SYLLABUS
Financial Reporting
Accounting & MIS 7200
Autumn 2012
Office Hours: 5:00 – 6:00 pm T
Instructor:
Office:
Phone:
E-mail:
David D. Williams
418 Fisher Hall
292-8566
WILLIAMS.77@OSU.EDU
Materials:
Easton, Wild, Halsey, and McAnally, Financial Accounting for MBAs (Cambridge
Publishing), 2010 (ISBN: 978-1-934319-34-5) RECOMMENDED.
{Alternatively, a good Financial Accounting textbook}
Handouts, cases, and articles will be distributed to the class via Carmen.
Objectives:
The course has a dual objective. Initially, the course is designed to develop skills in
interpreting and analyzing the financial reports prepared by firms for investors and
creditors. In addition, the course will also focus on developing a working knowledge and
understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), theories, concepts
and various methods of accounting measurement and valuation. The course is structured
around the following topics and coverage:

analyzing profitability and risk,

developing the skills and practices necessary for data recording and financial statement
preparation,

understanding the major accounting choices affecting financial statements and
managerial incentives that influence these choices,

developing a competency for the information provided by financial statements and
their use in performance assessment and decision-making processes,

assessing the quality of earnings and earnings persistence,

refining unstructured problem-solving skills and the ability to apply learned principles
to new situations involving multiple issues, and

appreciating the strengths and limitations of corporate financial reporting.
By developing both an understanding of the underlying concepts and principles and the
ability to apply and adapt these concepts and principles in a variety of contexts and
circumstances is essential for life-long learning. This course is not intended to serve as a
preparation class for the CFA exams.
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Prerequisites: It is helpful that all MBA students have been exposed to some financial reporting such
as the core MBA accounting and/or a comprehensive accounting review program. It is
assumed that all students have a basic competency in financial reporting.
Evaluation: Final grades will be based upon how well a student performs in relationship to his/her
present and past peer group. As a FCOB graduate course, the maximum allowable overall GPA
is 3.60. No standard percentages will be applied in determining grades (e.g., NO 90% = A; 80%
= B…). Points will be assigned based upon the following components:
Memos (10/30 and 11/13)
Quizzes (11/6 and 11/27)
Class Participation
Final Exam-Compressive (12/11)
Total
60 points
80 points
40 points
120 points
300 points
Examinations: The final examination will be objective and subjective in nature. The primary purpose of
the examinations will be an educational tool, while the secondary purpose will be to differentiate
the class.
Quizzes and Memos: Quizzes will be given on an announced basis at the beginning of second class
period. Memos will be collected at the beginning of each assigned class period and will be the
joint product of teams of three to five members. Your grade will be based upon your presentation
as well as content. All assignments should represent your own views. Do not collaborate.
Communications: An integral part of any successful business career is the ability to communicate
ideas effectively, both in writing and verbally. Since the classroom is one of the easiest
forums in which to cultivate this talent, constructive classroom participation is
encouraged by all members of the class. Class participation credit will be given for the
quality, not quantity, of one’s contributions.
Regulations: The following regulations will be enforced:
1.
If you are unable to make an examination for health reasons only, contact the instructor before the
regularly scheduled examination. Unless there is an emergency (i.e., hospitalization), you will
receive a grade of zero if you do not at least leave a message prior to the examination time.
2.
Any quiz or memo submitted after the regularly collected time will receive a grade of zero, unless
there is an emergency deemed appropriate by the instructor.
3.
Grade cutoffs will not be provided to the student, only means and standard deviations will be
reported.
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4.
No extra credit is available at any time, for any reason.
5.
All cell phones and pagers must be silent during class and especially during examinations.
6.
Any student who feels he/she may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should contact me privately to discuss your specific needs. In addition, please notify the Office for
Disability Services (292-3307) in room 150 Pomerene Hall to coordinate accommodations.
Suggestions: The following suggestions will aid the student in achieving their objectives:
1.
Attendance is not mandatory, although lack of participation and assignments not turned in may
have a significant impact on your comprehension and grade.
2.
Keep up with the assignments. Operating in “crisis mode” and playing “catch-up” is a very
difficult strategy.
3.
Homework will not be collected, or graded. However, students that neglect to read the chapters
or prepare the cases on a timely basis often find it difficult to succeed in the class.
4.
Classes will be both lecture and discussion; participation by all members of the class is
encouraged and will be beneficial, especially to those students who fall into borderline situations
with respect to grading.
5.
Be proactive. If a student feels uncomfortable about a topic, attempt to seek alternative learning
sources such as peers, other textbooks, the popular press, and then the instructor to clear up the
confusion.
6.
Memorizing details and "cramming" for exams will produce limited success. Attempt to
understand the concepts so you may apply the principles to a wide range of circumstances.
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Tentative Class Schedule (Subject To Possible Revision)
Part
Topic
Week #1 (October 16th )
1
Introduction
2
Basic Financial Reporting
Week #2 (October 23rd)
1
Cash Flow Statements
2
Revenue Recognition
Text (light)
Cases
Module 2
Accounting Model
Module 4
Tootsie Roll
Hershey’s
Appendix B
Mystery Firms
Project Runway
Module 5
Microsoft
Cardinal Health
(Article: “Dreamliner hits a milestone”; 6/8/12)
Week #3 (October 30th)
1
Measurement Issues
**MEMO #1**
2
Module 5
Altria
Profitability Analysis-A
Fifth/Third & Vonage
(Article: “Devilish details lurk in footnotes to financial statements”; 9/9/11)
Week #4 (November 6th)
1
Cash & Receivables
IHOP
Coffee
(Article: “Small firms’ with big customers slow to pay”; 6/6/12)
2
Inventory
**QUIZ #1**
Module 6
-
4
Harley Davidson
Week #5 (November 13th)
1
Long-Term Producing Assets
2
Contingent Liabilities
**MEMO #2**
-
Hertz
McDonald’s
Module 8
Mattel
Week #6 (November 20th)
**NO CLASS-Thanksgiving Holiday**
Week #7 (November 27th)
1
Debt Recognition-Lease Accounting
2
Whole Foods
Footlocker
Debt Recognition-Pension Accounting
Module 10
AMR
(Article: “Honeywell Warns on Pension Costs”; WSJ 11/17/10)
**QUIZ #2**
Week #8 (December 4th)
1
Equity & Stock Options
2
Module 10
Module 9
Mergers & Acquisitions
Apple
AT&T-TMobile
Week #9 (December 11th)
**Final Examination**
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