Advanced Management Accounting
| Module title | Advanced Management Accounting |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEAM025 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Stephen Jollands (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 95 |
|---|
Module description
Summary:
This module introduces students to contemporary and advanced developments in management accounting and organisational control, covering relevant practices, leading research and relevant theory.
Additional information:
Internationalisation
The whole theme of management accounting and organisational control is intertwined with global practices that are used (and sometimes changed) by organisations on an international scale. Management accounting is a global phenomenon that impacts organisations far and wide, and which is overseen by international professional bodies.
Sustainability
Management accounting is very much at the core of sustainable development within organisations, and increasingly management accountants are becoming involved at the front-end of such practices. The interrelationship between management accounting and social and ecological sustainable development will feature at several junctures in the module programme.
Employability
Students taking this module will equip themselves with a raft of (transferable) skills in the realm of management and accounting – e.g., critical analysis skills, discussion and questioning, and knowledge of contemporary developments in the field.
Research in Teaching
This module places a significant emphasis on contemporary developments in management accounting research, and is taught by two scholars who actively contribute to such developments
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to introduce students to (the evolving nature and roles of) accounting, accounts and accountability within organisations and society. It thus builds on, but both supplements and complements, more technical accounting knowledge that some students will have gained in previous studies. The latest research in management accounting will be covered, including the latest empirical evidence (mostly case studies) and theory. Throughout the module, students will be encouraged to be inquisitive and critical of contemporary developments, and also to conjecture towards potential future developments as the management accounting profession responds to yet further (external and intra-organisational) pressures for change. This module is a sensible choice for those students who wish to engage in a management accounting career; but given its interface with management is also a useful module for those students who wish to pursue careers in all kinds of business management or consultancy.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe, compare, contrast, and critically evaluate various key aspects of contemporary management accounting and corresponding accounts and accountability.
- 2. Evaluate alternative (e.g., economic, social, cultural and political) contexts within which management accounting operates, and the common drivers of change in such practice.
- 3. Evaluate and analyse various contemporary management accounting techniques, the accounts they produce and the accountability relationships they establish within a broad range of settings.
- 4. Evaluate and explain traditional understandings of management accounting and contrast with broader understandings.
- 5. Critically evaluate and challenge theoretical perspectives on various dimensions of the subject area.
- 6. Discuss and critically evaluate extant academic research relating to key themes in management accounting.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Link and critically compare both research-oriented and practice-oriented viewpoints and perspectives of contemporary management accounting practice.
- 8. Discuss and articulate different perspectives on contemporary management accounting issues.
- 9. Explain and, where necessary, rationalise such different perspectives (above) theoretical-based arguments.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Select and synthesise appropriate material from a range of sources, including academic, professional and popular literature and media.
- 11. Analyse, communicate and present ideas, principles and evidence that support a reasoned and consistent argument.
Syllabus plan
• Introduction to the Module
• Management accounting in organisations and society
• Accounting in its broader context
• Public Sector I – Higher Education
• Public Sector II – Hospitals
• Public Sector III – Water and Natural Capital Accounting
• Popular culture I – general examination in relation to accounting
• Popular culture II – examining specific topics
• Accounting for sustainable development
• Accounting for the vulnerable
• Accounting for values
• Overview of the module and guidance for revision
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | 119 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 22 | Lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activities | 9 | Workshop classes |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorials including pre-readings &/or video-links | 9 weeks x 1/week x 1hr | 1-11 | Feedback via informal class discussion, including questions set and curiosity-driven debate. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework (report) | 30 | 1500 words | 1-11 | Feedback sheets |
| Coursework (essay) | 70 | 3000 words | 1-11 | Feedback sheets |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework (report) (30%) | Report (1500 words) (30%) | 1-11 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Coursework (essays) (70%) | Essays (3000 words) (70%) | 1-11 | August/September re-assessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Only students who fail the whole module will be re-assessed with an individual report or essay, whichever is relevant as above.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Readings:
The majority of readings will be academic journal articles – where possible, there are direct links to these articles via the module reading list which is located on the ELE site.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Use websites for Management Accounting:
Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), www.cimaglobal.com
Institute of Management Accountants (IMA), www.imanet.org
Management Accounting Section of the American Accounting Association, http://aaahq.org/MAS
Key web-sites which you are encouraged to visit regularly (especially their downloadable articles and publications pages) include:
The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) (https://www.cimaglobal.com/Research--Insight/) . Downloadable material includes: executive summaries; guides by CIMA’s Technical Services; presentations, speeches and forums; and, technical briefings
The Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) (www.imanet.org ). See “research and publications”
International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) (www.ifac.org/ ). See “IFAC Global Knowledge Gateway”
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) (www.icaew.co.uk ). See “library”
Also, you might routinely check out the reports and publications offered on professional accounting firms’ and consultants’ web pages, including:
Price Waterhouse Coopers consulting (www.pwcconsulting.com )
Accenture (https://www.accenture.com)
McKinsey consulting (www.mckinsey.com )
Indicative learning resources - Other resources
Useful (Specialist) Journals for Management Accounting (see library):
- Management Accounting Research (Academic Journal of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK)
- Financial Management (Professional journal of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK)
- Journal of Management Accounting Research (Academic Journal of the Institute of Management Accountants, USA)
- Strategic Finance (Monthly Professional Journal of the Institute of Management Accountants, USA)
- Management Accounting Quarterly (Quarterly Professional Journal of the Institute of Management Accountants, USA)
Other (non-specialist) academic journals which often include management accounting articles which are suitable for this module:
- Accounting, Organizations, & Society
- Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal
- Journal of Accounting & Organisational Change
- Qualitative Research in Accounting & Management
- British Accounting Review
- Critical Perspectives in Accounting
YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE FOR THIS MODULE, SUPPLEMENTING AND REINFORCING WHAT YOU LEARN IN CONTACT HOURS
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 01/09/2006 |
| Last revision date | 01/10/2021 |
