Course Title: Prepare financial forecasts and projections
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2012
Course Code: ACCT5315C
Course Title: Prepare financial forecasts and projections
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5260 - Diploma of Accounting
Course Contact : Angello Sellan
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99255460
Course Contact Email:angelo.sellan@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Ian Nash
Phone: 99255733
Nominal Hours: 70
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 unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to plan and schedule a financial forecast or projection, identify assumptions and parameters, and collect, consolidate and analyse data to make forecasts or projections before documenting results and obtaining approval. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
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: |
FNSORG506A Prepare financial forecasts and projections |
Element: |
1. Plan preparation timetable |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1. All critical milestones are identified to ensure financial forecasts and projections can be prepared within timeframes Identify assumptions and parameters. |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
This course is co-delivered as part of a cluster with ACCT5310C Provide Financial & Business Performance Information and COSC5946C Develop and Use Complex Spread Sheets. As a result, three course guides will be prepared but only the Elements, Performance Criteria, Critical Aspects, Knowledge and Skills requirements for each course will be specific to each course (guide). The remainder of the information such as "Teaching Activities" "Teaching Schedule" "Resources" and "Assessments Tasks & Matrix" will be identical on all three course guides
Importantly, the attached informatioin is consistent with the unit mapping document for this cluster
Using various materials along with facilitator led discussion, students will be progressively introduced to the key aspects to creating a business plan for a specific client. This will involve outlineing a time line which will serve as a plan of action providing key dates for monitoring of progress and meetings with clients for progressive briefings / feedback. Various forecasting methodologies along with identification of relevant assumptions and compliance with legislative requirements at local, state, and federal level will also be covered and incorporated into the business plan. The completed business plan will serve as a template document providing financial and business performance information for the specific users needs. Spread sheets will be incorporated specifically in the financials section of the business plan, clients needs together with business plan requirements will be analysed to allow development of spreadsheet solutions designed to enhance decision making. This course will involve both theory and practical learning activities.
As part of this cluster , in-class activities will account for 96 of the 180 nominal hours allocated to these co-delivered cluster/courses and will include class work on theory, practical and computer work in the computer labs, together with work on portfolio excercises and assignment. Please note that in-class activities includes assessment. This will involve observation and one on one questioning of prescribed task execution. The remaining 84 of the 180 nominal hours are for self directed learning and should be taken up with work on any course study activitty and the assignment outside of scheduled class time. Please note that the format of the classes wil be a total of six hours per week (full time students)
The Critical Aspects of Evidence, Knowledge and Skills Requirement and Employability Skills specific to this course of study are as follows:
CRITICAL ASPECTS OF EVIDENCE
Evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit are:
- Identify, interpret and comply with organisation policies and procedures regarding preparing financial forecasts and projections
- Apply standard accounting principles and techniques
- Accurately identify assumptions and parameters of forecasts
- Collect, consolidate, model and analyse data in a timely manner, document results and obtain approval where required.
SKILLS
• well-developed communication skills to:
• determine and confirm forecasting and projection requirements, using questioning and active listening as required
• negotiate timelines and responsibilities
• liaise with others, share information, listen and understand
• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences
• well-developed research and analysis skills for accessing, analysing and managing financial services information and analysing data
• well-developed literacy skills for preparing clear written reports for organisations and business units in required formats
• highly developed numeracy skills for financial calculations and analysis, estimating and forecasting
• IT skills for using integrated financial systems and using spreadsheets and databases and internet information
• learning skills to maintain knowledge of forecasting systems and best practice and procedures
• problem solving skills to identify any forecasting issues that have the potential to impact on organisations and to develop options to resolve these issues when they arise
• organisational skills, including the ability to plan and sequence work and correctly schedule reporting
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE
• financial industry codes of practice
• forecasting techniques, models and best practice
• organisation policy and procedures
• relevant Acts and regulations impacting on the financial services industry
• relevant legal systems and procedures impacting on the financial services industry
Teaching Schedule
The total number of scheduled hours of teaching, learning and assessment involved in this course will include all planned activities. This will incorporate face to face classes (six hours per week) online learning and other forms of structured teaching and learning. The total scheduled hours includes the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessments requirements, including observation of work performance, discussion with Facilitators and one on one sessions with students.
