Accounting for Business Decision Making
AC570
Module Overview
Introduction
• Lecturer: Alan McMahon
• Email - alan.mcmahon@dcu.ie
• Office hours: TBC, check loop page (AC570) best to email me.
• Course materials on Loop- AC570 ‘23/24
https://loop.dcu.ie/course/view.php?id=61195
• Self-learning, question practice to gain proficiency and class
participation/engagement are all important to be successful.
What is Accounting?
Accounting is concerned with collecting, analysing and communicating
financial information.
The ultimate aim is to help those using this information to make more
informed decisions.
E.g. whether to:
• continue with certain business operations;
• invest in particular projects;
• or sell particular products/provide particular services
These decisions can have a profound effect on all those connected with the
organisation.
Why am I studying it?
It is important, that all of those who intend to work in a managerial position
should have a fairly clear idea of certain important aspects of accounting and
finance.
These aspects include:
• how financial reports should be read and interpreted;
• how financial plans are made & budgets managed;
• how investment decisions are made;
• how businesses are financed;
• how costs & cash* are managed.
*Cash mgt. crucial to prevent business failure
Module Overview
This module provides students with an introduction to and
overview of financial and management accounting.
Students will be introduced to key topics in accounting such
as financial statement analysis, cost volume profit analysis,
basic investment appraisal techniques, performance
measurement, financial v management accounting and cash
flow analysis.
Students will address core issues facing the professional
accountant such as corporate governance, earnings
management, the regulatory environment and models of
both short term and long-term decision making and
performance appraisal.
Students will undertake a significant group based continuous
assessment focusing on the techniques of financial
statement analysis and informed investment decision
making. The module is delivered via a serious of lectures.
5 credits
Over 1 semester –
11 weeks, concludes
w/c 27th November
(2 hours p/w)
Module learning objectives
By the end of this module you will be able to:
~5 weeks
Financial Accounting
• Outline the fundamental principles underlying the preparation of financial statements
• Discuss current issues in accounting including corporate governance and accounting
regulation
Management Accounting
~5 weeks
• Describe the main cost concepts used in management accounting
• Describe and explain the main tools of performance measurement, including non-financial
metrics.
• Understand planning and control techniques and be able to prepare simple budgets.
Module workload
Workload
Full-time hours per semester
Type
Hours
Description
Lecture
24
Weekly lectures
50
Preparation for groupbased continuous
assessment.
18
Revision of lecture
materials following lecture
33
Preparation for year-end
examination.
Group work
Independent Study
Independent Study
Total Workload: 125
https://www101.dcu.ie/registry/module_contents_archive_years_plus.php?subcode=AC570&function=2&module_archive_year=2021
Assessment
70% - Final Exam in December
(11-22 tbc)
30% - Continuous Assessment
Group Project- Financial Analysis & Interpretation Company
Further details will be given in week 4 (early Oct)
Reading List
Recommended
• Atrill, P. and McLaney E. (2019). Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialists (11th
ed.). Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.
• Philip O'Regan: 2016, Financial information analysis for Managers, Wiley, Chichester,
978-0-471-48923-8
Link to e-book: (DCU Library online search)
https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.dcu.idm.oclc.org/lib/dcu/reader.action?docID=5601284