Module Descriptions
Advanced Corporate Reporting (ACC09915)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
You will learn about a number of complex areas of financial accounting for tangible assets, intangible assets, and financial instruments including recognition criteria, principles of measurement and alternative valuation models. You will also cover the preparation of financial statements for group companies, cash flow statements and look at how accounting legislation continues to try and improve the reporting of financial performance.
Description of module content:
Conceptual frameworks, accounting standard setting and other forms of regulation
Recognition criteria and principles of measurement for more complex accounting items e.g. non-current assets, financial instruments
Alternative valuation models
Business combinations including acquisition accounting, subsidiaries, associates, segmental reporting and discontinued operations.
Advanced Management Accounting (ACC09912)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
On completion of this module you will be able to apply specialist techniques such as activity based costing, lifecycle costing, target costing and throughput accounting. In addition you will understand the concept of relevant costing and management attitude to risk in decision making. You will be able to apply current budgeting theories (Zero Based Budgeting and Activity Based Budgeting) and use forecasting techniques, examples of which are Time Series, Regression and the Growth Model. You will gain an increased understanding of standard costing which builds on previous knowledge through becoming familiar with current thinking on the standard setting process and relevance of standard costing. Finally, you will be able to assess divisional performance using a range of measures while taking into account the problems of inter divisional transfer pricing on the measurement of performance.
Description of module content:
Specialist Techniques (Activity Based Costing, Lifecycle Costing, Target Costing, Throughput Accounting; Decision Making (Relevant Costs, Multiple Limiting Factors and Risk); Pricing (Economists Model, Generic Strategies, Customer Specific Pricing); Budgeting (Budget Theory, Zero Based Budgeting, Activity Based Budgeting, Forecasting Techniques to include Time Series, Regression and Growth Model); Standard Costing (Planning and Operational Variances, Mix and Yield, Learning Curve, Relevance of Standard Costing in a Just in Time and Total Quality Environment); Performance Measurement (Measurement of Divisional Performance to include Return on Investment, Residual Income and Net Present Value, Transfer Pricing, Management Behaviour).
Corporate Accounting (ACC08909)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
Introduction to limited company financial statements and International Financial Reporting Standards. You will learn to produce an income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement in accordance with IASB standards. You will also learn about ratio analysis and analysing financial statements.
Description of module content:
Limited Company accounting regulation, Accounting for equity issues, taxation, provisions, events after the reporting period, foreign exchange rate gains and losses, related parties, inventory, and contracts with customers. Analysing financial statements, preparation of financial statements including income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement.
Corporate Financial Management (ACC09911)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
The knowledge and skills required by a finance manager in a national or international business. You will explore the key areas of the finance function in a very practical way with the conceptual framework in the background and examine the issues involved and the ways in which the finance function can add value to the governance of the company
Description of module content:
The role of the financial function; impact of the economic environment on the financial management; the investment decision and risk; evaluation of alternative sources of long and short term financing; the cost of capital and asset valuation; treasury risk management.
Hong Kong Taxation (ACC09913)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
This module will provide you with a knowledge and understanding of the principles and practices of direct taxation in Hong Kong. You will also learn to evaluate the tax implications of corporate planning and decision making.
Description of module content:
The bulk of the module’s content involves the Hong Kong taxation system, its purpose, requirements and principles.
The module will cover salaries tax including charges, deductions, allowances and planning; properties tax; profits tax including charges, taxable income, treatment of losses, partnerships and planning personal assessment; stamp duty – computation, exemption, relief and planning; other special tax planning issues.
Auditing (ACC09919)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
You will learn about the purpose, role and regulation of internal and external audit. You will learn about the audit process from initial planning through to final reporting including the design of tests and collection of audit evidence as well as related theoretical and ethical issues.
Description of module content:
Rationale of auditing; legal and professional framework of auditing; audit risk and materiality; analytical reviews, substantive testing and audit evidence; evaluation and testing of control procedures; sampling methods in audit testing; letters to auditee management; audit of non-current and current assets, liabilities, income, expenditure, reserve movements and reserve balances; events after the reporting period, going concern questions and audit closure procedures; audit reports; auditing postulates; ethics, responsibilities and public expectations of auditors.
Hong Kong Law (ACC09920)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
In this module you will focus on understanding, evaluating and applying business and corporate law relating to business issues and problems. Integral to your learning experience is also understanding the constitutional framework and corporate governance of companies and its relationship with external agencies.
Description of module content:
Importance of Law in the business environment; the Hong Kong Legal System and its application to business; law of commercial associations, agency relationships, partnerships, incorporated bodies; formation, constitution and cessation of different business entities; management and administration of companies, powers and duties of company officers, appointment and removal; control of company, role and function of auditors and regulators; external regulation of companies; law of Tort, duty of care, professional liability, negligence, ethical responsibilities; Bills of Exchange; shares and debentures, secured loans and charges; Law of contract; Employment Law.
