Curricula

Objectives

The object of the course
Management accounting focuses on providing information for internal decision makers. This course will provide you with the basic knowledge and capabilities of management accounting.

Competences
Business competence
Sustainable development

The learning objectives of the course
In this course, you will learn the basics, logic, principles and methods of management accounting. You are capable of preparing cost-volume-profit calculations for determining the costs and profitability. You are able to identify and examine factors impacting profitability from the perspective of management accounting. You are able to review costs and analyze factors impacting pricing and discounts as well as put forward development proposals for them. You are able to prepare master budgets from the given material. You know the concept of balanced scorecard and its role from management accounting point of view.

Content

The course covers the role of management accounting, cost and profit concepts, cost-volume-profit analysis, pricing and discounts, basics of cost accounting, capacity and utilization rate, budgeting, and spreadsheet tool. Basic terms also in English.

Time and location

Face to face, classroom.

Learning materials and recommended literature

Jormakka, R., Koivusalo, K. Lappalainen, J. & Niskanen, M. 2015. Laskentatoimi. EditaPrima. Luvut 7–9 ja 11.

Teaching methods

A flipped classroom where the theoretical recording/videos and materials to be studied before the tutorial contact. With tutorial contact we do exercises and you have the possibility to get guidance. We offer face-to-face/online sessions depending on chosen implementation, learning assignments made independently and in groups.
Courses encourage students to learn from each other. In this course, peer learning is offered through a discussion forum focusing on learning tasks and and group work (simulation).

Practical training and working life connections

More exact information on the work placements linked to the course shall be provided by the teacher during the first contact lessons of the course.

Exam dates and retake possibilities

20.2.2023 - 26.2.2023 Exam, 1.resit and 2. resit all during the same week.

Alternative completion methods

A corresponding course completed in another university may be accredited partially or completely. Competence acquired through informal learning may be recognized and accredited on the basis of competence test. More precise instructions can be found in Degree Regulations and in Study Guide.

Student workload

Lectures and exercises 20 h, independent study and independent learning assignments 61 h, business simulation 54 h

Content scheduling

Until the middle of the course, lectures are given using the flipped classroom method, after which the exam and questionnaire must be passed. After this, business simulation will start, in which only those who have passed the course exam and the questionnaire will continue. Please note the quick schedule for re-examinations.
The business simulation is performed on a given decision schedule and has 2 practice rounds and 5 actual decision rounds. The simulation cannot be played alone or at your own pace. The course ends with feedback session of the simulation.

Further information for students

The assessment in the course is based on the competence demonstrated in the exam (20 %, 1 ECTS credits), in independent learning assignments (40 %, 2 ECTS credits) and in business simulation game done as a group work (40 %, 2,0 ECTS credits). The exam of the course has to be passed before business game simulation.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Evaluation criteria, satisfactory (1-2)

Adequate 1
You are able to name concepts of profitability and costs from the management accounting point of view and know which factors affect profitability. You understand the basic principles of cost-volume-profit analysis and are able to prepare a basic cost-volume-profit calculation. After completing the course, you will be able to explain the basic principles of pricing in your own words. You recognize factors affecting the balanced scorecard and are able to name key factors in cost accounting. Assignments need additional guidance and clarification. You can apply the information with guidance and with more detailed instructions. You take responsibility for your own work and follow the given schedules, but challenges with the group or desire to do without the group.

Satisfactory 2
You are able to present factors affecting to profitability from the management accounting point of view and recognize the factors related to the management of profitability. You are able to prepare cost-volume-profit and pricing calculations for an example company under guidance. You recognize factors affecting the pricing in the example company and are able to name key factors in pricing in companies operating in different industry sectors. You are able to interpret budget and balanced scorecard as well as costs in the example company. You act responsibly for your own work, ensuring that the joint output is completed on time.

Evaluation criteria, good (3-4)

Good 3
You are able to outline cost-volume-profit analysis and calculations, itemize the process steps from the management accounting point of view and describe the impact of cost-volume-profit based analytical profit calculation factors on profitability. You are able to prepare error-free cost-volume-profit and pricing calculations as well as apply these methods for decision making. You are able to carry out profitability analysis based on cost-volume-profit and pricing calculations. You are able to prepare master budgets and budget comparison and define the factors affecting budgeting in the example company as well as define the key factors in balanced scorecard in companies operating in different industry sectors. You will be able to direct and organise the activities of the group and take responsibility for meeting assignments and schedules.You take the initiative and organise the goal-oriented activities of the group by taking responsibility.


Very Good 4
You are able to assess the impact of cost-volume-profit analysis from the management accounting point of view. You are able to develop profitability analysis as an analytical profit calculation based on cost-volume-profit and pricing calculations. You are able to define the impact of budgeting in the example company and the significance of balanced scorecard in companies operating in different industry sectors. Basic terms also in English.You take the initiative and organise the goal-oriented activities of the group by taking responsibility.

Evaluation criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5
You are able to plan cost-volume-profit analysis and sensitivity analysis for alternative action plans from the management accounting point of view. You are able to plan active measures related to cost-volume-profit and pricing calculations to influence the company’s profitability. You are able to assess the impact of budgeting in the example company and report the actions taken based on it and the impact of balanced scorecard in companies operating in different industry sectors. Basic terms also in English.You can guide others’ work. You work in good cooperation and actively guiding the group in its goal-oriented activities and you are able to find solutions to possible group work conflicts.