Students

AFCX6019 – Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling

2021 – Term 4, Fully online/virtual

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Katarina Djukic
katarina.djukic@mq.edu.au
James Hay
james.hay@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to GradCertFin (OUA)
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. After this unit, students should understand the language of financial statements, and be able to use an Annual Report to develop an understanding of a company's historical performance and prospects. Specific topics include the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement and financial statement analysis using Dupont methodology. Financial modelling applications will also be developed, so students will be able to prepare forecasts for the three financial statements, as well as being able to integrate the three statements.

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:

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

General Assessment Information

Information - Extensions / Penalties

Online Quizzes x 2 - Worth 10% each (Total 20%)

You are expected to make yourself available for assessment during the relevant quiz window.

Students who do not submit this task by the due date and time receive a result of zero. This penalty does not apply when an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved. 

Students who do not attempt the quiz receive a mark of zero. This penalty does not apply in cases where an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved.

Further information on submitting an Application for Special Consideration can be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

 

Short Exercises x 4 - Worth 5% each (Total 20%)

Students who do not submit this task by the due date and time receive a result of zero. This penalty does not apply when an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved.

Further information on submitting an Application for Special Consideration can be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

 

Assignment (30%)

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 incurs a 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.

Late submissions will be accepted up to 96 hours after the due date and time.

Further information on submitting an Application for Special Consideration can be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

 

Final Exam (30%)

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated at https://iexams.mq.edu.au/timetable

Deferral of an examination is not permitted unless an application for Special Consideration is made and approved.

Students who do not attend receive a mark of zero. This penalty does not apply in cases where an application for Special Consideration has been made and approved.

Further information on submitting an Application for Special Consideration can be found at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online Quizzes 20% No 25/10/21, 29/11/21
Short Exercises 20% No 4/10/21, 11/10/21, 18/10/21, 8/11/21
Assignment 30% No 22/11/21
Final Exam 30% No 5/12/21

Online Quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 25/10/21, 29/11/21
Weighting: 20%

Two online quizzes will be conducted during the session.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Prepare and explain the interrelationships between the three major financial statements.
  • Critically assess a company’s historical financial performance using financial ratios and other analysis tools.
  • Apply financial analysis skills to develop financial projections for a project or business.

Short Exercises

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 4/10/21, 11/10/21, 18/10/21, 8/11/21
Weighting: 20%

Four short exercises, each assessing a different topic.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Prepare and explain the interrelationships between the three major financial statements.
  • Critically assess a company’s historical financial performance using financial ratios and other analysis tools.
  • Apply financial analysis skills to develop financial projections for a project or business.
  • Construct and demonstrate proficiency in using spreadsheet based integrated financial models to solve a range of finance based problems.

Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 22/11/21
Weighting: 30%

Analysis of an individual case study topic and presentation of conclusions : 2,500 words
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Prepare and explain the interrelationships between the three major financial statements.
  • Critically assess a company’s historical financial performance using financial ratios and other analysis tools.
  • Apply financial analysis skills to develop financial projections for a project or business.
  • Construct and demonstrate proficiency in using spreadsheet based integrated financial models to solve a range of finance based problems.

Final Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 5/12/21
Weighting: 30%

3-hour online exam on all topics covered during the session.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Prepare and explain the interrelationships between the three major financial statements.
  • Critically assess a company’s historical financial performance using financial ratios and other analysis tools.
  • Apply financial analysis skills to develop financial projections for a project or business.
  • Construct and demonstrate proficiency in using spreadsheet based integrated financial models to solve a range of finance based problems.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED TEXTS AND/OR MATERIALS

Required Text:

Financial Statements Demystified by B. Kramer and C. Johnson 2009 McGraw-Hill Education.

This textbook is available to buy from the publisher, McGraw-Hill Education, as either a print  book or an e-book. Please note that the publisher’s prices may be quoted in US dollars and the book may ship from overseas. If you intend to use the print book, please allow sufficient time for delivery. The print book is also available from The Co-op, Dymocks and other sellers. The following links can be used to purchase the textbook:

Additional Readings:

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

Assumed Knowledge: Mathematical content

  • This unit requires students to perform arithmetic (add, subtract, multiply, divide), to work with exponents (raise to the power of), and to perform algebraic manipulation of simple equations. For example, given the arithmetical answer to a calculation, it is expected that you can solve for one of the inputs.
    • If 534 = 221 + X – 440, what is X?
  • Additionally, this unit requires students to solve mathematical problems using spreadsheet software by coding formulas into cells in the spreadsheet.
  • Students should be familiar with financial mathematics such as simple interest and the time value of money.
    • If $200 is borrowed for 12 months at an interest rate of 6% pa to be paid monthly in arrears, how much interest is paid each month?
    • What is the effective annual interest rate?

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

This is an online unit which will make use of the University's iLearn system.

Unit iLearn Site:

  • Found by logging on to iLearn ilearn.mq.edu.au, then clicking on Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling.
  • Here 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.

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 of spreadsheet.

Unit Schedule

The following schedule is a guide to the timing of each topic.

Week 

Topic 

Latest date to start working on this topic 

0 

Orientation and Topic 1: Introduction to financial statement analysis 

 20 September

1 

Topic 1: Introduction to financial statement analysis 

 27 September

2 

Topic 2: Introduction to financial modelling 

 4 October

3 

Topic 3: Preparing financial statements 

 11 October

4 

Topic 4: A closer look at the balance sheet 

 18 October

5 

Topic 5: Analysis of financial statements 

 25 October

6 

Topic 6: Preparing a financial model Part 1 

 1 November

7 

Topic 7: Preparing a financial model Part 2 

 8 November

8 

Topic 8: Further steps in financial modelling 

 15 November

9 

Topic 9: Analysis of financial statements (capstone) 

 22 November

10 

Exam preparation 

 29 November

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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

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.

Unit information based on version 2021.04 of the Handbook