Submission Deadline Marks and Feedback

Before 10am on: 20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)

15 working days after deadline (L6)
10 working days after deadline (block delivery)

Unit title & code Accounting and Finance AAF044-6

Assignment number and title
Assignment type
Weighting of assignment
Size or length of assessment
Unit learning outcomes
Assignment two
Business report
60%
3,000 words
1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding: Demonstrate a deep and
systematic understanding and broad knowledge of financial statements and the
concepts of corporate finance and investment appraisal in order to evaluate
management decisions against strategic corporate objectives.
2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities: Analyze financial statements and
evaluate management decisions through the application of relevant financial tools and
techniques to assess their validity in achieving strategic corporate objectives.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

The main task is to analyze for a listed company of your choice from the Mobile Telecommunications industry sector, the
following:
(i) Background to the company –its key corporate objectives - showing good reading of appropriate sources (a needs
analysis if you like). The reason for this is that the background will reveal that kind of problems that the
organization faces and must therefore make decisions about – a relevant background! We do not want the history
of the organization. (20%)
(ii) The capital structure and dividend policy of the company and how it has impacted on the company’s performance
over the past 3 years. (30%)
(iii) How investment appraisal tools could be used by managers to make investment decisions to ensure the company’s
corporate objectives are met. (25%)
(iv) Corporate Governance – This should include analysis & discussion on how effective the Corporate Governance
system has been. It should NOT be a repetition of the Corporate Governance policies. (15%)
(v) Conclusion – This should analyze the company’s dividend policy, investment strategy and corporate governance in
terms of how well they have helped the company meet its corporate objectives. (10%)
What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

Form a judgement on the appropriateness and effectiveness of an organization’s financial strategy and its alignment with
strategic corporate objectives through a thorough understanding of an organization’s financial information and by reference to
relevant literature.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

The work demonstrates excellent in-depth knowledge of key corporate objectives, capital structure, dividend policy and
corporate governance and evidence of extensive independent study and thinking.

The work shows evidence of synthesis, independent critical analysis of current research/knowledge, clearly argued alternative
approaches, and the ability to reason in a clear and effective manner and the ability to independently assess own and others’
work with very clear justifications and sound judgement is demonstrated.

The work demonstrates an ability to independently synthesize information and ideas, to create a range of new insights/original
responses to problems that may expand or redefine existing knowledge and/or develop new approaches to unpredictable
situations.

The work demonstrates an ability to present confident, tightly structured, stimulating, and rigorous arguments that show a high
level of academic ability.
Clear evidence of analysis and interpretation of data and in reaching conclusions.

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?
Teaching plan
Core text: Atrill, P, McLaney, E, (2014) Accounting and Finance for Non-Specialist. 9 th ed. Harlow: Pearson
Session Topic Reading guide
1 What is accounting and finance? Chapter 1
2 Measuring and reporting financial position Chapter 2
3 Measuring and reporting financial performance Chapter 3
4,5 Analysing and interpreting financial statements Chapter 7
6 Analysing and interpreting financial statements Chapter 7
7,8 Library session on using databases such as FAME
9 Assignment on review
10 Cost behaviour and relevant cost Chapter 9
11,12 Budgeting Chapter 12
13,14 Capital and investment appraisal Chapter 14
15 Sources of finance and capital structure Chapter 15
16 Managing working capital Chapter 16
17 Agency theory and corporate governance Chapter 5
18 Assignment two review

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How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page.

You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit.

Pass – 40-49% Pass – 50-59% Commendation – 60-69% Distinction– 70%+

The case is presented An overview of the An overview of the company A clear overview of the
Background to with a basic description company is presented is presented with key issues case with key issues
the company of the organization. No identifying at least one key identified identified and linking
-20% key issues or decision issue them with the decision
areas identified. areas.
Basic analyses of capital Fair analysis of capital Good analysis of capital Excellent analysis of
The capital structure and limited structure and dividend structure and dividend capital structure and
structure and understanding of the policy and implications for policy and implications for dividend policy and
dividend policy dividend policy of the the company the company and able to implications for the
of the company link with some non-financial company and able to link
company-30% information with non-financial
information
Basic analysis of analysis Fair analysis of investment Good analysis of investment Excellent analysis of
Use of of investment appraisal appraisal tools and appraisal tools and investment appraisal tools
investment tools and demonstrating demonstrates basic demonstrates some and how they can help the
appraisal tools- some understanding of understanding of how understanding of how they company in achieving
25% how they can be used. they can help the can help the company in their corporate objectives
company in achieving their achieving their corporate
corporate objectives objectives
Minimal understanding Fair understanding of the Good understanding of the Excellent understanding
Effectiveness of
of the effectiveness of effectiveness of Corporate effectiveness of Corporate of the effectiveness of
Corporate
Corporate Governance Governance as Governance as Corporate Governance as
governance-
as implemented by the implemented by the implemented by the implemented by the
15%
company company company company
Conclusion-10% Minimal understanding Good but satisfactory Good understanding Excellent understanding
of the relationship Overview of the between the relationship between the relationship
between corporate relationship between between corporate between corporate
governance, dividend corporate governance, governance, dividend policy, governance, dividend
policy & investment dividend policy, investment strategy as policy, investment
strategy as adopted by investment strategy as adopted by the company strategy as adopted by the
the company adopted by the company company

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