This module is designed as an introduction to the subject for students with little or no background in accounting. The syllabus includes an introduction to the recording of transactions in any business, fundamental principles in accounting, appraisal and familiarity with the content of published annual accounts, financial ratio analysis and an introduction to aspects of costing and management accounts. Students will gain skill and confidence in dealing with the financial reports that they will meet in their subsequent careers.

By the end of the module the student will be able to:

• demonstrate a critical knowledge and understanding of the accounting framework and identify how it is used in evaluating organisations and in organisational decision making;
• demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the conceptual basis of accounting as it is carried out in organisations;
• interpret financial statements, accounting reports and the accounting vocabulary;
• critically evaluate how managers use different reporting strategies in communicating with each other and with external third parties;
• identify and appraise methods by which information on produce and service costs is produced by an organisation;
• analyse the power of measurements in coordinating, motivating and evaluating employees and managers.