ACC 4305
Comparative Accounting Systems
Syllabus – Spring 2006
Course Description
The main goal of this course is to provide a framework for examining the major issues in international
financial reporting. Students will understand why these issues are important in the context of the
globalisation of businesses, will examine links between financial reporting and financial markets in a
global context, and will develop the skills needed to compare financial reports from different countries.
Course Objectives
On completing the course, the student should be able to:
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Explain, and make comparisons between, the financial reporting regimes of a
range of countries.
Describe the present degree of international harmonisation of financial
reporting, and the possibilities of further harmonisation.
Examine the implications of different approaches to key financial reporting
issues, e.g. foreign currency translation, consolidation, price level accounting,
asset valuation, intangibles, provisions and reserves, in a range of countries.
Analyse and interpret financial reports from a range of countries, emphasising
differences in practices followed.
Be familiar with the Moroccan accounting system.
Faculty
Michel J. Leseure
Office: Building 11, Room 004
Phone: 2339
E-mail: M.Leseure@aui.ma
Office Hours:
MW 15:30-17:00
TR 09:00-12:00
Important points about office hours:
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Consultation is during office hours only. Consultations at any other time are by appointment only. Although the
instructor will fit in requests for immediate consultation if time permits, accepting to do so is solely at the instructor’s
discretion. Students systematically turning up outside of office hours and insistently requesting “emergency” office
hours will receive a low participation grade (see section on participation points).
Students are reminded that office hours, in the context of class consultations rather than advising, are primarily
dedicated to academic matters. In order to make a constructive use of office hours, students are invited to come
prepared with clear questions. For example, coming with a question about a project management problem is a good
use of office hours. On the other hand, coming to say that “you are worried” about the exam, “you need a hint”, etc.
without any technical question is a waste of time and will be penalised.
Course Material
The required text is:
Comparative International Accounting, 7th edition, Nobes and Parker, Prentice Hall.
Other additional readings may be provided to students during the semester, for the
purpose of case discussions or to illustrate a particular concept in class.
Meetings
The class will meet on MW from 14:00 to 15:20.
Grading
The final grade for the semester will be based on the following weights:
Weight
Mid-Term Exam
Final Exam
Country Presentation
Lambeth Cabinet Case Study
Chocolate Boxing Case Study
Wattle Creek Winery Case Study – part 1
Wattle Creek Winery Case Study – part 2
Coca Cola FEMSA Case Study
20%
20%
15%
5%
10%
10%
10%
10%
The assignment of letter grades (A, B, C, etc.) will be done directly from the total
score or through some curving. The use of a curve, if any, will be announced in class.
A curving scheme will be used only if deemed necessary by the instructor, for the sole
purpose of making the grading uniform between different sections/semesters.
Although there is no required homework for this class, the instructor will suggest
relevant practice exercises.
Class Schedule
Week 1 (23/01 to 27/01)
M:
Syllabus
Workgroups composition for country presentations and case studies
W:
Chapter 1 and 8, Review of key accounting principles – assignment of
Lambeth Case
Week 2 (30/01 to 03/02)
M:
Lambeth Case Due, Correction of Case,
Assignment of Wattle Creek Winery Case, part 1.
W:
No class – to confirm
Week 3 (06/02 to 10/02)
M:
Chapter 2, Causes of international differences
Chapter 3, Major international differences in financial reporting
Including lecture on provisions
Conservatism vs. Disclosure
Chocolate Boxing Case study instructions (Conservatism in accounting
practice)
W:
Chapter 4, International classification of financial reporting
Week 4: (13/02 to 17/02)
M:
Chapter 5 and 6, Harmonization and international accounting standards
W:
Chocolate Boxing Case Study Presentations and discussion, reports
due
Week 5 (20/02 to 24/02)
Mid Semester Break
Week 6 (27/02 to 03/03)
M:
Consolidation – Chapter 16
W:
Consolidation Case Study – Coca Cola case study.
Equity vs. consolidation accounting and earnings management.