The nominal hours associated with this cluster are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non classroom activities.
The teaching schedule below incorporates the three clustered or co delivered units.
| Week | Date | Content | |
| 1 | 6/2/2012 | • Course requirements • Course support documents • Blackboard • Overview of assessment requirements including Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers • Grading • Plagiarism • Appeals • Extensions • Feedback • Privacy • Submission requirements • Resubmission policy • Where to get support • Student responsibilities Revision Excel: Cell referencing. Ergonomic principles |
Evidence Portfolio: TASK EP1. Although all evidence portfolio pieces do not need to be submitted till week 15. It is expected for assessment and feedback purposes for this task to be completed by the last class of this week. Your facilitator will ask to sight this TASK anytime after this date. |
| 2 | 13/2/2012 | Time Plan: incorporating review dates (staggered assessment) Setting milestones. Establish criteria for gauging progress e.g. number of meetings, minimum attendance, meeting agreed dates. Organising meeting times for review and feedback to/from client. Model Building using budget exercise as illustration. |
TASK 1TL: TIme plan to be submitted to facilitator in class by second class of the week for facilitator approval. If resubmission / adjustment is required; plan will need to be resubmitted by last class of the week. |
| 3 | 20/2/2012 | Simple model building using PMT CUMPIT and PV functions Model building to produce forecast (Pro Forma) statements using % of sales method. |
Evidence Portfolio: TASK EP1ss and TASK EP2ss. Although all evidence portfolio pieces do not need to be submitted till week 15. It is expected for assessment and feedback purposes for this task to be completed by the last class of this week. Your facilitator will ask to sight this TASK anytime after this date. |
| 4 | 27/2/2012 | Model building to produce forecast (Pro Forma) statements using % of sales method. | Evidence Portfolio: TASK EP2 and TASK EP3ss. Although all evidence portfolio pieces do not need to be submitted till week 15. It is expected for assessment and feedback purposes for this task to be completed by the last class of this week. Your facilitator will ask to sight this TASK anytime after this date. |
| 5 | 5/3/2012 | Quantitative forecasting using excel linear time series Generating a compound growth rate (Geometric Mean) |
Evidence Portfolio: TASK EP3 and TASK EP4ss Although all evidence portfolio pieces do not need to be submitted till week 15. It is expected for assessment and feedback purposes for this task to be completed by the last class of this week. Your facilitator will ask to sight this TASK anytime after this date. |
| 6 | 12/3/2012 | Qualitative forecasting: Environmental Analysis Assignment consultation and feedback. |
ASSESSMENT Task PS1 (Pitstop assessment of Task1AHA & Task1TL) |
| 7 | 19/3/2012 | Ratios: Profitability / Efficiency / Stability Assignment consultation and feedback. | ASSESSMENT Task PS1 (Pitstop assessment of Task1AHA & Task1TL) Evidence Portfolio: TASK EP4. Although all evidence portfolio pieces do not need to be submitted till week 15. It is expected for assessment and feedback purposes for this task to be completed by the last class of this week. Your facilitator will ask to sight this TASK anytime after this date. |
| 8 | 26/3/2012 | Assignment consultation and feedback. Ratios: Use in forecasting |
ASSESSMENT Task PS1 (Pitstop assessment of Task1AHA & Task1TL) |
| 9 | 2/4/2012 | Concept of Gearing / Leverage Sources of Finance |
Submission TASK 1AHA Feedback will be provided by week 10, resubmission will need to occur by end of week 11 |
| 10 | 16/4/2010 | Assignment consultation and feedback. | ASSESSMENT Task PS2 (Pitstop assessment of Task1BHA & Task 1TL) |
| 11 | 23/4/2012 | Assignment conslutation and feedback. | ASSESSMENT Task PS2 (Pitstop assessment of Task1BHA & Task 1TL) |
| 12 | 30/4/2012 | Companies: Types / Regulatory Framework / Business Plan related compliance matters. |
Submission task 1BHA Feedback will be provided by week 13, resubmission will need to occur by end of week 14. Evidence Portfolio: TASK EP5. Although all evidence portfolio pieces do not need to be submitted till week 15. It is expected for assessment and feedback purposes for this task to be completed by the last class of this week. Your facilitator will ask to sight this TASK anytime after this date. |
| 13 | 7/5/2012 | Assignment consultation and feedback. | ASSESSMENT TASK PS3 (Pitstop assessment of Task 2AHA & Task 1TL) |
| 14 | 14/5/2012 | Assignment consultation and feedback. | ASSESSMENT TASK PS3 (Pitstop assessment of Task 2AHA & Task 1TL) Submission task 2AHA by last class of the week. Feedback for task 2AHA will occur in week 15, and any resubmissions must be made by end of week 16. |
| 15 | 21/5/2012 | Assignment consultation and feedback. | Submission of Evidence of Portfolio |
| 16 | 28/5/2012 | Deferred and resubmitted assessments |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical tests, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.
