / workshops per week for one semester which will be supported by directed independent study.

Whole cohort lectures will focus on the underpinning concepts, calculations and application of management accounting and analytics, guided by the latest thinking from industry and academic research. Lectures are supported by smaller group seminars which will develop your understanding further with the use of business context scenario examples and provide an interactive setting with tutor and peers. Some workshops will be computer lab based and will explore the use of analytical real world simulations.

Directed independent learning will be an essential part of the module by supporting the work you have undertaken in contact sessions. The directed learning will take the form of additional assessment style questions, learning of academic journal articles supporting the concepts and evaluating the subjects you will learn.

Formative assessment will be provided through feedback on seminar and workshop activities and directed learning activities during seminars.

You will learn through lectures, seminars, workshops and guided and independent learning. Lectures will cover theories and concepts, whilst seminars will be facilitated by group tasks, team working, communication and interpersonal skills and allow you to reflect on your learning. Workshops will give you the opportunity to practice the various analytical techniques, allow you to build up a proficiency in the use of analytical tools and the necessary skills of interpretation and communication of findings.

Use of the programme’s e-learning portal will be essential as this will support the work you will be undertaking in the lectures, workshops and seminars; it will also contain additional exercises that will allow you to undertake further practice independently.

Your progress on the course will be continually assessed by both yourself and your lecturers. The problem solving nature of the workshops and seminars means that formative feedback will be received continuously.

Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, both guided and self-identified by your own research, so you can gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject. You may complete review exercises, work with the electronic support tools (such as quizzes and recording), attempt to complete past examination papers or undertake further reading.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge and Understanding:

• Understand and apply a variety of Management Accounting analytical techniques to support business decision making (MLO1).
• Demonstrate the ability to draw conclusions from calculations by understanding the wider impact to businesses of decisions made based on management accounting techniques (MLO2).

Intellectual / Professional skills and abilities:

• Use appropriate analytical techniques to support optimisation of initiatives and decision making (MLO3).
• Use financial and non-financial criteria to evaluate business performance (MLO4).

Personal Values Attributes:

• Define and understand professional ethics in the context of management accounting (MLO5).

Formative
The module assessment strategy includes assessment for learning elements which are based on formative feedback given during the seminars and workshops. This will include discussions of student’s responses/ answers related to seminars tasks such as computational questions, cases and relevant research papers.

Summative
A summative assessment based on a 3 hour (plus 15 minutes reading time) closed book exam held at the end of the semester (MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO 4 & MLO 5). Feedback will be provided via feedback sheet returned to students with their answer scripts. The feedback will highlight the strengths of a student’s performance as well as how this performance can be improved further.

NA

NA

This module provides you with the toolkit of numerical, analytical and interpretative skills you need to stand out in a competitive work environment. You’ll learn fundamental techniques of management accounting and analytics and how they inform decision making. It will allow you to engage with relevant ethical frameworks and consider what it means to be a responsible accounting professional in today’s business world. All topics, teaching and assessments are aligned with the professional accounting bodies, allowing you to gain exemptions from professional exams. You’ll also benefit from research-led learning, with your studies enhanced by the latest thinking and developments within industry and academia. Moreover, the module reflects the international nature of management accounting, using examples and case studies from leading multi-national corporations to show how they adopt/adapt management techniques to support decision making and enhance business performance.