module specification

The module will teach students about the process of recording, presenting and interpreting financial information. It will also develop their IT skills by teaching how to set up spreadsheets and use the internet to research into limited companies.  The module then develops an introductory framework for the understanding and analysis of key financial markets and institutions in mature economies.

The module aims to :

1. introduce the terminolgy and concepts behind financial management;
2. introduce the student to the use of information technology to inform and support business decision making;
3. develop the students’ business and management skills in areas such as; researching, analysing data, presenting data and findings, critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, IT skills, numeric/quantitative skills and communicating;
4. provide an introduction to financial principles,institutions and markets;
5. provide an introduction to financial market data; its uses and interpretation.

The module also aims to develop students' skills, in particular: applied analysis; problem solving; data analysis; literacy, and career management.

HE Skills Development: developing intermediate knowledge of spreadsheet software and using IT software to present information and data to a professional level. Introduction to IT quantitative software including spreadsheets. Using workbooks- commands, entering data, creating formulas, editing and formatting worksheets, creating charts from worksheet data.

Preparing spreadsheets for presenting financial information
Terminology of accounting
Qualitative and quantitative Interpretation of financial accounts
Introduction to management accounting
Organisation and structure of financial institutions and markets
Principles of financial intermediation and regulation
Credit creation, monetary policy and the economy
Asset prices and interest rates
Derivative markets
Debt and equity markets
The market for foreign exchange
Financial databases. Access, interrogation and interpretation of major financial data sources including Bloomberg.

The module will consist of three hour large group computer workshops for the first 14 weeks and a two hour lecture and a one hour tutorial for the second 14 weeks. During the second half of the module students will have access to the Bloomberg Research and Trading Room to support the development of skills and the application of financial knowledge.  

The development of career awareness is promoted within the module by introducing students to career development opportunities such as, internships and work experience, job search techniques, employer recruitment strategies, self presentation together with a review of skills sought by prospective employers. Written presentation including CVs and personal statements, networking, job application, interviews, and inter-cultural communication are also discussed.

On completing the module students will be able to:

1. understand the process of financial accounting and develop skills in using Excel in preparing management accounts;
2. use Microsoft Excel for presenting financial data to potential users of the information generated;
3. interpret the financial and other information in a set of financial accounts of a limited company;
4. describe contemporary financial institutions and markets and explain the basic financial principles which underlie financial institutions and markets;
5. place financial markets in the context of the wider economy;
6. understand and use financial terminology and interpret basic financial market data.

The module will have three elements of assessment: consisting of two in-class tests one of which will assess knowledge of Excel and one will assess knowledge of basic financial principles. In addition there will be a report to assess knowledge of descriptive statistics and a two hour unseen exam based on the second half of the module.

Black, G. (2005), 'Introduction to Accounting and Finance', 7th ed., Prentice Hall
Dyson, G. (2007), 'Accounting for Non Accounting Students', (e-book)
BBC www.bbc.co.uk\business
Bized www.bized.ac.uk
Bloomberg Market Monitor http://www.bloomberg.co.uk/
Companies House www.companieshouse.org.uk
The Telegraph http://shares.telegraph.co.uk/
Yahoo http://uk.finance.yahoo.com
Pilbeam, Keith (2010) Finance and Financial Markets, Palgrave MacMillan,3rd edition.
Fabozzi, F.J., Modigliani, F., Jones, F.J. and M.G. Ferri, (2002) Foundations of Financial Markets and Institutions, 3rd edition, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River.
Howells, Peter and Bain, Keith (2007). Financial Markets and Institutions, Financial Times Prentice Hall, 5th edition.
Valdez, Stephen and Wood, Julian (2003). An Introduction to Global Financial Markets, Palgrave, 4th edition.
Fabozzi, F.J. and Modigliani, F, (2002) Capital Markets: Institutions and Instruments, 3rdedition, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River.
Cuthbertson, K. and Nitzsche, D. (2001) Investments, Spot and Derivative Markets, John Wiley and Sons, Chichester.