Assessment Brief 1

Programme title: Foundation Year in Business and Law

Module name: Contemporary Issues in Accounting
Assessment title: How would the stakeholders of a company, listed on the
London Stock Exchange, make use of the published annual
report and accounts?
Module code: U10473
Class start date: 27th January 2025
Class end date: 11th May 2025
Module leader: Dr A H M Noman | [email protected]
Internal verifier: Dr Kaviraj Santayana | [email protected]
Submission deadline: 2nd April 2025, time: 2 pm
Assessment type: Individual Essay
Weight: 40% (2000 words)

Brief Module Overview

This module will provide you with an understanding of understand the importance of financial
and of management accounting in running a business effectively, and to gain an appreciation of
the current issues in accounting.

Module Aims

To introduce students to the purpose and basic mechanics of accounting in both theory and
practice.

Assessment Brief 1 (Accounting) * Page 1 of 6

Assessment 1 – Essay

QUESTION TO BE ADDRESSED
How would the stakeholders of a company, listed on the London Stock Exchange, make use of
the published annual report and accounts?

GUIDANCE
You should focus on the statement of profit or loss, the statement of financial position and the
cash flow statement. References to the other published information are also encouraged.

PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This assignment provides an opportunity for you to reflect on your knowledge of accounting and
its relevance to a wide selection of users.

The essay should be informative, easy to follow, and delivered in an interesting and clear manner.
You should be able to demonstrate the extent of your understanding of the basic theory and
practice of FINANCIAL accounting in the modern context, and its value to business and the wider
community.

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module students should be able to:

No Learning outcomes
1 Demonstrate an understanding of basic theory and practice of financial and management
accounting and its basic terms and concepts.
2 Explain the value of financial and management accounting processes to a business.
5 Demonstrate an understanding of the current contemporary issues affecting the
accounting discipline.

Submitted work is normally marked and returned within three weeks (during term time) of the
submission deadline. All modules are moderated/second marked internally by staff and
confirmed by external examiners. All marks are provisional until they are confirmed by the
relevant module board.

Assessment Brief 1 (Accounting) * Page 2 of 6

Assessment Criteria

Essay – the essay will contribute 100% to the overall grade (2,000 words). It will be assessed
using the following weighting:
• 25% Clarity of expression
• 25% Addressing the question
• 25% Content & range of knowledge
• 25% Conclusions
Please note that diagrams, quotes, appendices, and tables do not constitute part of the word
allocation. A copy of the assessment grading for the essay can be found in Appendix 1.

Submitting Assignments

Cover Sheet – you MUST attach a completed cover sheet with your essay.
Presentation – your individual assignment should be word-processed. Line spacing should be one
and-a-half-spaced, with at least an inch (2 cm) margin, and font size should be no smaller than
12 point, Times New Roman, or 11-point Arial. Your student number should appear on each page
and pages should be numbered.

Description/Guidance

Assessment Title: How would the stakeholders of a company, listed on the London Stock
Exchange, make use of the published annual report and accounts?
Delivery Method: Individual Essay
Type/Format: Report by MS Words
Word Count: 2000 words (Please note that diagrams, quotes, appendices, and tables
do not constitute part of the word allocation)
Weight: 40% marks
Submission method: CCCU Turnitin
Basic Guidelines: Complete the set reading and complete all required preparation for
lectures and seminars. Ensure that your assessments are submitted on
time and that guidance is sought in a timely manner, if required,
beforehand.

Assessment Brief 1 (Accounting) * Page 3 of 6

Assessment criteria: Essay – the essay will contribute 100% to the overall grade (2,000
words). It will be assessed using the following weighting:
• 25% Clarity of expression
• 25% Addressing the question
• 25% Content & range of knowledge
• 25% Conclusions

Assessment Marking/Grading Criteria

Criterion 100-80: 79-70: 69-60: 59-50: 49-40: 39-20: 19-0:

Excellent Very Good Good Sound Satisfactory Fail Fail
1
2
3
4

Referencing System

The business students are required to use Harvard as the standard referencing convention.

Learning Materials/Resources:

Essential Resources:
• Core textbook – Dyson, J. and Franklin, E. (2020), Accounting for non-accounting students
(10th ed.), Pearson Education Limited: Harlow.

Recommended Resources:
Journals, magazines & academic articles related and relevant to the subject:
You are expected to keep abreast of current academic theory and the events affecting accounting
practice in organisations and societies. This may be via published and academic journals,
newspapers, trade magazines etc.
• www.bbc.co.uk
• Financial Times

Assessment Brief 1 (Accounting) * Page 4 of 6

 • Accountancy Age (Journal)
• Journal of Corporate Accounting & Finance
• Publications by “Big four” accounting firms – PWC, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, KPMG
• Publications by Professional Accounting Bodies – ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA, ICAEW.

Websites:
You are expected to keep abreast of news and developments concerning accounting practice.
Websites you need to use and be aware of are:
• http://www.bbc.co.uk
• http://www.cipfa.org.uk

Please note that the format and order of this reading list is for illustrative purposes only.
Additional sources can also be found in Library services. Students are requested to submit a single
alphabetical order bibliography list containing all sources used for each piece of work submitted.
For guidelines on the required Harvard referencing style please refer to:
http://www.canterbury.ac.uk/library/docs/harvard.pdf

This handbook should be read in conjunction with other sources:

• Student Handbook: for programme academic information applying to all modules
• Current Student Webpages: for generic student experience information
• Advice for Students Blackboard for Business School information

Assessment Brief 1 (Accounting) * Page 5 of 6

Appendix 1 – Essay CCCU Assessment Grading Criteria: Foundation Year/Level 0
CRITERION 100-80 79-70 69-60 59-50 49-40 39-20 19-0
Excellent Very good Good Sound Satisfactory Fail Fail
A. KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING
1. Knowledge and Shows systematic Demonstrates an Shows an accurate Sound but Selection of theory Knowledge of key There is a lack of
application of and accurate accurate, systematic understanding of descriptive is satisfactory, and theories is relevant subject-
subject and theories knowledge and understanding of key subject-specific knowledge of key terminology, facts inaccurate and/or specific theory.
understanding of key theories. theories, which ae theories with and concepts are incomplete. Choice
key theories beyond Appropriately appropriately appropriate handled accurately, of theory
what has been selected theoretical integrated within application; the but application and inappropriate.
taught. Theories are knowledge is the context of the work is balanced understanding are Application and/or
consistently and applied in the assessment task. towards the generalised and understanding is
appropriately assignment. descriptive rather limited. very limited.
applied in the than the critical or
assignment. analytical.
D. TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
16. Clarity of Fluent writing style, Fluent writing style, Language generally Meaning is clear but Meaning is largely The meaning is The meaning is
expression (incl. appropriate to appropriate to the fluent and language not always clear, but language often unclear with unclear throughout.
accuracy, spelling, assignment. assignment, expressive. used fluently. choices include frequent errors in Errors in spelling,
grammar, Grammar, spelling, grammar, spelling, Grammar, spelling, Grammar, spelling errors which detract grammar, spelling, grammar,
punctuation, and and numeracy are and numeracy are and numeracy are and/or numeracy from the style and and/or numeracy. punctuation and/or
numeracy) highly accurate. accurate. accurate. are mainly accurate. fluency. Accuracy of numeracy make
spelling, grammar, interpretation
punctuation, and challenging for an
numeracy allows assessor.
understanding but
needs to be
improved.

Assessment Brief 1 (Accounting) * Page 6 of 6