BUS7015
Financial Management Assessment
Date for Submission: Please refer to the timetable on ilearn
(The submission portal on ilearn will close at 14:00 UK time on the date of submission)
Page 1 of 9
[3702]
Arden University © reserves all rights of copyright and all other intellectual property rights in the learning materials and this publication. No part of any of the learning materials or this publication may be reproduced, shared (including in private social media groups), stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or means,
Assignment Brief
As part of the formal assessment for the programme you are required to submit a Financial Management assignment. Please refer to your Student Handbook for full details of the programme assessment scheme and general information on preparing and submitting assignments.
Learning Outcomes:
After completing the module, you should be able to:
- Critically evaluate a range of technologies in the accounting and financial arena
- Design and evaluate solutions to contemporary accounting and financial management challenges
- Assess the accounting and financial management challenges impacting the contemporary business environment
- Assess the importance of Big Data analysis in modern financial environments
- Professional Skills: Perform effectively within the professional environment. Work within a team, demonstrating interpersonal skills such as effective listening, negotiating, persuading and presentation. Be flexible and adaptable to changes within the professional environment.
All learning outcomes must be met to pass the module.
Guidance
Your assignment should include: a title page containing your student number, the module name, the submission deadline and the exact word count of your submitted document; the appendices if relevant; and a reference list in AU Harvard system(s). You should address all the elements of the assignment task listed below. Please note that tutors will use the assessment criteria set out below in assessing your work.
You must not include your name in your submission because Arden University operates anonymous marking, which means that markers should not be aware of the identity of the student. However, please do not forget to include your STU number.
Maximum word count: 3,000 words
Please refer to the full word count policy which can be found in the Student Policies section here: Arden University | Regulatory Framework
Please note the following:
Students are required to indicate the exact word count on the title page of the assessment.
The word count includes everything in the main body of the assessment (including in text citations and references). The word count excludes numerical data in tables, figures, diagrams, footnotes, reference list and appendices. ALL other printed words ARE included in the word count.
Please note that exceeding the word count by over 10% will result in a 10-percentage point deduction.
Assignment Task
SECTION A
Question 1
The telecommunications sector comprises of companies that make communication possible on a global scale whether through the phone or Internet. The £37-billion communications sector is already the UK economy’s second largest, after financial service, and the UK is home to an array of household names with global operations. There is a separate Excel file with the financials and ratios given for two major telecommunications companies that are listed on the London Stock Exchange.
You are required to:
- Select and evaluate at least 10 financial ratios (Don’t calculate, use information in the Excel file) and calculate 2 non-financial ratios to analyse the financial position and performance of the two companies. You are expected to use charts to compare performance of the two companies using the last three years (2021,2022 & 2023) financial and non-financial data. You will need to look at the audited financial statements and carry out further research to explain the performance of the company over the three years.
(28 Marks)
- Based on the analysis conducted in part (a) make recommendations as to how the companies could improve performance in the future. Try to make the recommendations as specific as possible. In other words, try to avoid general statements such as ‘improve profit by 10%’. How can profit be improved. Use the published financials and director’s comments to assist you in these recommendations.
(17 marks)
(1500 words)
(45 marks)
(LOs: 1, 2, 3 &5)
Question 2
You are required to conduct research and identify two scholarly articles (one article for each selected technology) on current technological developments (i.e. Big Data, Blockchain) and critically evaluate how those developments are impacting on the finance and accounting industry in the UK.
(1000 words)
(30 marks)
(LOs: 1, &4)
SECTION B
Question 1
R Howard, Engineers are considering an investment programme. It has a choice of three projects each of which cost £90,000, but capital is limited in supply to £90,000. The firm’s existing return on capital is 15% and, in this case, this is assumed to be their cost of capital for appraisal purposes.
| Project A | Project B | Project C | |
| Hydraulic Ramps Workshop | Modification to metal cutting machine | Special Delivery vehicle | |
| Year | £ | £ (90,000) 22,000 26,000 27,000 29,000 35,000 | £ |
| 0 | (90,000) | (90,000) | |
| 1 | 17,000 | 28,000 | |
| 2 | 29,000 | 26,000 | |
| 3 | 38,000 | 36,000 | |
| 4 | 28,000 | 28,000 | |
| 5 | 29,000 | 28,000 | |
You are required to:
- Calculate the PBP, NPV and IRR for each project
(12 marks)
- Recommend with reasons, which project you would undertake (if either)
(3 marks)
(15 marks) (250words)
(LOs: 1, 2 & 3)
Question 2
Engineering R Us Ltd is considering three possible investment projects, X, Y and Z. The expected pattern of cash flows for each project is as follows:
| Initial Outlay | (£900) | (£1000) | (£1100) |
| Year 1 | £550 | £500 | £450 |
| Year 2 | £200 | £350 | £400 |
| Year 3 | £300 | £370 | £550 |
| Year 4 | £400 | £500 | £670 |
The business has a cost of capital of 11 per cent and the investment budget for the year has just been restricted to £1,2 million. This means it is possible to undertake one project only.
