Demonstrate a deep and systematic understanding and broad knowledge of financial statements

(iii) Discuss how the listed company’s performance over the past three 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 listed 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.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.

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. 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.

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