Registry
Module Specifications
Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.
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| Description | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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INACTIVE - To introduce students to the basic principles of accounting.To develop the ability to understand, analyse and evaluate financial statements.To familiarise students with basic techniques used in the preparation of information for planning, control and decision making.To develop the ability to use and critically interpret management accounting information. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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1. Describe the qualitative characteristics of financial information and the fundamental accounting concepts underpinning the financial statements. 2. Differentiate between revenue and capital expenditure. 3. Prepare an income statement and balance sheet from trial balance and discuss the limitation of the financial statements. 4. Explain the importance of cash to a business and produce a simple cash flow statement. 5. Calculate and interpret key ratios for assessing the profitability, efficiency, liquidity and gearing of a business. 6. Apply the concept of contribution analysis and breakeven analysis for short-term decision making. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml |
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| Indicative Content and Learning Activities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Introduction to Accounting. Nature, purpose and role of accounting; users of accounting information. The accounting equation; nature of assets, liabilities, owners equity; the balance sheet; principles, concepts and conventions underlying financial statements; nature of profit; difference between profit and cash; true and fair view; role of judgement in accounting measurement;. Introduction to Company Accounting. Nature and type of companies; share and loan capital; share premium account; dividends; the form and content of the financial statements of companies.. Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Statements. Analysis and Interpretation of Financial Statements. Nature, purposes and context of financial statement analysis; techniques of analysis and in particular, ratio analysis; value and limitations of ratio analysis; interpretation and communication of results; other sources of comparative information.. Introduction to Management Accounting. Nature, purposes and origins of management and cost accounting; relationship with financial accounting and with other disciplines and business functions; organisational role of the management accountant.. Cost Concepts and Cost Classification. Nature and purposes of cost accumulation; different costs for different purposes; problems in cost accumulation; cost allocation; direct and indirect costs; cost behaviour; cost drivers; variable and fixed costs; total and average cost.. Cost Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis. The accountant's CVP model; breakeven point; margin of safety; contribution margin; critical evaluation of assumptions underlying the model; comparison with economist's model; usefulness and limitations of the model.. Budgets. Nature of budgets and the budgetary process; types of budget; budget period; preparation of subsidiary and master budgets; cash budgets; role of budgets and the budgetary process in control; flexible budgets; behavioural considerations, benefits and limitations of budgets.. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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