AF4037 - Business and Financial Analysis

You will learn on this module through lectures (12 hours), seminars (6 hours) interactive workshops (18 hours), tutor directed (82 hours) and independent learning (82 hours). The lectures are the primary medium used to deliver the subject material required to enable students to meet the knowledge-based module learning outcomes. Lectures will be research-led with significant practical components, for example, you will study the theory and application of scoring models used for lending decisions. The seminars and workshops are an opportunity for you to further develop your understanding and knowledge of the topics. They will involve individual and group work to develop your skills of discussion and analysis. You will, for example, undertake the analysis and evaluation of a range of financial statements, business appraisal models and case studies. These will provide an opportunity for you and your tutor to interact and discuss the materials in diverse contexts.
Tutor directed study will support the work you have undertaken in the contact sessions. In addition, you will be expected to engage with tutor led learning materials in the form of exercises made available to you on the e-learning portal. Independent learning time is set aside for learning activities, self-identified by you, to gain a deeper and broader knowledge of the subject.

You will be supported by a teaching and learning plan (TLP) that outlines the pattern and content of the formal sessions, together with tutor-directed study and independent reading. Support will be provided to you by a module lead and seminar and workshop tutors who will all provide support on a formative basis during each interactive session. Your module is supported by an e-learning portal that houses lecture materials, seminar and workshop exercises and data files for use in the workshop sessions. Your lectures will be recorded and uploaded to the e-learning portal which you will be able to access to consolidate your knowledge and develop understanding. You will be provided with a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises various academic reports, conference papers, video links and journal articles that will introduce you to the theory and application of the techniques introduced in the module. Your module assessment consists of tasks important to practitioners in the relevant field and you will be encouraged to remain an active participant in the learning process throughout the semester.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding (KU):

• To provide a critical appreciation of the important topics in financial and business analysis (ML01)
• To understand, appraise and critique companies’ financial performance (ML02)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities (IPSA):

• To formulate and apply models and tools to derive inferences from publicly available business and financial information. (MLO3).

Personal Values Attributes (PVA):

• To appreciate the importance of business and financial analysis in decision making (MLO4).

Formative assessment:
This will take place through group work, assignment discussion and reflection, discussion board activity on the e-learning platform, case study activity, and theory/practice related discussions. Formative feedback will be provided throughout the module, particularly in relation to workshop tasks. You should be aware that formative feedback can, and will, occur in any communication with the academic tutor.

Summative assessment:
This will comprise two elements:
1. 2 hour open note exam and 10 mins reading time (40%). You will be permitted to make use of formulas and notes to answer exam questions.
2. Assignment (2,000 words) (60%).

Together these two forms of assessments will address MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4.

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Business and Financial Analysis (BFA) provides essential knowledge and skills required by other areas of finance including investment management, corporate finance, risk, and the extension of credit. The module will allow you to analyse and address important questions such as: how can financial statements inform or mislead investors? What should you look for in financial disclosures when judging a company's financial health? And how do financial statements relate to the value of a company's stock? The module therefore provides a comprehensive introduction to the practical challenges of contemporary business. Your module activities and assessment consist of tasks important to practitioners in various fields of finance including investments, risk, credit and corporate finance.