The module is intended to introduce concepts relating to costs and budgets; develop the ability to critically evaluate alternative scenarios and to put forward and justify a business case:

- The structure and use of Profit & Loss Accounts and Balance sheets as sources of information for decision making.
- Calculation and interpretation of Profitability and Liquidity Ratios to measure performance and effectiveness
- Basic cost terminology - direct, indirect, fixed, variable
- Basic cost statements - use of standard costs and links to budgets - dealing with overheads
- the manager's role in cost control and cost reduction
- The nature and purpose of budgets and budgetary control
- The measurement of variances and interpreting their significance
- Identifying the causes of variances and how to manage them
- Cash flow forecasting and the link to liquidity

The learning strategy for this module requires students to commit 150 learning hours (including assessment). This will include 24 hours of class support and 126 hours of independent and self directed study.

The class sessions will include formal lectures, case study analysis and group discussions based on student experiences in the subject area. Students will be encouraged to integrate their work based experiences with new knowledge and skills developed in the classroom as the module progresses.

LloydsTSB Business Banking Business Guides:
www.lloydstsbbusiness.com/support/businessguides/financing.asp

tutor2u - Accounting & Finance:
www.tutor2u.net/sub_accounting.asp

Business Link:
www.businesslink.gov.uk

Mason, R. (2007)Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Roger: Hodder Education,
Davies, T. & Boczco, T. (2005) Financial Accounting an Introduction,
Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Education
Reid, W. & Myddleton, D.R. (2005) Meaning of Company Accounts, 8th ed,
Aldershot: Gower,

An individual written report of 1500 words (based either on their own organisational situation or on information provided in an issued case study/scenario). They will be required to undertake the analysis of financial information to determine financial stability of a situation (Learning outcomes 1 to 3) (80%).
An individual oral presentation, 10 mins (20%) (Learning Outcome 4)