Course Title: Provide financial and business performance information

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2009

Course Code: ACCT5240C

Course Title: Provide financial and business performance information

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5205 - Diploma of Financial Services

Course Contact : Michael Elliot

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5519

Course Contact Email:michael.elliot@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

MIchael Elliot

Craig Kingsley

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course covers the competencies to estimate and analyse an organisation’s financial position and performance.

If you are undertaking this course in Melbourne from semester 2, 2012 onwards your teacher will advise you if you require access to a computer for the course. It is recommended that you have access to a mobile computing device to allow greater flexibility in terms of where you can work on campus outside class times.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

FNSACCT501B Provide financial and business performance information

Element:

FNSACCT501B/01 Assess client needs

Performance Criteria:

1. Expectations and objectives of client are clarified and confirmed to ensure mutual understanding of client goals.
2. The client’s specific legal and financial requirements are identified when establishing, structuring and financing a business.
3. Financial options and processes are discussed with client to develop suitable plans for the provision of information for the achievement of client goals, etc.
4. Progress of plans is reviewed regularly against agreed criteria and results communicated to client
5. Client objectives are monitored to identify changes in client needs
6. Feedback on service is regularly obtained, analysed and incorporated into services to client.
7. Shortfalls in customer service are investigated and proposals for overcoming them are formulated and implemented.

Element:

FNSACCT501B/02 Analyse data

Performance Criteria:

1. Advice on reliability and accuracy of data is sought from appropriate authorities and sources in accordance with organisational procedures.
2. Data is compiled in accordance with standard financial reporting requirements.
3. Revenues and costs are analysed in accordance to standard accounting techniques and consistent with the organisation’s objectives
4. All data and reports are analysed in accordance with standard financial analysis techniques
5. Data is reconciled to ensure statements are accurate and comply with organisational procedures and statutory requirements.
6. Information is evaluated in relation to the financial performance of the business, specifically profitability, efficiency, and financial stability
7. Further analysis is undertaken to ensure consistency of analysis with client’s business and personal objectives
8. Further evaluation is undertaken to assess the financial potential of the business, its future funding requirements and its statutory obligations

Element:

FNSACCT501B/03 Prepare advice

Performance Criteria:

1. Advice provides client with a realistic view of financial performance and compliance, including significant taxation issues and comparisons of alternative options.
2. Suitable methods of presentation, language and forms of documentation are used to convey information to client.
3. Advice identifies how risks, contingencies and future cash flows may be identified and quantified
4. Client is advised of risk management options
5. Client is advised of rights and obligations
6. Client is advised on alternative sources and features of short and long term finance

Learning Outcomes


On completion of this course, a student should be able to understand and provide basic financial and business performance information to various entities.


Details of Learning Activities

In order to achieve learning outcomes, students will participate in the following activities:

• Attend and prepare notes during scheduled classes
• Participate in class discussions and problem solving exercises
• Research using the internet, industry contacts and prescribed/recommended references.
• Prepare out of class answers to class exercises involving theory based tasks, problem solving tasks, case studies/simulations or multiple choice questions
Complete required assessment tasks


Teaching Schedule

Week beginning Topic Tutorial /class work/assessment

Week 1 

  Introduction to Course Communication and Financial Management  Ch 5; Lecture 1, Tutorial 1
Week 2 Goals and functions of financial managerment  Ch 1; Lecture 2, Tutorial 2
Week 3   Sources of financing  Ch 3; Lecture 3, Tutorial 3
Week 4   Sources of financing  Ch 3; Lecture 4, Tutorial 4
Week 5  Analysis of financial statements  Ch 4; Lecture 5, Tutorial 5
Week 6   Analysis of financial statements  Ch 4; Lecture 6, Tutorial 6

Week 7 

  Working capital management. Revision for test  Ch 6; Lecture 7, Tutorial 7
Week 8     Short answer and multiple choice questions assessment 20%
Week 9   Working capital management.  Ch 6; Lecture 7, Tutorial 7
Week 10  Cost of capital  Ch 7; Lecture 8, Tutorial 8
Week 11   Capital structure decisions  Ch 8; Lecture 9, Tutorial 9
Week 12   Capital investment trechniques  Ch 9; Lecture 10, Tutorial 10; assignment placed on the hub (25%)
Week 13  Capital investment trechniques  Ch 10; Lecture 11, Tutorial 11
Week 14  Financing asset acquisitions   Ch11; Lecture 12, Tutorial 12
Week 15   Dividend policy  Ch 12; Lecture 13, Tutorial 13
Week 16   Revision and assignment due  Assignment due
Week 17   Final assessment; employability skills (15%)  Short answer and multiple choice questions Test (40%)