Corporate Strategy (SOE09910)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
Corporate strategies have to deal with an increasingly global competitive environment where successful firms are able to anticipate and respond to the environment by using their resources and capabilities to formulate effective strategies. In this module you will gain an in-depth understanding of the concepts and analytical frameworks necessary for an organisation to conduct a strategic analysis and assess the strategic choices it can make in formulating strategy. You will be encouraged to relate theory to current examples of strategy making and to analyse and review case studies and articles on real world strategic developments.
Description of module content:
Stages in the Strategic Management Process; analysing the External Environment: the macro-environment, industry and competitor analysis; assessing the organisation’s resources, capabilities and core competencies; SWOT analysis; Business-Level strategy: achieving and sustaining competitive advantage; directions of growth and Corporate Level strategy; International strategy choices; strategic development methods: organic development alliances and mergers and acquisitions; alternative approaches to strategic decision- making: planned and emergent strategy.
Information Systems for Business & Accounting (ACC09112)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
On this module you will gain a broad understanding of business and accounting information systems and their uses and application in a modern day business context. You will gain an appreciation of how organisations use information systems to achieve corporate objectives. With new information technology related innovations occurring frequently you will learn how the business world is being radically transformed. In addition, you will gain an understanding of the associated business related issues such as security and control that arise through the adoption of the new technologies. You will also learn how modern information systems are constructed and how they are tailored to meet individual organisational needs.
Description of module content:
Understanding Management and Accounting Information Systems; organisation Strategy and Information Systems; IT infrastructure and Emerging Technologies; the Internet, Digital Markets and E-Business; Information Systems Security; Enterprise Applications using information systems with auditing; solving business problems and decision-making; acquiring and developing Information Systems.
Corporate Social Responsibility (ACC10907)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
This module covers three integrated parts: ethics, sustainability reporting and corporate governance. For the ethics part, you will examine the theories of ethics and their applicability to business and the accounting professions and evaluate business and professional practice from a moral and ethical viewpoint. For the sustainability reporting part, you will examine the efforts of institutions to manage environmental and sustainable issues, discuss the problems of identifying, measuring and disclosing social and environmental information, and evaluate the current practice of sustainability reporting. For the corporate governance part, you will examine the impact of financial reporting and auditing on corporate accountability, review corporate governance frameworks, theory and models, and assess current corporate governance systems in the context of accountability, social responsibility and corporate citizenship.
Description of module content:
Introduction to corporate social responsibility; ethical behaviours, theories of ethics and moral reasoning; ethics for the accounting and auditing professions; sustainability and sustainable development; corporate and stakeholder responsibility for social and environmental issues ; social accounting and auditing, and sustainability reporting; social and environmental reporting standards and guidance; cases in social and environmental reporting; accountability theory and corporate governance frameworks, theories and models; corporate governance practices and expectations gaps in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.
Innovations in Management Accounting (ACC10903)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
The module focuses on the effectiveness of management accounting today as a planning, control and decision making aid. You will learn about how management accounting is continually being redeveloped to reflect the developments taking place in the environment within which businesses operate. You will also investigate the divergence between theory and practice, ensuring that views of opposing views of authors are investigated in depth.
Description of module content:
We consider and investigate the main topics that are affecting the development of management accounting. This includes a focus on budgeting, as traditional budgeting is being viewed by many organisations as being archaic and counter productive. The area of large scale investment decisions is also one which is in constant development as companies find limited usefulness from traditional investment appraisal techniques. We also investigate some topical themes in performance measurement and management, such as shareholder value, activity based management, environmental management and the developments in quality.
Current Issues in Finance (ACC10916)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
The module provides you with updated current issues in finance; topics can vary from year to year. The aim of this module is to enhance your understanding of current finance theories and their applications in the business world. The issues are also linked to various research areas in finance with an emphasis on the interplay between the corporation and the financial markets. While you are required to conduct research relating to these issues, this gives you the opportunity to critically analyse the theories and apply them.
Description of module content:
Current issues will vary over time. Indicative topics are as follows:
Empirical evidence of efficient market hypothesis, hedge funds and exchanged-traded funds, the role of derivatives in corporate financial management, strategic financial management, and current developments in international finance.
Dissertation (ACC10933)
What you will learn and what this module is about:
The dissertation module enables you to develop research skills by undertaking a well-researched piece of critical analysis on a topic relevant to your programme. You will have the opportunity to explore a chosen topic in depth, relating it to the literature and previous research studies and to integrate your findings across subject disciplines. You will be supported and guided by an individual supervisor.
Description of module content:
Description of module content There will be a series of introductory lectures to explain the dissertation process and research methods. These will cover: 1. Research methods; the differences between Primary research and Secondary research 2. How to develop research aims and objectives; 3. The process of a literature review; 4. The dissertation structure: Abstract, Literature review, Methodology, Referencing, Analysis of research findings, Conclusions & Recommendations and List of References. 5. Research ethics: ensuring that students adopt an honest approach and treat research subjects fairly. There will be regular contact between student and supervisor. Students will plan their dissertations, read the literature, conduct the research, analyse the data collected and write up their findings.