Required
Using the Profitability Index method which investment project should the business undertake?
(10 Marks)
(250 words)
(LOs: 1, 2 & 3)
End of questions
Formative Feedback
You have the opportunity to submit a draft response to receive formative feedback.
The feedback is designed to help you develop areas of your work and it helps you develop your skills as an independent learner.
If you are a distance learning student, you should submit your work, by email, to your tutor, no later than 2 weeks before the actual submission deadline. If you are a blended learning student, your tutor will give you a deadline for formative feedback and further details.
Formative feedback will not be given to work submitted after the above date or the date specified by your tutor – if a blended learning student.
Referencing Guidance
You MUST underpin your analysis and evaluation of the key issues with appropriate and wide ranging academic research and ensure this is referenced using the AU Harvard System (s)
Follow this link to find the referencing guides for your subject: Arden Library
Submission Guidance
Assignments submitted late will not be accepted and will be marked as a 0% fail.
Your assessment can be submitted as a single Word (MS Word) or PDF file, or, as multiple files.
If you chose to submit multiple files, you must name each document as the question/part you are answering along with your student number ie Q1 Section A STUXXXX. If you wish to overwrite your submission or one of your submissions, you must ensure that your new submission is named exactly the same as the previous in order for the system to overwrite it.
You must ensure that the submitted assignment is all your own work and that all sources used are correctly attributed. Penalties apply to assignments which show evidence of academic unfair practice. (See the Student Handbook which is available on the A-Z key information on iLearn.)
Assessment Criteria (Learning objectives covered – all.
| Level 7 is characterised by an expectation of students’ expertise in their specialism. Students are semi-autonomous, demonstrating independence in the negotiation of assessment tasks (including the major project) and the ability to evaluate, challenge, modify and develop theory and practice. Students are expected to demonstrate an ability to isolate and focus on the significant features of problems and to offer synthetic and coherent solutions, with some students producing original or innovative work in their specialism that is potentially worthy of publication by Arden University. A clear appreciation of ethical considerations (as appropriate) is also a prerequisite. | ||
| Grade | Mark Bands | Generic Assessment Criteria |
| Distinction | 80%+ | Outstanding analysis of key issues and concepts/. Outstanding development of conceptual structures and argument, making consistent use of scholarly conventions. Outstanding research skills, independence of thought, an extremely high level of intellectual rigour and consistency, exceptional expressive / professional skills, and outstanding creativity and originality. Outstanding academic/intellectual skills. Work pushes the boundaries of the discipline and demonstrates an awareness of relevant ethical considerations. Work may be considered for publication by Arden university. |
| 70-79% | Excellent analysis of key issues and concepts/. Excellent development of conceptual structures and argument, making consistent use of scholarly conventions. Excellent research skills, independence of thought, an extremely high level of intellectual rigour and consistency, exceptional expressive / professional skills, and substantial creativity and originality. Excellent academic/intellectual skills. Work pushes the boundaries of the discipline and demonstrates an awareness of relevant ethical considerations. Work may be considered for publication by Arden university.. | |
| Merit | 60-69% | Very good level of competence demonstrated. High level of theory application. Very good analysis of key issues and concepts. Development of conceptual structures and argument making consistent use of scholarly conventions. Some evidence of original thought and a general awareness of relevant ethical considerations. |
| Pass | 55-59% | A good performance. A good knowledge of key issues and concepts. Fairly descriptive, with some analysis of existing scholarly material, and some argument development. Limited evidence of original thought. Some awareness of relevant ethical considerations. Good professional skills (where appropriate). |
| Pass | 50-54% | A satisfactory performance. Basic knowledge of key issues and concepts. Generally descriptive, with restricted analysis of existing scholarly material and little argument development. Use of scholarly conventions inconsistent. The work lacks original thought. Limited awareness of relevant ethical considerations. Satisfactory professional skills (where appropriate). |
| Marginal Fail | 40-49% | Limited research skills impede use of learning resources and problem solving. Significant problems with structure/accuracy in expression. Very weak academic professional skills. Limited use of scholarly conventions. Errors in expression and the work may lack structure overall |
| Clear Fail | 39% and below | A poor performance in which there are substantial gaps in knowledge and understanding, underpinning theory and ethical considerations. Little evidence of research skills, use of learning resources and problem solving. Major problems with structure/ accuracy in expression. Professional skills not present. Very weak academic professional skills. No evidence of use of scholarly conventions. |
Get expert help for BUS7015 Financial Management Assessment and many more. 24X7 help, plag free solution. Order online now!
