Reference no: EM131830637

ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE ASSIGNMENT

PURPOSE - Course BUACC1508 is concerned primarily with the use of accounting information.  The main purpose of this assignment is to provide students with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the semester to a practical task involving the use of 'real-world' accounting information. In particular this will enable you to gain insights into and information about the business of Billabong Limited, a merchandiser of surfwear and other outdoor action clothing, using the published financial statements of the company as your primary data source.  This is intended to consolidate students' accounting knowledge and skills.  Students are required to complete the assignment in groups of three or four and this is intended to foster the development of the co-operative work skills that will be of importance in most employment contexts.

ASSESSMENT DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS - Students are to organise themselves into groups of three or four to complete the assignment and do not have automatic entitlement to adopt some other arrangement (such as completing the assignment individually or in a larger group).  Students who have difficulty finding a partner or who encounter other difficulties (for example, their partner withdraws from the course) should consult the Course Coordinator.  There is no requirement that your partner be from the same tutorial group as yourself.

The basic requirement is to make a general analysis of the profitability, efficiency, liquidity, gearing (leverage), and investment performance of Billabong Limited using the information available in the company's 2015 annual report available available at Billaboing Annual Report 2016.

Students are to use the 'Consolidated' data in conducting their analysis.  Note that the 2016 annual report contains comparative data for the year 2015.  The assignment will contain two main elements:

SCHEDULE(S) OF RELEVANT RATIOS AND OTHER USEFUL CALCULATIONS - The schedule(s) of relevant ratios and other useful calculations should be incorporated in one or more appendices.  Ratios and other calculations should be presented so as to facilitate comparison between 2016 and 2015 data.  Students are advised to show the calculations used in determining particular ratios and other figures.

A WRITTEN REPORT - The written report should:

• Explain briefly what is revealed by the ratios and other calculations in the context of the company's profitability, efficiency, liquidity, gearing (leverage) and investment performance.  In particular, any important changes from 2015 to 2016 should be identified, discussed and, where possible, explained.
• Provide an overall assessment of the company from the perspective of existing and potential equity investors (shareholders).

SUGGESTED REPORT FORMAT AND APPROACH -

SECTIONS IN REPORT: Complete assignment in appropriate report format. Suggested report structure and headings:

I. TITLE PAGE

II. TABLE OF CONTENTS

III. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

IV. BACKGROUND: COMPANY OVERVIEW

V. ANALYSIS

VI. CONCLUSIONS AND FINDINGS

VII. RECOMMENDATIONS

VIII. APPENDIXES

IX. REFERENCES

ANALYSIS APPROACH - In particular, any important changes from 2015 to 2016 should be identified, discussed and, where possible, explained. This may include amongst other aspects discussion and analysis of:

• Key results/trends from the ratio calculations
• Implications of your findings on the various
• Possible reasons and explanations behind the company's fianacial performance and results
• Strategic implications for the company
• Strategies to improve the companies financial performance and results and also improve investor (shareholder/member) confidence.

Attachment:- Assignment File.rar