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
You are required to complete 8 tasks. You must successfully complete all 8 tasks to be deemed competent in this unit.
Task 1AHA Task 1BHA and Task 2AHA (Business Plan)
These tasks all involve completing a business plan.
You are given a brief from the Langi-Taan Ski Club (LTSC) an Incorporated Association.
LTSC is in the process of renewing its lease grant provided by the government. In order to do this it must prepare a Business Plan. You, together with a colleague have been selected by your firm to undertake this task.
Using the information from the comprehensive brief along with meetings with the client (LTSC); you are required to complete the business plan from the template provided you on blackboard.
TASK 1AHA Business Plan (Incorporated Association) due by end of week 9
A group task, 2 members per group. This first task involves completing a business plan for the LTSC under its current Incorporated Association status. The brief is quite extensive and provides detailed information of the LTSC ownership / management structure, objectives and operations, together with revenue sources and an outline of the market segments together with relevant strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You are to take this information and incorporate it into the business plan template which is supplied on the DLS.
This information should be used to develop the forecast financials required in the business plan.
To be deemed competent in this task you must cover the following:
• Ensure that the client objectives are clear.
• Ensure that any legislation / regulations local, state or federal applicable to the case is incorporated into the business plan provided to the client
• Ensure that where required you access data / information from the relevant authority.
• Forecast Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statements comply with standard generally accepted accounting principles and practice.
• Forecast Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statements comply with organisations policy.
• Ensure that where assumptions / parameters are provided by the client, you apply these assumptions to the forecast / financials
• Where no assumptions are provided, you must, on an item needs basis, provide an appropriate assumption to generate a forecast (output).
• Use trend analysis incorporating quantitative / qualitative variables for forecasting club revenues.
• Build an appropriately designed excel spreadsheet model to produce the forecast financial statements for the club
• Apply the information provided from the brief into the business plan and complete the business plan within the required time frame
TASK 1BHA Long term refurbishment finance plan due by end of week 12
A group task, 2 members per group, same group members as above. This task involves providing the management of LTSC with a plan to finance the 5 year refurbishment plan as detailed in the brief. The management of LTSC has proposed a multi stage refurbishment of current facilities together with expansion of current building structure over the next five years. The details of the works together with the associated cost and planned stage of works and completion are provided. Given specific objectives you are required to provide the management with a tailored way of financing this venture. Where is the money coming from?
To be deemed competent in this task you must cover the following:
• Identify clearly the clients objectives
• Identify all relevant sources of finance available and limits on those finances
• Provide a recommended funding arrangement for the works which meets the clients objectives
• Build and excel spreadsheet model which shows the impact of any financing arrangement on the financials of the club
TASK 2AHA Business Plan (Company) due by end of week 14
A group task, 2 members per group, same group members as above. This task requires for you and your team member to replicate TASK 1AHA above, but in this case you need to approach the task from the point of view of a company. Or assume that LTSC were to convert to a company. The organisation would now be operating as a business rather than a not for profit association, a number of things will change. These changes will need to be incorporated into the new business plan, again utilising the template provided.
