Curricula

Objectives

The principal objective of the Accounting and Accountability course is to enhance your knowledge and understanding, and intellectual skills principally in the field of accounting data analysis, which can be subsequently applied to make interpretations and draw inferences in the field of corporate finance, corporate governance and financial management.

The course aims to develop the following COMPETENCES:
Learning to learn-
You develop critical and analytical mindset that helps you to study and review existing knowledge in the light of relevant learning resources and learning methods; motivates you to acquire new knowledge; and develops your intellectual capabilities to seek conclusions and draw inferences in various contexts.
To achieve this competence, you will:
– learn to formulate relevant questions and seek information,
-review relevant theoretical, and empirical literature to comprehend diverse perspectives and evaluate, and interpret arguments and counter-arguments,
-understand new developments in your field of study and make informed decisions based thereon.
- acquire the researcher’s mindset to problematize, explore and understand real-life phenomena especially in the academic track system.

Proactive development-
You develop solutions in the light of current as well as anticipated situations and challenges in business by applying knowledge, critical reasoning and analytical skills. You ensure that these solutions are feasible, relevant, creative, user-friendly, and sustainable as well as underline active cooperation among different actors.
To achieve this competence, you will:
- apply existing knowledge and utilize relevant research methods including digital technology in development projects,
-interpret new evidence in the light of existing body of knowledge, make comparisons and draw inferences,
- express your intellectual contribution through scientific or professional writings,
-understand utility, creativity, viability, scalability, and sustainability of new solutions.

Internationality and multiculturalism-
You work in multicultural and international environments and networks in order to develop knowledge and communication skills as well as develop empathy and appreciation for other cultures. You communicate responsibly and effectively in English through written, verbal, non-verbal and digital formats individually as well as a team member in diverse settings.
To achieve this competence, you will:
-be familiar with the impact of your cultural background on your actions and be able to effectively and productively function in your work community that explicitly recognizes the relevance of multiculturalism,
-demonstrate meaningful intercultural teamwork, including the roles of leadership and conflict resolution, in order to develop creative solutions carrying multicultural underpinnings,
-be able to experience group learning and share best practices in international settings,
- learn to communicate ideas and solutions effectively in the context of various subjects, multiple purposes, and a wide range of audience both individually as well as in a group,
- initiate and engage constructive dialogues among relevant stakeholders to accomplish desired goals for multiple purposes and communicate ideas and solutions to a wide range of audience including both individuals and groups,
-learn to be ‘active listener’ to understand diverse perspectives, and points of view in accurate, unbiased, and critical manner,
-learn various aspects of digital media.

Ethics-
You benchmark and demonstrate ethical and responsible conduct according to the well-established principles, norms and best practices laid down by relevant national and international bodies and organisations.
To achieve this competence, you will:
-understand and apply the well-established principles of responsible conduct in research, and problem solving,

-adhere to the principles of equity, equality, and non-discrimination,

-take responsibility for your own actions and their consequences and reflect on them in accordance with the relevant ethical principles, norms, and practices,

- develop realization of diversity and accessibility in your actions.

Sustainable development-
You develop an understanding, vision, and appreciation for sustainability that affect personal, and professions lives, local communities, and global society at large. You study and explore linkages between multiple aspects of sustainability and business.

To achieve this competence, you will:

-understand the concept and principles of sustainable development in the context of business,

-recognize sustainability challenges and their consequences for businesses, local communities, and global society,

-use your accumulated knowledge and skills to create and implement sustainable solutions to solve business problems.

IB competence:
Responsible international business management-
You develop your intellectual capabilities to seek conclusions and draw inferences in an international environment to become responsible manager. You develop creative and insightful solutions to solve complex business problems both in the present and the future with explicit emphasis on local and international standards of ethics, responsibility, and sustainability and implications on various stakeholders.
To achieve this competence, you will:
-study developments in your discipline in the international learning milieu and understand various aspects of responsible business management including global business trends and competitive landscape.
-derive and interpret new evidence and compare them with the existing body of knowledge in the global context to draw useful inferences,
- critically assess the implications of actions and decision of the international organisations.
-understand the impact of the of the actions and decisions on the community, in general, and specific stakeholders, in particular.
-understand core aspects of people management in the international business environment.

Content

Theoretical aspects of accounting, financial statement analysis, financial performance measurement, regulatory framework, corporate governance and ethical issues of accounting, financial ratio analysis, corporate valuation, balanced scorecard as a tool for strategic budgeting, economic value added (EVA), dynamics of corporate boards of directors, corporate accountability, cost concepts, absorption costing, pricing, planning and budgeting, fundamental of financial management, capital investment appraisal, financial risk management.

Time and location

Spring of each academic year.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Lectures slides will be the starting point to learn the subject matter of the course.
Course Material
Books: Barry Elliott, Jamie Elliott: Financial Accounting and Reporting, Pearson Education.
Proctor, Ray: Managerial Accounting for Business Decisions. Prentice Hall.
Russell David, Patel Ashok & Wilkinson-Riddle Gregory: Cost Accounting An Essential Guide. Pearson Education Ltd.
Atkinson Anthony, Kaplan Robert, Matsumura Ella & Young Mark: Management Accounting. Prentice Hall.
Brealey, Richard A., Myers, Stewart C. and Allen, Franklin: Principles of Corporate Finance. McGraw-Hill.

Web Based Resources:
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/
http://www.reuters.com/
http://online.wsj.com/europe

Corporate Websites
Research articles and videos will be shared from time to time.

Teaching methods

The primary modes of delivery are face-to-face learning (lectures, workshops, presentations), and occasional distance learning (e.g. online lectures and presentations) and hyflex learning mode.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

Last week of May. Retake possibilities available in the following Autumn and Spring.

