Cases in Financial Reporting and Corporate Governance
MODULE OUTLINE
The objective of this module is to equip students with an understanding of key issues and debates in financial reporting and corporate governance. In the financial reporting segment of the module, students are given an overview of the application of financial accounting information in the form of information in annual reports in various contexts. In the corporate governance segment of the module, key issues in corporate governance are discussed. For both segments, case studies are used to strengthen the student s understanding of the issues and to apply their understanding and knowledge of the issue in real life situations. The issues explored with vary from year to year depending on the key debates in the financial reporting and corporate governance communities, thereby providing a current issues flavour to the module.
MODULE AIMS
1) To provide an appreciation of the key issues in financial reporting and corporate governance
2) To equip students with an understanding of the application of financial reporting and corporate governance ideas and concepts in real life business situations
3) To enable students to critically evaluate both professional and academic literature dealing with the current issues and controversies in financial reporting and corporate governance
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the module, students will:
1) have a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the role of financial reporting in providing information for managerial decision making;
2) be able to comprehensively analyse and critically understand financial statements
3) demonstrate clear conceptual understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of corporate governance;
4) be able to discuss, debate and critically evaluate contemporary issues in financial accounting and reporting, and corporate governance;
5) demonstrate a deep appreciation of the changing nature of financial reporting and corporate governance, and how politics and changing economic environments play a strong role in shaping practices and regulation;
MODULE STRUCTURE
The module consists of 20 contact hours: 4 hour lectures/workshops a week, over 5 weeks. Lectures are designed to introduce the student to the topic, highlighting key areas and identify key themes and points of discussion. Students are then expected to apply their knowledge in a series of case studies in the workshop sessions. Attendance at all lectures/ workshops is integral to the successful completion of the module. Students are expected to complete the relevant readings and be prepared for both lectures and workshops. (See overleaf for Module Syllabus .)
MODULE SYLLABUS
Topic 1: Understanding financial reports and accounting numbers, and how they are used
Topic 2: Accounting Regulation: Who Sets the Rules?
Topic 3: Measurement Issues in Accounting: What do We Measure, and How?
Topic 4: International Harmonisation of Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting in Emerging Economies
Topic 5: Accounting and Culture: The Case of Islamic Accounting
Topic 6: Understanding corporate governance concepts and ideas
Topic 7: What do directors do? Boards and corporate performance
Topic 8: How much is too much? Issues of Executive remuneration
Topic 9: Beyond capitalism: Financial reporting and corporate governance for society
MODULE OUTLINE
The objective of this module is to equip students with an understanding of key issues and debates in financial reporting and corporate governance. In the financial reporting segment of the module, students are given an overview of the application of financial accounting information in the form of information in annual reports in various contexts. In the corporate governance segment of the module, key issues in corporate governance are discussed. For both segments, case studies are used to strengthen the student s understanding of the issues and to apply their understanding and knowledge of the issue in real life situations. The issues explored with vary from year to year depending on the key debates in the financial reporting and corporate governance communities, thereby providing a current issues flavour to the module.
MODULE AIMS
1) To provide an appreciation of the key issues in financial reporting and corporate governance
2) To equip students with an understanding of the application of financial reporting and corporate governance ideas and concepts in real life business situations
3) To enable students to critically evaluate both professional and academic literature dealing with the current issues and controversies in financial reporting and corporate governance
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the module, students will:
1) have a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the role of financial reporting in providing information for managerial decision making;
2) be able to comprehensively analyse and critically understand financial statements
3) demonstrate clear conceptual understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of corporate governance;
4) be able to discuss, debate and critically evaluate contemporary issues in financial accounting and reporting, and corporate governance;
5) demonstrate a deep appreciation of the changing nature of financial reporting and corporate governance, and how politics and changing economic environments play a strong role in shaping practices and regulation;
MODULE STRUCTURE
The module consists of 20 contact hours: 4 hour lectures/workshops a week, over 5 weeks. Lectures are designed to introduce the student to the topic, highlighting key areas and identify key themes and points of discussion. Students are then expected to apply their knowledge in a series of case studies in the workshop sessions. Attendance at all lectures/ workshops is integral to the successful completion of the module. Students are expected to complete the relevant readings and be prepared for both lectures and workshops. (See overleaf for Module Syllabus .)
MODULE SYLLABUS
Topic 1: Understanding financial reports and accounting numbers, and how they are used
Topic 2: Accounting Regulation: Who Sets the Rules?
Topic 3: Measurement Issues in Accounting: What do We Measure, and How?
Topic 4: International Harmonisation of Accounting Standards and Financial Reporting in Emerging Economies
Topic 5: Accounting and Culture: The Case of Islamic Accounting
Topic 6: Understanding corporate governance concepts and ideas
Topic 7: What do directors do? Boards and corporate performance
Topic 8: How much is too much? Issues of Executive remuneration
Topic 9: Beyond capitalism: Financial reporting and corporate governance for society