To be deemed competent in this task you must do the following:
The requirements for this task as those for TASK 1AHA above with the following difference:
• Identify and communicate to the client the additional business and compliance issues related to a Company
• Adjust the business plan to incorporate these additional business and compliance burdens
o Example:
 Requirement for ABN
 Tax: PAYE, GST, BAS
 Company Registration
 Business names registration
 Corporations Act
 Superannuation
 Payroll tax
 Review of service
TASK TL1 Time Line Assessment. Submitted to facilitator in class by second class of the second week
A group task, 2 members per group same group members as business plan. This task requires the learners to prepare a plan indicating the course of action in order to complete the following Business Plan related assessment tasks 1AHA, 1BHA, and 2AHA . The learner will need to prepare a schedule outlining proposed key dates covering task stage completion and task final completion and report to client. Proposed team and client meeting dates (PS1, PS2, and PS3, see below; Pit Stop Assessments) must also be included in the time plan. Some allowance for contingencies should also be planned for. This time plan will be used to monitor the learners progress towards completion of the above tasks.
To be deemed competent in this task you must do the following:
• With due regard to firm policies and client requirements organise a time plan showing the following:
o Meeting dates (client and team member) are clearly indicated in the time plan
o Actions / processes along with stage and final completion dates are shown in the time plan
o Time plan allows for review of tasks.
o Where required a time plan is adjusted to cater for client requirement or other contingencies
TASKS PS1, PS2, & PS3. Pit Stop Assessments. Pit stop assessments will run over a number of weeks refer to teaching schedule above for applicable weeks.
A group task, 2 members per group same group members as business plan. The Pit Stop Assessments together with the Time Line (TASK 1TL) prepared by the learner (see above) will be used to formally monitor the learners progress throughout the semester. They will also serve as proxy meetings between service provider (learner) and client (facilitator) These meetings will be used to establish clarification and or modification of relevant client objectives. They will also be used to assess progress vis a vis time plan Learners are expected to discuss various financial options / processes open to the client, and briefly outline relevant local state and federal regulations particularly salient to the client business.
The various pit stop assessments relate to the following business plan related tasks. Each pit stop assessment relates to a separate business plan related task as follows.
PS1 will serve as a pit stop assessment for TASK1AHA
PS2 will serve as a pit stop assessment for TASK1BHA
PS3 will serve as a pit stop assessment for TASK2AHA
For detail of assessment criteria please refer to Evidence Sheets for Task PS1 Task PS2 and Task PS3.
TASK 1 Evidence Portfolio. Completed portfolio to be submitted in week 15
Individually based assessment. The Evidence Portfolio provides the formative assessment of the course and comprises a number of exercises denoted by the following "TASK EP" 1 or 2...etc or "TASK EPss" (for spread sheet specific tasks)1 or 2...and so on as the case may be. The evidence portfolio includes nine (9) individual hurdle tasks (5 general tasks and 4 excel spreadsheet specific) Each EP Task will focus on a particular topic. The learner will need to progressively finish these tasks as the various topics are completed. The "assessment" column of the teaching schedule above outlines the dates by which these tasks need to be completed. Your facilitator will ask to sight these tasks during class any time after this date. You will be asked to orally explain or demonstrate how you solved the task. These short sessions should be used for feedback purposes. You will then have the opportunity to review and adjust your task if required. All tasks should be saved and backed up securely. The Evidence Portfolio with all included tasks should be submitted by the last class of week 15. ALL individual evidence portfolio pieces must be satisfactorily completed (competent) to achieve and overall competent for this assessment.
Submission Requirements
Assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Angelo Sellan, 55460, Task 2HA, ACCT5317C Evaluate an Organisations Financial Performance, Page 1 of 10.
Marking Guide (competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT). So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.
Please refer to the Final Grades table below.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.
The grading is according to the following criteria:
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
We are looking for a high level of ability to complete all tasks independently as per the specifications as well as demonstrating a high level of initiative in your approach to your tasks
2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
We are looking for depth of understanding of the key concepts and knowledge required in completing your tasks. You should be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of all applicable requirements in all the assessment tasks.
3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
We are looking for appropriate use of technology to assist in presenting all tasks clearly and suitable for the intended audience.
4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
We expect to see timely submission of all required assessment tasks.
5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
We expect to see contributions to relevant discussions and scheduled collaborative sessions. In addition your team tasks will provide opportunities to demonstrate how well you work in a team.
Final Grades table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview