AF7029 - Accounting and Finance

The module is delivered through a combination of tutor-directed learning, group learning and independent learning. In the taught sessions, an interactive approach will draw upon the directed learning undertaken and participants’ own experiences. You are particularly encouraged to bring examples from the workplace into the classroom to share with each other and with the tutors. Sessions will facilitate students to apply theory to ‘real-life’ situations, critically analysing and making recommendations for appropriate ways forward for the organisation / individual. The module aims to provide impact to your day to day professional role, so that you can take the learning from the module and apply it in your workplace.

Your studies will be supported by an e-Learning platform that provides easy access to learning materials including recorded sessions, interactive quizzes, discussion forums for peer-to-peer exchange, and signposts to directed and independent learning. Experienced staff will provide guidance via taught sessions and through office hours. You will be encouraged to deepen your knowledge through additional signposted reading and reflection.

This integrated approach develops your knowledge of finance and accounting while building a practical knowledge of how finance and accounting work within organisations. The aim is for you to be able to apply this knowledge to enable you to understand and participate in high level conversations at work where accounting and finance issues are involved.

A range of approaches are adopted to accelerate your learning in this module.

At the beginning of the module, you will receive information about the module through a module guide, setting out:
• Learning outcomes and overall module and programme aims
• Teaching, learning and assessment strategy
• Teaching schedule
• A summary of directed and independent learning

The first taught session will discuss the rationale and learning objectives of the module and how it contributes to your overall programme goals. The formative and summative assessment strategy will also be outlined, so that you are clear from the outset on how you will be assessed.

Your module tutor, a subject specialist, will provide academic support including:
• Delivering taught sessions
• Making resources available via the digital learning platform
• Providing guidance in relation to assessment
• Specialist subject discussion / advice, particularly in linking your work to academic research, concepts and emerging knowledge in the field

In addition to scheduled taught sessions, you will have access to drop-in sessions and office hours with experienced staff, and interactive online forums via our digital learning platform. These combine to provide you with ongoing flexible support throughout the module, beyond the formal classroom.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• [MLO1] Critically evaluate and synthesise advanced accounting and financial concepts across private, public, and third-sector contexts, and assess their strategic implications for organisational performance, governance, and value creation.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

• [MLO 2] Apply accounting and finance techniques to evaluate observed, documented, or experienced: complex, ambiguous organisational scenarios/ practices and to develop evidence-based recommendations for decision-making.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• [MLO3] Demonstrate an understanding of how ethics applies to accounting and finance in the workplace and to critically evaluate ethical and governance challenges in accounting and finance.

This module is assessed through a single individual written report based on a real organisational context (drawn from your personal experience or otherwise observed or documented and will critically evaluate a strategically significant accounting and/or financial challenge facing the organisation, assessing its implications for performance, governance and ethical decision making.

This case study will constitute 100% of the assessment and should be 2500 words. The assessment addresses all of the MLOs identified.

Formative feedback will be offered in the teaching sessions and in the virtual sessions convened to support your learning and development.

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An understanding of accounting and finance help you contribute to strategic decision making, leading to personal and organisational success. This module will develop your knowledge and critical appreciation of the key components of accounting and finance and enable you to apply these within the context of a successful organisation. The module will include key concepts in relation to accounting and financing, such as financial decision making, successful budgeting and financial health. You will learn how to use accounting techniques to appraise investments and monitor performance and consider; how finance and accounting can be used to strategically manage the direction of the business.