Module Directory

The module aims to provide students with a basic understanding of essential elements of Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance and Marketing. The module assumes no prior knowledge and begins with how to start a business. It covers accounting as an information system and this is followed by corporate finance which focuses on how to raise, manage and invest business resources. The module finishes with a very important part of running a business, marketing, where students will learn how to identify, anticipate and satisfy customer needs. The syllabus will cover financial statement preparation, ratio analysis, short-term finance, financing strategies, investment appraisal, market research, branding, advertising and social media marketing, as well as the critical core of social marketing.

The aims of this module are:

• To introduce preparation of income statement, statement of changes in equity and statement of financial position, including how to calculate and interpret accounting ratios using annual reports.


• To provide students with an understanding of the difference between long-term and short-term finance for organisations, including understanding of investment appraisal techniques.


• To provide a comprehensive understanding of marketing theories and practices, emphasising the complexity and multifaceted nature of marketing within historical and contemporary contexts.


• To highlight the societal relevance and ethical considerations of marketing, fostering the development of critical analysis, problem-solving, and communication skills through theoretical and practical application.


• To prepare students for future study in marketing, accounting, and finance courses.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate income statement, statement of changes in equity and statement of financial position preparation.


2. Evaluate financial performance of corporation using ratio analysis.


3. Demonstrate understanding of the difference between long-term and short-term finance for organisations, including understanding of investment appraisal techniques.


4. Apply and relate principles and concepts to the foundational theories and approaches of marketing, demonstrating an understanding of its activities within an ethical framework.


5. Effectively analyse information, enabling informed decision-making in addressing case studies and problems related to marketing.


6. Develop critical thinking and judgment skills, along with the capacity to communicate effectively through written means in the context of marketing analysis and interpretation.

Skills for your professional life (Transferable Skills)

By the end of this module, you will have been offered opportunities:

• To improve your financial literacy and numeracy skills.


• To improve your commercial awareness by familiarising with the current developments in accounting, finance and marketing.


• To enhance your communication skills in class discussions.


• To enhance teamwork skills by working in small groups during seminars.


• To develop basic research skills.


• To develop a growth mind set, your personal plan of setting targets and time management to undertake coursework.

Syllabus

Accounting and Finance Topics

• Introduction to Accounting and starting a company. Income / expenditure / assets / liabilities / equity explanation and accounting equation. Income statement.


• Statement of financial position


• Accounting ratios 1


• Accounting ratios 2 and annual reports


• Depreciation, accruals and prepayments


• Introduction to Finance; corporate vs investments, functions


• Long-term finance; debt and equity


• Short-term capital; working capital


• Financing strategies


• Capital/financial markets


• Investment appraisal

Marketing Topics

• Strategic Market Planning


• Market Research


• Understanding Consumer and Business Market


• Segmentation, Target Marketing, and Positioning


• Branding and Advertising


• The Critical Role of Social Marketing

Teaching and learning on Essex Pathways modules offers students the ability to develop the foundation knowledge, skills, and competences to study at undergraduate level, through a curriculum that is purposely designed to provide an exceptional learning experience. All teaching, learning and assessment materials will be available via Moodle in a consistent and user-friendly manner.

This module is delivered by 4 hours of teaching per week over 22 weeks.

Each week’s instruction consists of:

• One 2-hour lecture
• One 2-hour class.

Lectures: will introduce several of the units from the relevant textbooks and other readings and identify the key points of the subjects under discussion.

Classes: students will be given the opportunity to discuss any issues relating to the module material and will work individually and in groups on a range of class exercises.

Learning support

Summarised lecture material is provided using PowerPoint presentations, which are available on Moodle. Students will be given exam-type questions and relevant articles to work on in classes and all such work will be given feedback.

Discussion and debate on relevant topics will be encouraged. Solutions to tests and past exam papers and marketing projects will also be discussed in class. Module Leaders can also be contacted by e-mail or during academic support hours, which are published on the Moodle site.