Students

ACCG8144 – Advanced Financial Management

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Carl Shen
carl.shen@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ACCG926 or ACCG8126
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit focuses on key aspects of the financial management of an organisation, including the role and responsibility of a senior financial executive and adviser in ensuring accurate reporting and managing and running all financial activities of an organisation. A variety of readings, resources and case studies are used in this unit to develop an understanding of the key issues that a senior financial executive and adviser operating in either the private or public sector will be required to address. Students will apply relevant knowledge and skills, and exercise professional judgement as expected of a senior financial executive and adviser, in taking or recommending decisions relating to the financial management of an organisation.

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: Evaluate and explain the role and responsibilities of a senior financial executive and adviser and the finance function in an organisation. 
  • ULO2: Predict the financial and strategic consequences of potential investment and financing decisions and propose justified recommendations that effectively take these factors into account. 
  • ULO3: Analyse the financial and strategic impact of a proposed merger, acquisition or corporate re-organisation. 
  • ULO4: Apply and evaluate advanced treasury and risk management techniques. 
  • ULO5: Evaluate the role of international financial institutions in the financial management of multinationals including the relevance of the economic environment. 

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless an application for Special Consideration has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests, exams, performance assessments, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Formal and Observed Learning: Test 20% No Week 8
Professional Practice: Evaluating Financial Risks 30% No Week 13
Formal and Observed Learning: Exam 50% No Exam Period

Formal and Observed Learning: Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of key topics from the unit.   You will participate in a formal test. Feedback on this test will help you assess your progress through the unit content.   Deliverable: Test Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and explain the role and responsibilities of a senior financial executive and adviser and the finance function in an organisation. 
  • Predict the financial and strategic consequences of potential investment and financing decisions and propose justified recommendations that effectively take these factors into account. 
  • Evaluate the role of international financial institutions in the financial management of multinationals including the relevance of the economic environment. 

Professional Practice: Evaluating Financial Risks

Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assignment is for you to apply financial management concepts in a real-world context, linking theory to practice.   You will complete the case study as a group to evaluate the financial risks of an ASX-listed company using its most recent annual report and present an informed investment recommendation. You will deliver an individual presentation outlining your financial risk analysis and investment recommendation for the assigned ASX-listed company.   Skills in focus:

  • Communication and Collaboration
  • Critical Thinking
  • Work Readiness
  • Communication

Deliverable: Written Report and Presentation [max: 1500 words] Individual and group assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and explain the role and responsibilities of a senior financial executive and adviser and the finance function in an organisation. 
  • Predict the financial and strategic consequences of potential investment and financing decisions and propose justified recommendations that effectively take these factors into account. 
  • Analyse the financial and strategic impact of a proposed merger, acquisition or corporate re-organisation. 
  • Apply and evaluate advanced treasury and risk management techniques. 
  • Evaluate the role of international financial institutions in the financial management of multinationals including the relevance of the economic environment. 

Formal and Observed Learning: Exam

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 50%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to formally demonstrate the expertise you have gained in this unit. You will participate in a 2-hour exam held during the University Examination period. Important information about the exam will be made available on the unit iLearn page.   You should also review the MQ Exams website for general tips: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/exams   Deliverable: Formal exam Individual assessment

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and explain the role and responsibilities of a senior financial executive and adviser and the finance function in an organisation. 
  • Predict the financial and strategic consequences of potential investment and financing decisions and propose justified recommendations that effectively take these factors into account. 
  • Analyse the financial and strategic impact of a proposed merger, acquisition or corporate re-organisation. 
  • Apply and evaluate advanced treasury and risk management techniques. 
  • Evaluate the role of international financial institutions in the financial management of multinationals including the relevance of the economic environment. 

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 Text: Students are required to refer to latest edition of Approved Workbook and the Practice and Revision Kit for Advanced Financial Management, published by BPP Learning Media.

Unit Web Page: Students are required to access a computer and the internet at various times in completing this unit, to download course material available on the learning management system (iLearn) and to complete assessment tasks.

Technology Used and Required: Please refer to iLearn. Delivery Format and Other Details:

• http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/

• Seminar attendance for this unit is compulsory.

• Students are required to get involved in seminar discussion

Unit Schedule

Week

Topic

1

Financial strategy: Formulation and evaluation

2

Discounted cash flow techniques

3

Application of option pricing theory

4

International investment and financing decisions

5

Cost of capital & changing risk, financial and credit risk

6

Valuation for acquisition and mergers

7

Acquisitions: strategic issues, regulation and financing

8

The role of the treasury function

9

Managing currency risk

10

Managing interest rate risk

11

Financial reconstruction and business re-organisation

12

Planning and trading issues for multinationals

13

Revision

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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

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

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

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 2025.04 of the Handbook