International connections

International projects in collaboration with partner universities abroad. Possibility of participation in the corporate projects too.

Alternative completion methods

Accreditation (replacement and inclusion)
Recognition of informal learning
Studification

Further instructions can be found in the Degree Regulations and in the Bachelor's Degree study guide.

Student workload

You will be required to required to invest 135 hours approximately and the break up of the total time is as below:
Lectures: 40 hours
Workshop: 15 Hours
Assignment Preparations: 20 Hours
Examination Preparations: 50 Hours
Miscellaneous: 10 Hours

Further information for students

Open UAS: 4 (included in the total capacity)

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Assessment criteria

Items of Assessment:

1. Assignment 1 (50%): Group Assignment (4-5 students) including report (word), calculations (excel) and presentation

OR

Individual Assignment including report (word), and calculations (excel). No presentation required if you choose to do Assignment 1 individually.

Submission deadline: to be notified later via Assignment 1 Return Box

2. Written Exam (50%): Exam will be held

How learning will be assessed:
The general criteria of the competences of the Bachelor's Degrees awarded by Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.
The learning outcomes of individual courses are assessed in relation to the objectives of the course concerned. Assessment is based on knowledge, skills and competence in accordance with the National and European Qualifications Framework, level 6.

You will get a grade of ‘one' or 'two' if you are able to demonstrate a basic level of evidence in the following competences:
Proactive development
Responsible international business management
Sustainable development
Responsible international business management
Ethics and
Internationality and multiculturalism

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Assessment criteria

Items of Assessment:

1. Assignment 1 (50%): Group Assignment (4-5 students) including report (word), calculations (excel) and presentation

OR

Individual Assignment including report (word), and calculations (excel). No presentation required if you choose to do Assignment 1 individually.

Submission deadline: to be notified later via Assignment 1 Return Box

2. Written Exam (50%): Exam will be held

How learning will be assessed:
The general criteria of the competences of the Bachelor's Degrees awarded by Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.
The learning outcomes of individual courses are assessed in relation to the objectives of the course concerned. Assessment is based on knowledge, skills and competence in accordance with the National and European Qualifications Framework, level 6.

You will get a grade of ‘three' or 'four' if you are able to demonstrate a good level of evidence in the following competences:
Proactive development
Responsible international business management
Sustainable development
Responsible international business management
Ethics and
Internationality and multiculturalism

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Assessment criteria

Items of Assessment:

1. Assignment 1 (50%): Group Assignment (4-5 students) including report (word), calculations (excel) and presentation

OR

Individual Assignment including report (word), and calculations (excel). No presentation required if you choose to do Assignment 1 individually.

Submission deadline: to be notified later via Assignment 1 Return Box

2. Written Exam (50%): Exam will be held

How learning will be assessed:
The general criteria of the competences of the Bachelor's Degrees awarded by Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences.
The learning outcomes of individual courses are assessed in relation to the objectives of the course concerned. Assessment is based on knowledge, skills and competence in accordance with the National and European Qualifications Framework, level 6.

You will get a grade of ‘five’ if you are able to demonstrate an excellent level of evidence in the following competences:
Proactive development
Responsible international business management
Sustainable development
Responsible international business management

and good level of Ethics and Internationality and multiculturalism

Further information

The course aims to analyze the financial statements of corporates to ascertain their financial health by applying various techniques and methods learned in the field of Financial and Management Accounting as well as Economics in different business situations to solve challenging business problems optimize planning and risk management strategies.

Reviewing academic literature critically, analyzing and evaluating financial and other business data, deliberating diverse approaches, comparing the resultant outcomes, and making value additive informed business decisions and action plans. Understanding of the true, objective and unbiased financial information that helps managers to plan, revise and revisit their business strategies, financial targets, policy formulation, and planning process. The process of understanding how financial accounting information assists to make the corporate decision-making process is a core element of this course.

Communicating the inferences made and interpretations drawn based on the financial data analysis responsibly, effectively and professionally in English, including in written reports, presentations, formal correspondence, and on social media.

Participating enthusiastically in inter- and multicultural settings, demonstrating team building and leadership skills, and implementing conflict resolution skills in numerous situations.

Promoting moral and ethical mindset and conduct to ascertain and disclose true and unbiased financial health of the companies. Safeguarding interests of different stakeholders in an unbiased manner to promote corporate value system which is humane, fair and equitable.

Furthermore, the purpose of the Accounting and Accountability course is to enhance your knowledge and understanding, and intellectual skills principally in the field of accounting and corporate governance and more importantly their linkages with the issues pertaining to corporate finance, and strategy.

You will find exposure to numerous situations, whereby you record and present financial accounting data in such a manner that the users of financial accounting statements can know about the real financial health of the firm being analyzed. The true, objective and unbiased financial information help managers to plan and revise their business strategies, check financial health, policy formulation and planning process. The process of understanding how financial accounting information assists to make corporate decision-making process is a core element of this course. You are also expected to understand different management accounting functions and applications, diverse management accounting techniques, methods and tools in different business situations in order to solve challenging business problems. You will understand the relevance of the high-quality accounting information and their multiple interpretations in the business life, which ultimately optimize planning, strategies, risk management and business-decision making.

You are further expected to understand that accounting is not isolation of overall business strategy of corporates. You will create and produce indicators describing the success of operations based on cause/consequence logic, as well as able to collect information pertaining to corporates needed for measurement. You will identify the economic requirements and the resource requirements related to personnel, necessary to achieve the above mentioned objectives. You will use budget information as a tool for examining and evaluating the results and analyze financial risks of a firm and manage them.