Week 7 (04/03 – 08/03)
M:
Mid Term Review
W:
Presentation: French accounting – Chapter 10
Week 8 (13/03 to 17/03)
M:
Chapter 18, Segment reporting
W:
Mid-term exam
Week 9 (20/03 to 24/03)
M:
Presentation: UK Accounting, Chapter 7
W:
Presentation: German Accounting – Chapter 11
Week 10 (27/03 to 31/03)
M:
Wattle Creek Winery Case due and group correction
Assignment of Part 2
W:
Presentation: Dutch Accounting – Chapter 9
Week 11 (03/04 to 07/04)
M:
Chapter 17, Foreign Currency Translation
W:
Presentation: Australian Accounting– Chapter 13
Presentation: Japanese Accounting, Chapter 12
Week 12 (10/04 to 14/04)
M:
Chapter 15, Liabilities
Chapter 19, International Financial Analysis
W:
Inflation accounting, and Assignment of Coca Cola FEMSA Case
Week 13 (17/04 to 21/04)
M:
Wattle Creek Winery, Part 2 due, group correction
W:
Presentation: Moroccan Accounting, general framework and financial
statements
Week 15 (01/05 to 05/05)
M:
Presentation: Moroccan Accounting, Accounting for accounts
receivable and payable
W:
Presentation: Moroccan Accounting, Accounting for long-term assets
Week 15 (29/04 – 03/05)
M:
Cash Budgeting with effets de commerce
W:
Chapter 21, International aspects of multinational corporate income
taxes
VAT Accounting
Week 16 (09/05 to 12/05)
Review Week
Coca Cola FEMSA Case due
This schedule can be revised by the instructor. However, country presentation dates
will not be changed under any circumstances.
Reading Assignments
It is important that students come prepared to class. This means that students should
read the chapters/readings that are assigned for each class period. Reading
assignments will include (1) chapters from the textbook and (2) additional
papers/handouts. Specific instructions will be communicated to students in due time.
Exams
There will be two exams. The final exam is comprehensive.
A missed exam (other than the final) will result in a grade of zero, unless absence is
duly authorized. Missing the final exam is not allowed under any circumstances.
Excuses for missing an exam for medical or family reasons must be communicated to
the instructor BEFORE the exam. THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP EXAMS
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. The weight of missed exams with duly
authorized absences will be added to the weight of the final exam.
Presentations
Country presentation will be presented in class individually or in group, as assigned
by the instructor. The presentation should last the whole class session, including
discussion and questions, at the exception of 2-presentations class sessions.
Groups of students should book their presentation at the beginning of the semester
during the class session assigned to workgroup composition. The presentations will
be the class. Presentations should be highly professional and should:
 Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the history, context of the
accounting system,
 Demonstrate critical thinking skills and professional rigour in the analysis,
 Explain which methodology was chose to compare the accounting system to
AUI benchmarks (US and/or MA),
 Implement the methodology,
 Summarize the presentation.
Your evaluation will be based on the above specification, the clarity and organization
of your presentation. The benchmark is the performance of a junior consultant.
The slides of the presentation should be turned in to the instructor one week in
advance. Students should expect discussion questions and comments from the
content of their slides (do not present something you do not understand fully!).
Presentations after the mid-term break have to be turned n before the mid-term break.
Case Studies
These are team, take-home case study. Specific instructions about the cases will be
given during class time.
Attendance and Participation
I will arrive in the classroom before the class is due to start, so that the class can start
on time. I will show up for class unless I am extremely ill. I expect you to do the
same.
The policy of AUI on attendance will be strictly enforced. Students are invited to
consult the university catalog if they do not know university regulations regarding
attendance. Ignorance of university regulations is not an excuse. Late and/or
disruptive arrivals will be treated as an absence at the instructor's discretion.
All students are assumed to be responsible, serious and motivated. In the business
world, success is largely dependent on the ability to fit in a social group with a
collective purpose. Therefore, each student should contribute to the achievement of a
productive work atmosphere to reach the objectives of this class. Students who do not
do so will be penalised through the participation grade or through dismissal for
absences. Absences include expulsions and systematic late arrivals.
Your participation in the classroom is encouraged. Appropriate participation includes
intelligent questions (including asking for clarification) and answering questions from
the instructor. Social talking in class is rude and will not be tolerated. It is even ruder
to do so once the instructor’s back is turned when writing on the board.
If your behaviour is disruptive in any way, you may be asked to leave the classroom.
You may not receive a warning: this syllabus is the warning. If you are expulsed
from the classroom, you will be marked as absent. This syllabus is your official
warning that for this class, (1) not attending the class and (2) being disruptive in class,
are treated in the same way. If you accumulate too many absences/expulsion, you
will be withdrawn from the course.
Students tend to get expulsed because they exhibit arrogant behaviour when asked not to be disruptive.
Being polite and flexible is a positive attitude that you should consider instead.
Exceptional achievement and participation may be rewarded by extra credit. Extra
credit is capped to 3% of the total score of a student.
Academic Integrity
Students are expected to behave ethically. Disruptive action to the class, your fellow
students or the professor will not be tolerated, and action will be. In particular,
cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated, and will result in zero grades and
disciplinary actions. Students are referred to AUI’s catalog.