Students must have studied Level 5 Advanced Management Accounting or equivalent

1. Apply advanced decision-making techniques in a range of short term and long-term situations
Application
Communication
Problem Solving

2. Critically evaluate the significance of the behavioural aspects of management accounting in the context of management control and performance management
Application
Reflection

3. Critical understanding of the strategic aspects of management accounting
Analysis
Communication
Problem Solving

2 hour examination at end of module (Tests All Learning Outcomes), 100%

Formative assessment will be provided throughout the module. Digital tools will be used to enhance learning.

You will learn how to formulate critical awareness of how organisations implement their strategies by aligning people, projects, processes, structures and relationships. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge required as a manager to analyse the existing position of an organisation and device and implement strategic decisions to enable long-term sustainability of the organisation.
This module builds on your previous study of management accounting and begins by distinguishing between strategic, managerial and financial planning and controls. The module will introduce you to control theory; particularly aspects of information systems and control, including internal and external sources of information. This leads on to the cybernetic model of control and then to issues of centralisation, decentralisation and devolution of budgets.
The use of relevant costs for decision-making will be examined and consideration will be given to optimal product mix decisions and special decision situations.
You will go on to study the behavioural and motivational aspects of management accounting and budgeting. This will involve examining organisational structure and culture, and group behaviour. Issues concerning divisional performance measurement will also be covered.
You will study the uses of various performance and quality evaluation techniques, including return on capital employed, residual income as well as non-financial performance indicators. Budgeting and performance evaluation in not-for-profit organisations and the public sector will also be examined.
The module progresses to examine pricing decisions, including both strategic and target pricing, and then onto product life cycle costing. Internal transfer pricing will also be considered.
The final element of the module concerns key strategic issues such as the balanced scorecard, benchmarking, core competences, competitive advantage, value chain analysis, competitor analysis and customer profitability.
When studied as part of the BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, Two Year BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance, the successful completion of this module may lead to an exemption from a professional accountancy qualification - for up to date information on accreditation and exemptions please contact the Course Leader.

The learning strategy for the module requires students to commit 150 learning hours (including assessment) of this there will be 30 hours of class support and 120 hours of independent and self directed study. Support will also be given by access to Scheduled Tutor Office Hours to support the module.

The lecture/tutorial pattern may vary with some activities taking place in medium size group workshops.

24 hours of formal lectures/large group activity
6 hours of tutorials

Hoque, H. (2006) Strategic Management Accounting, 2nd edition, Prentice Hall.

Kaplan, R. and Atkinson, A. A. (2013) Advanced Management Accounting: Pearson New International Edition, 3rd Ed. Pearson.

Seal, W. (2011) Management Accounting, 4rd edition. McGraw Hill.

Module study guide
The University Library and Learning Resources - books and academic journals
The module VLE
Electronic data bases
Learning support materials
Internet

You will learn how to formulate critical awareness of how organisations implement their strategies by aligning people, projects, processes, structures and relationships. It will equip you with the skills and knowledge required as a manager to analyse the existing position of an organisation and device and implement strategic decisions to enable long-term sustainability of the organisation.