Students

ACCG905 – CPA - Financial Risk Management

2018 – S2 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Lecturer
Garry Morris
garry.morris@mq.edu.au
Contact via garry.morris@mq.edu.au
4ER level 2
As requested by email
Moderator
Meiting Lu
meiting.lu@mq.edu.au
Contact via meiting.lu@mq.edu.au
4ER level 2
N/a
Rahat Munir
rahat.munir@mq.edu.au
Rahat Munir
rahat.munir@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ACCG907 and ACCG908 and ACCG913
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit provides an extended formal academic support for students concurrently enrolled in the Financial Risk Management unit of the CPA program. This unit provides knowledge, principles, skills and an appreciation of the treasury function in a corporate environment. It presents an overview of various aspects of treasury focusing on the identification and management of financial risks that organisations face. The unit also addresses investment evaluation, the sourcing of necessary funds for an organisation, and the application of and accounting for hedge instruments.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques
  • Apply accounting standards for recording financial transactions
  • Implement controls to safeguard against financial loss
  • Demonstrate effective business communication and teamwork skills

General Assessment Information

It is expected that students will attend all classes with the following workload:

Weekly seminars            36 hours

Class test 1                      9 hours

Class test 2                      9 hours

Research report             25 hours

Final examination          18 hours

Readings/self study       53 hours

Total                           150 hours

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Class test 1 25% No Week 5
Class test 2 25% No Week 9
Report 20% No Weeks 7, 12 and 13
Final examination 30% No 29 September to 14 October

Class test 1

Due: Week 5
Weighting: 25%

Open book test with up to 50 multiple choice questions covering topics 1 to 4.

Submission The test will be conducted during class time and submitted directly to the lecturer in week 5.

Extension No extensions will be granted unless Special Consideration is sought.

Penalties Students who do not complete the test will be awarded a zero mark unless Special Consideration is approved.

Marking criteria Your mark will be based on the accuracy of your answers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques

Class test 2

Due: Week 9
Weighting: 25%

Open book test with up to 50 multiple choice questions covering topics 5 to 8.

Submission The test will be conducted during class time and submitted directly to the lecturer in week 9.

Extension No extensions will be granted unless Special Consideration is sought.

Penalties Students who do not complete the test will be awarded a zero mark unless Special Consideration is approved.

Marking criteria Your mark will be based on the accuracy of your answers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques
  • Apply accounting standards for recording financial transactions
  • Implement controls to safeguard against financial loss

Report

Due: Weeks 7, 12 and 13
Weighting: 20%

A research paper will be written as part of a group. Groups will be formed in week 2. The submission will be in the form of a business report with each group allocated a different publicly listed company. Your group will identify the relevant financial risks and recommend suitable risk management approaches. The written report will be worth 10% of your marks with an additional 10% for your individual presentation.

Submission An initial outline giving background information about your Company and its financial risks will be submitted in week 7 to your lecturer in class. The final report will be handed to your lecturer in class in week 12. Each group will provide a contribution sheet identifying the parts of the report completed by each member of the group.This will form the basis of allocating marks to each member for the written report. A group presentation will be given in week 12, and if necessary week 13 after the CPA exam and each student will be awarded a mark for their individual presentation.

Extension No extensions will be granted unless Special Consideration is sought.

Penalties There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks from the total awarded for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late. As an example, if the report is submitted 25 hours late, then there will be a 20% penalty. This penalty does not apply if Special Consideration is approved. No submissions will be accepted after solutions have been posted.

Marking criteria Your mark will be based on the demonstrated understanding of your allocated company's financial risks and the appropriateness of your recommendations to manage these exposures. Consideration will be given to each student's contribution to the written report and their individual presentation. 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques
  • Demonstrate effective business communication and teamwork skills

Final examination

Due: 29 September to 14 October
Weighting: 30%

Exam required and set by CPA. Obtain at least a PASS assessment by CPA. Note if you do NOT pass the CPA exam you cannot attain a pass in this unit in this session.

Submission/extension/penalties The examination will be conducted under the rules and conditions as set out by CPA Australia.

Marking criteria Your mark will be based on the accuracy of your answers.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques
  • Apply accounting standards for recording financial transactions
  • Implement controls to safeguard against financial loss

Delivery and Resources

Technology used and required Students must be familiar with the learning management system iLearn. Students will require access to a computer to conduct their own research using internet search engines and library databases.

Required unit materials and/or recommended readings CPA Program: CPA Financial Risk Management, Deakin University, Geelong, revised January 2018. Other references are given at the end of each module in the CPA manual.

Requirements to complete the unit satisfactorily You will be expected to attend 3 hours of face-to-face lectures each week. You will also need to satisfactorily complete 2 class tests as well as a team-based research project. These tasks will require at least 50% of the total marks awarded or 35 in total of the allocated 70 marks for the internal Macquarie University component of this unit. In addition you need to achieve at least a PASS in the CPA external exam.

Timetable The timetable for classes can be found on the University webpage http://timetables.mq.edu.au

Unit Schedule

Week

Date

 

Topic

 

 

1

 

4 August am

 

Module 1, Introduction to Financial Risk Management

 

 

2

 

4 August pm

 

Module 2, Management of Liquidity, Debt & Equity

  

 

3

 

6 August

 

 

Module 3, Investment Evaluation & Capital Structure

 

4

 

13 August

 

 

Module 4, Derivatives

 

5

 

20 August

 

1st Test (Modules 1 to 4)

Module 5, Interest Rate Risk Management

 

6

 

27 August

 

 

Module 6, Foreign Exchange & Commodity Price Management

 

 

7

 

3 September

 

Submit initial work on research project

Module 7, Accounting for Derivatives & Hedge Relationships

 

 

8

 

10 September

 

 

Module 8, Controlling Risks

 

 

9

 

17 September

 

2nd Test (Modules 5 to 8)

 

 

10

 

22 September

 

Test results and revision

 

 

11

 

 

24 September

 

Revision

 

 

 

 

 

CPA Exams     {29 September to 14 October}

 

12

 

 

15 October

 

Presentations and research project submitted in class

 

13

 

22 October

 

Additional presentations if required

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques
  • Apply accounting standards for recording financial transactions
  • Implement controls to safeguard against financial loss

Assessment tasks

  • Class test 1
  • Class test 2
  • Report
  • Final examination

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques

Assessment tasks

  • Class test 1
  • Class test 2
  • Report
  • Final examination

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Identify financial risks that companies face and formulate strategies to manage financial risks
  • Explain derivatives and other hedging techniques
  • Demonstrate effective business communication and teamwork skills

Assessment tasks

  • Class test 1
  • Class test 2
  • Report
  • Final examination

Research & Practice, Global & Sustainability

This unit addresses global and sustainability issues as direct areas of study and as necessary implications arising from the materials, assessment and academic discussion and debate in classes/seminars. We promote sustainability by developing ability in students to research and locate information within accounting discipline. We aim to provide students with an opportunity to obtain skills which will benefit them throughout their career. This unit gives you opportunities to understand the current practice and research in Financial Risk Management. The unit materials have a reference list at the end of each module containing all references cited by the author.These provide some guidance to references that could be used to research particular issues.