Assignment Task
Overview
The focus of this assessment is for students to apply the fundamentals of various accounting and finance principles to critically a analyse complex business scenario. Using various analytical tools covered in the course, students will evaluate its cashflow, profit, outcomes and propose strategic solutions, then succinctly present their analysis to their audience.
Before commencing this assignment, it is necessary that you have a sound understanding of the application of the fundamentals of financial and management accounting, financial theories about capital budgeting and cost of capital and other related principles. In particular, the various analytical managerial tools such as financial ratios, budgeting, cost-volume-profit analysis, TVM, NPV analysis, cost of capital concepts together with the other relevant aspects revolving around these tools.
Along with the recommended readings, the activities and associated tasks on Canvas must be completed.
To do well, students should be able to do the following:
Correctly identify the issues in the case scenario and interpret them to prepare budgets, conduct relevant cost analysis and apply various analytical techniques for making investment
Apply accounting concepts and contemporary financial knowledge to correctly analyse the scenarios in the case and raise solutions.
Clearly interpret and communicate the findings and their implications along with the strategies to solve the problems in the case via broad research and design thinking. Also, to engage in scholarly viewpoints and innovative thinking by broad reading to clearly communicate solutions using business terminology with minimum grammatical or spelling errors.
Professionally present key findings in a format that is logically structured and well designed, visually appealing, informative, and use engaging communication aids such as PowerPoint slides, and video this.
Criteria
This assessment will measure your ability to:
Numerical components: Calculates all required components within a complex business analysis to provide clear findings on which to base advice to client (28pts)
Content and structure of the analysis: Verbally explain the reasoning behind the numerical analysis wo (10pts)
Develop a range of business suggestions and solutions suitable for the business (5pts)
Presents key findings verbally and graphically in a creative and compelling manner (7pts)
Case study
The Assessment case study focuses on different aspects of a business.
For accounting concepts, it mainly focuses on the tasks requiring the preparation of relevant budgets, conducting cost-volume-profit analysis, ratio analysis and other related analysis. Typically, students will be required to critically evaluate the business goals against the budgeted projections, raise the challenges foreseen in meeting those objectives and propose strategies to counter them.
For finance concepts, the case study mainly focuses on scenarios requiring extensive use of finance theories and capital budgeting tools such as NPV and IRR, cost of capital, time value of money, risk and return theories and related concepts. Students will be required to conduct a full-scale investment analysis and make recommendations about the investment opportunities presented to the business.
Drawing upon the knowledge of various tools and techniques gained in the course, the prime focus for the case study will be around some of the following concepts:
Using financial ratios and budgets for projections and
Determining sales activities for break-even and the desired level of
Analysing expected cash flows for investment
Estimating the cost of capital and using it for investing
Using risk and return theories for decision-making.
Evaluating and communicating the
Devising strategies on the basis of the
Video presentation
Students are required to make two short video presentations to explain the key aspects (like processes, results and strategies) of their analyses, and to make clear recommendations based on their findings. Students must use appropriate software, clear tables/diagrams, correct terminology and coherent expression. Students should produce two short videos, one relating to the work undertaken for Accounting concepts and another one for the Finance part. Students have in total 10-12 minutes to present their findings/ideas. Students must be precise and impactful in communicating their analyses. It is expected that students show themselves in their video, present in a professional manner, and talk to their visual aids in their presentation.