Financial Analysis

Unit code: BAO5734 | Study level: Postgraduate
Credit points
12
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
City Campus
VU Brisbane
VU Online
VU Sydney
Prerequisites
N/A
Overview
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Overview

Financial acumen is an important skill for managers in the complex local and global business environment. The unit takes a multidisciplinary approach to develop advanced analytical, planning and decision making skills. This unit proposes a theoretical framework for effective and efficient use of financial statement information for business analysis. It identifies and evaluates: financial statements, business strategies, financial data, and growth of the business. This framework is then applied to a variety of complex decision making contexts including security analysis, credit analysis, merger and acquisition analysis, and management communications analysis.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

  1. Adapt an analytical framework to interpret, prepare, and communicate of financial reports which evaluate past performance and future prospects for sustainable value creation;
  2. Interpret and communicate relevant, reliable and comprehensible performance information on external and internal factors critical to sustainable value creation (such as financial and non-financial key performance indicators (KPIs));
  3. Critically review the elements that shape value creation and triple bottom-line performance (including competitive environment, strategy, structure and value-creating activities) and translate them to disciplinary and professional practice;
  4. Critically reflect as part of a team on the broad range of elements that frame corporate values; and,
  5. Participate in an academic community through reflective and critical engagement in academic texts and understanding of principles of academic integrity.

Assessment

For Melbourne campuses

Assessment type: Case Study
|
Grade: 15%
Financial ratio analysis and summary report
Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 35%
Company analysis report
Assessment type: Project
|
Grade: 50%
Financial analysis project: report (35%) and presentation (15%) (Group)
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules (Hurdle)

Other locations

For students studying at VU Online
Assessment type: Assignment
|
Grade: 10%
Preparation of brief to recommend the most appropriate source of financing
Assessment type: Report
|
Grade: 40%
Financial ratio analysis
Assessment type: Presentation
|
Grade: 50%
Recommendation based on analysis to either undertake/not undertake a project
Assessment type: Other
|
Grade: 0%
Evidence of completion of the Academic Integrity Modules (Hurdle)

This unit will adopt a student-centred learning model where learning comes from network of relationships between instructors, peers, and industry sources. Peer support and information exchange will be facilitated by online learning through the VU Online Learning Management System. It is expected that students allocate approximately 8 hours per week for online activities and independent study.



REQUIRED TEXTS:All resources will reside in the LMS and will be co-designed by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Learning Designer (LD). No purchase of textbooks required.

Required reading

Business analysis and valuation: Using financial statements
Palepu, K.G., Healy, P.M., Wright, S., Bradbury, M., & Coulton, J. (2021).| (Asia-Pacific) Cengage Learning.

As part of a course

This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):

Graduate Certificate in Business
BTBU | Graduate certificate | Duration: 8 months
Graduate Certificate in Business Administration
BTPF | Graduate certificate | Duration: 0.5 years
Graduate Certificate in Finance
BTFF | Graduate certificate | Duration: 8 months
Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
BGPB | Graduate diploma | Duration: 1 year
Master of Business Administration
BMPF | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 1.5 years
Master of Business Administration (Global)
BMAG | Masters (coursework) degree | Duration: 2 years

Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course. VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this unit information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that unit information is current with the Student Contact Centre.

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