 

      


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Financial Management, Principles and Applications, Wilson et al, 5th Ed, Pearson


References

• Recommended readings
Financial Planning In Australia, S.Taylor, R. Juchau, B. Houterman, T. McDonald LexisNexis Butterworths 2nd Edition Beal D and McKeown W, Personal Finance, John Wiley and Sons Australia Ltd, 4th Edition
Gitman LJ, Morrison DS and Joehnk MD, Personal Financial Planning – an Australian Perspective, Thomson, 1st Edition


Other Resources

• Print-based resources
Students will be provided with a learner’s guide that will include tutorial discussion questions, short answer questions and problem sets, self-directed exercises, some solutions and core notes for each topic.

• On-line resources
Students will be provided with on-line resources in the learning hub that include lectures and self-directed exercises, on-line feedback exercises and relevant URL’s.
• Other prescribed requirements:

You will be required to have access to a financial calculator within the course. Questions in the examination may be based on your having access to a financial calculator to perform financial calculations.


Overview of Assessment

A student must demonstrate a clear understanding of all elements of the required competencies to be deemed competent.  Assessment may include a variety of methods including tests, workbooks, assignments, presentations, class exercises, etc.

Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment Tasks

1.
Individual employability skills of each student will be assessed by taking into account, communication skills, team work skills, problem-solving skills, initiative and enterprise skills, planning and organising skills, self-management skills, learning skills, technology skills. Worth 15% of the assessment of the course.

2.
A multiple choice and short answer question assessment that will consist of questions from topics 1 to 5. Weighting 20%

An assignment that is compiled in groups of (3) on a large corporate company’s financial statements. The students are required to research the case study topic and present the findings in the format of a professional report. The teacher will advise the format and provide guidance to enable the students to fulfil the required outcomes. Weighting 25%
3.
A multiple choice and short answer question assessment that will be based on the remaining topics 6 to 11. Weighting 40%

Assessment of this unit of competence will include observation of processes and procedures, oral and/or written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills and other methods as required by the assessor. The assessment of performance requirements in this unit will be undertaken within the financial services industry context and will cover aspects of personal/financial responsibility and accountability.

To be deemed competent in this course, students will be assessed on the unit of competence and performance criteria over a period of time in order to ensure consistency of performance over the range statement and contexts applicable to the work environment.

The final mark is based on all assessment components. To receive a pass for this course a student must achieve an overall pass mark of 50% in all assessments and must pass the assignment to be deemed competent.

Additionally, students will be graded in this course. The grade will be determined on the overall mark attained and will be based on the grade criteria listed below.

Graded results will apply the following
Grade HD Mark > = 80 Description High Distinction 
Grade DI Mark 70 - 79 Description Distinction 
Grade CR Mark 60 - 69 Description Credit 
Grade PA Mark 50 - 59 Description Pass 
Grade NN Mark 0 - 49 Description Fail )
Grade NYC Mark Not Applicable Description Not Yet Competent
Grade DNS Mark Not Applicable Description Did Not Submit


Assessment Matrix

Performance element Employability skills (15%) Test (20%)  Group Assignment (25%) Final Test (40%)
Assess client needs Y Y Y Y
Analyse data Y Y Y Y
Prepare advice Y Y Y Y

Other Information

Students must be very familiar with the course material and its entire contents. Additional reading is required from contemporary sources.

Students are required to undertake their own reading and research of the course independently and to properly acknowledge sources of information used for assignment work.

Other Information
The assignment task will be a work in progress assessment. The students are required to provide to the teacher a draft copy and must consult with the teacher weekly. It is expected that a detailed outline will be constructed and that regular feedback is sort by the student to enable the identification, by the teacher, of the students understanding and ability to provide a report that is both professional in context and consistent with that of a business environment.


Course Overview: Access Course Overview