Students

AFIN6013 – Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling

2020 – Session 1, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, any references to assessment tasks and on-campus delivery may no longer be up-to-date on this page.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Lydia Liu
Angela Chow
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertFin or GradDipAppFin or MAppFin or MAppFin(Adv) or MBkgFin
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit equips students with financial analysis skills to support advanced study in corporate finance and investment analysis. Emphasis is placed on being able to interpret financial statements in the context of a company's operational performance and strategy, to assess historical financial performance and to prepare a spreadsheet based financial model capable of forecasting integrated financial statements for a company.

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:

  • ULO2: Critically assess a company’s historical financial performance using financial ratios and other analysis tools.
  • ULO1: Explain the main components of and the linkages between the three major financial statements.
  • ULO3: Apply financial analysis skills to develop financial projections for a project or business.
  • ULO4: Construct spreadsheet based integrated financial models.
  • ULO5: Demonstrate proficiency in using spreadsheet based financial modelling to solve a range of finance based problems

Assessment Tasks

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Assessment details are no longer provided here as a result of changes due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Students should consult iLearn for revised unit information.

Find out more about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and potential impacts on staff and students

General Assessment Information

Assessment criteria for all assessment tasks will be provided on the unit iLearn site.

It is the responsibility of students to view their marks for each within session assessment on iLearn within 20 working days of posting. If there are any discrepancies, students must contact the unit convenor immediately. Failure to do so will mean that queries received after the release of final results regarding assessment marks (not including the final exam mark) will not be addressed.

Where a Special Consideration application is approved, the student may be offered an alternative assessment or may receive a mark based on the percentage mark achieved by the student in one or more other assessment tasks, at the Unit Convenor’s discretion.

Late submission:

  • Quizes and short questions exercises: No extensions will be granted. Students who have not submitted the task prior to the deadline will be awarded a mark of 0 for the task, except for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
  • Assignment: No extensions will be granted. There will be a deduction of 10% of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special considereation is made and approved. No submission will be accepted after solutions have been posted.

Final Examation:

  • Closed book.
  • You are permitted ONE A4 page of paper containing reference material printed on both sides. The material may be handwritten or typed. The page will not be returned to you at the end of the final examination.

 

Delivery and Resources

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

Any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19.

Please check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Required Text:

Financial Statements Demystified by Kramer and Johnson 209 McGraw-Hill.

This textbook is available as either a print book or eBook. Details of the two versions are shown below:

  • Print book: Financial Statements Demystified, ISBN 9780071543873, available at http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071543880
  • eBook: Financial Statements Demystified, ISBN: 9781308469089, available at https://create.mheducation.com/shop/#/catalog/details/?isbn=9781308469089

Unit Web Page:

This unit will make use of the University's iLearn system.

Unit's iLearn Site:

  • Found by logging on to iLearn ilearn.mq.edu.au, then clicking on Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling.
  • This is where you will find forums, downloadable resources and links to important pages.
  • The forum allows you to communicate with other students and lecturer(s) and may provide supplementary material.
  • You are requested to post your questions on the forums at least 24 hours prior to the assignment submission date or the examination date. Questions posted after that time may not be answered. Please try to not leave your questions to the last few days.

Important Notice:

  • It is important that you familiarise yourself with the Unit’s iLearn site.
  • All students should check iLearn regularly and look for updates and distribution of materials related to the unit or assessments and participate in forum discussions.

Technology Used and Required:

Assumed access to technology: Access to a computer with word processing and spreadsheet capability is assumed, as is general student computer literacy. A recent version of Excel is the preferred choice spreadsheet.

Delivery Format and Other Details:

See timetable for classes on the University web site at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2019/

Recommended Readings:

  • Additional readings are included in iLearn
  • Students should assume these readings are examinable unless otherwise advised.

Assumed Knowledge:

Mathematical content

  • Finance has a high level of numerate content. Consequently this unit is, in parts, mathematical and arithmetical. As an indication of the level of algebra required, students should find the following problem easy to solve:

                                     Solve for Z5:     $1,000 = $681.20(1+Z5/2)10

Assumed Access:

Access to a computer with word processing and spreadsheet capability is assumed, as is general student computer literacy. A recent version of Excel is the preferred choice spreadsheet.

Unit Schedule

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update

The unit schedule/topics and any references to on-campus delivery below may no longer be relevant due to COVID-19. Please consult iLearn for latest details, and check here for updated delivery information: https://ask.mq.edu.au/account/pub/display/unit_status

Week Starting Topic

1

24/02/2020

Topic 1: Introduction to financial statement analysis

2 02/03/2020

Topic 2: Introduction to modelling

3 09/03/2020

Topic 3: Preparing financial statements

4 16/03/2020

Topic 4: A closer look at the balance sheet

5 23/03/2020

Topic 5: Preparing a financial model Part 1

6 30/03/2020

Topic 6: Preparing a financial model Part 2

7 06/04/2020

Topic 7: Review (No Lecture)

8 27/04/2020

Topic 8: Revisit the Plan and the Plug

9

04/05/2020

Topic 9: Analysis of financial statements Part 1

10

11/05/2020

Topic 10: Analysis of financial statements Part 2

11

18/05/2020

Topic 11: Case Study and Advanced Excel Tools

12

25/05/2020

Topic 12: Fraud

13

01/06/2020

Topic 13: Final Exam Revision

 

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:

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 published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Supplementary exams

Information regarding supplementary exams, including dates, is available at: http://www.businessandeconomics.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/how_do_i/disruption_to_studies

 

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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
08/02/2020 Changes to unit schedule