Module Directory

In the first five weeks of the autumn term, we will look at deconstructing what accounting and regulation are, we will also look at the role of international standard setters and politics in standard setting. Following this, we will move to look at accounting theory which forms the foundations for the approaches to accounting that are currently taken in society. The module will continue with a more in-depth look at corporate social responsibility (CSR) reporting, including discussions about recent initiatives as well as academic findings. We will then look at fair value accounting in terms of its valuation measurements, its strengths and weaknesses in comparison with historical cost accounting and its relationship with the global financial crisis. In the last two weeks of this term, we will discuss the accounting issue of foreign currency translation and we will compare and contrast the different methods which can be used to account for it. In the first five weeks of the Spring term, we will discuss the accounting treatment of goodwill and other intangible assets. More focus will be provided on the initial recognition of goodwill with particular reference to IRFS 3 "Business Combinations", and subsequent measurements reflected in impairment tests following IAS 36 "Impairment of Assets". Recent academic research will be discussed to provide more insight into the complexities associated with the accounting of goodwill in practice. We will then explore issues related to Off-balance Sheet accounting with a particular focus on lease contracts. We will discuss the role that these tools have played in encouraging opportunistic behaviours that lead to the bankruptcy of global companies and to the recent global financial crisis. The final five weeks of the Spring term are devoted to exploring issues of income manipulation techniques by firms with reference to IAS 37 - Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets. This is followed by examining the important issue of pension schemes and post-employment benefits accounting in company reporting and, how companies report the provision of pension for employees and with particular reference to IAS19. In the penultimate week of the term, we turn our attention to Financial Instruments, examining their recognition, measurement and disclosure in the financial statements with particular reference to IAS39/IFRS9. An examination of Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance ends the Spring term under the requirements of the module.

The aims of this module are:

• To enable students to apply the requirements of international financial reporting standards (IFRS) to the preparation of single company and consolidated financial statements.


• To propose and justify the most appropriate accounting treatment for given scenarios.


• To identify and critically evaluate the choices that specific IFRS make available and the potential misuse of such choices for earnings management purposes.


• To Identify ethical threats and evaluate appropriate actions and safeguards to mitigate those threats.


• To describe and critically evaluate the benefits and implications of integrated reporting and sustainability accounting within a corporate accountability framework.

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

1. Critically evaluate the accounting standard setting process and evaluate the impact of political, social, and ethical influences on corporate financial statements and accounting standards and regulations;


2. Measure fair value, goodwill, and financial instruments and how they are presented in the financial statements, as well as demonstrate a critical understanding of these measurements.


3. Prepare, present, and analyse a wide range of economic matters in the financial statements such as pensions, leases, foreign currency translation, revenue recognition and provisions and be able to critically reflect on the complexities associated with these accounting topics.


4. Assess the tensions between accounting measurements and their objectivity/subjectivity as well as the implications for credible financial statements;


5. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of corporate financial reporting practices involving creative accounting.


6. Critically evaluate key issues in corporate social responsibility and sustainability reporting

Transferable Skills - Skills for Your Professional Life

On completion of this module, students who have engaged in an in-depth way with the module should have attained key transferable skills that include being able to:

• Evaluate relevant evidence and solve problems.


• Analyse financial data.


• Analyse academic literature.


• Work effectively in a team, show leadership in that team and adapt to changing circumstances in a flexible and productive manner.


• Demonstrate transferable skills.


• Develop a slide deck of research findings, express ideas for business purposes, and understand how to present successfully and confidently.


• Develop clear arguments in essays.


• Apply and adapt academic skills to a professional working environment.


• Develop and apply high level financial analytical skills in the working environment for clients and employers.


• Understand the need to communicate and explain complex financial statements to nonaccounting colleagues and write reports in a clear and concise manner. 


• Be aware of, and understand, contemporary accounting debates and developments in an international and practical context.


• Appreciate the importance of 'softer' skills in the working environment such as developing a professional attitude and commitment, exhibiting sound communication, awareness of completing tasks to strict deadlines, think critically about complex issues and recognise different perspectives.


• Use core IT programs and understand plagiarism and referencing.

The module will be delivered over 20 weeks.

The module will be delivered via:

• 2-hour lectures
• 1-hour fortnightly classes

Your attendance is required at each of the lectures and classes assigned to you. Please look at Moodle for supporting material.