Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding and broad knowledge of financial statements and the concepts of corporate finance and investment appraisal in order to evaluate management decisions against strategic corporate objectives.

Submission Deadline

Marks and Feedback

Before 10am on:

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20 working days after deadline (L4, 5 and 7)15 working days after deadline (L6)10 working days after deadline (block delivery)

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Unit title & code

Accounting and Finance  AAF044-6

Assignment number and title

Assignment one - Main

Assignment type

Case study

Weighting of assignment

40%

Size or length of assessment

2,500 words

Unit learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding:

Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding and broad knowledge of financial statements and the concepts of corporate finance and investment appraisal in order to evaluate management decisions against strategic corporate objectives.

2.     Demonstrate the following skills and abilities:

Analyze financial statements and evaluate management decisions through the application of relevant financial tools and techniques to assess their validity in achieving strategic corporate objectives.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

You are to write a 2500-word report on the financial position and performance of Waitrose Plc UK. To do this you need the latest and previous year annual reports of the company.

(i)    Introduction (20% marks)

You should provide a short introduction to the organisation (its key features), its current financial position (key metrics). Then identify the key resources of the organisation, before providing a brief comment on the challenges it faces in meeting its objectives in its markets.

(ii) Evaluate the financial statements and other financial information relating to Waitrose Plc UK to assess how the company has performed over the past three years taking into account any problems or

opportunities identified in (i). This should be an interpretation of the ratios NOT the calculation of the ratios (35%)

(iii) Discuss how the listed company’s performance over the past two years compares with one of it’s key competitors. Your answer should include a common size statement and some discussion as to whether the competitors identified faced the same opportunities and problems that retail company faced. How these were are reflected in the competitor’s financial statements (30%)

 (iv) Conclusion - Discuss whether in your opinion the company the board should back a new joint venture with the listed company. You need to draw on your analysis discussed in (i), (ii) & (iii) above (15%)

What do I need to do to pass? (Threshold Expectations from UIF)

In order to pass Assessment 1 you will need to:

Analyze financial data and other relevant information of an organization and refer to relevant literature to form a judgment on the relative performance and the effectiveness of management in meeting the strategic corporate objectives in a given scenario.

How do I produce high quality work that merits a good grade?

Your work should show a critical insightful evaluation of corporate objectives, key opportunities and problems and how they have changed over the three years. There should be high level of creativity, and independent thought.

Extensive evidence of advanced applications and/or empirical results, where applicable, informed extensively by current research and practice in the area

Your work should show very high level of competence in analysing and interpreting the financial performance of the listed company and its main competitors and in communicating the outcome

 The conclusions should be outstanding, logical and consistent with the corporate objectives, key opportunities and problems and financial performance and the performance of main competitors

 Overall, the work should be Outstanding, well-directed presentation, logically and coherently structured, using correct grammar, spelling and accurate referencing and presentation

How does this assignment relate to what we are doing in scheduled sessions?

Session

Topic

Atrill &McLaney (2014) Chapter

1

Intro to Accounting and Finance

1

2

Measuring and Reporting Financial Performance

2

3

Analysing and Interpreting Financial Statements

7

4

Cost Behaviour and Relevant Costs

9

5

Budgeting

12

6

Capital Investment Appraisal

14

7

Sources of Finance and Capital Structure

15

8

Managing Working Capital

16

9

Agency theory and Corporate Governance

5

How will my assignment be marked?

Your assignment will be marked according to the threshold expectations and the criteria on the following page. You can use them to evaluate your own work and consider your grade before you submit

Pass – 40-49%

Pass – 50-59%

Commendation – 60-69%

Distinction– 70%+

Introduction (20%)

The case is presented with a basic description of the organization. No key issues or decision areas identified

An overview of the case is presented identifying at least one key issues

An overview is presented with key issues identified

A clear overview of the case presented identifying the decision areas

Analysing and interpreting the financial performanc e of the listed company

(35%)

Good categorization of the ratios but basic analyses of ratios

Good categorization of ratios and limited analyses of ratios but demonstrates links between ratios and non-financial information.

Good categorization of ratios and good analyses on ratios with sound rationales and demonstrates limited knowledge on how non- financial activities could reflect on ratios

Excellent categorization of financials and detailed analyses of how each ratio has been changed with sound rationales and able to link with non-financial information

Comparing the company’s financial performanc e with one of its key competitors

(30%)

Poor comparison of company’s performance over the past two years compares with its main competitors. Not included a common size statement

Limited comparison of company’s performance with competitors, and has included a limited common size statement & limited demonstration on how non-financial activities

have reflected on results of the companies

Limited comparison of company’s performance with competitors, and has included a limited common size statement & limited demonstration on how

non-financial activities have reflected on results of the companies

Excellent comparison of ratios and results with detailed analyses and sound rationales including common size statements and able to link performances in the companies to market conditions.