Reference no: EM132430173

OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Accounting and Finance (RQF)

Unit 01: Investment Analysis

Reference Number - R/615/3236

Learning Outcomes
1. Understand different types of securities
2. Understand the regulation of security trading and new issues in world markets
3. Be able to apply principles of investment theory, securities and market analysis
4. Understand the principles of taxation
5. Understand the laws and regulations controlling the financial services industry
6. Be able to plan, manage and review client portfolios

Investment Analysis

Part A

Tim & Co is building a new factory in Yorkshire, England. They must pay a final construction payment of £ 9,000,000 in six months' time.

Foreign exchange and interest rate quotations are as follows:

You can trade at the following prices:
Spot rate, euro € per British pound sterling £	€1.4876/£
One year forward exchange rate	€1.4906/£
One - year euro interest rate	4.10 %
One year pounds' sterling interest rate	3.55%

Required:

Prepare a portfolio of evidence that addresses the following questions.
1. Is covered interest arbitrage worthwhile? If so, explain the steps and compute the profit based on an initial transaction of £9,000,000. Briefly discuss your findings. (LO 5)
2. Identify laws and regulations controlling the financial services industry. (LO 5)
3. Assess the principles of direct and indirect taxation and review the implications on a range of business stakeholders. (LO 4)
4. Evaluate the key characteristics of different types of securities and assess the strengths and weaknesses of the securities. (LO 1)

Part B

Air UK & Co PLC is an airline service company listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is based in the UK.
It is a low-cost carrier and has firmly established itself as the UK's leading low fares scheduled passenger airline.

The primary objective of Air UK & Co is to offer airline services at low fares to generate more passenger traffic, whilst maintaining the focus on cost containment and operating efficiencies.

As the strategies, they developed have stimulated demand, Air UK and Co is now looking to invest in another listed company on the LSE which belongs to the economy / value class airline services and provides passengers with an economy class air travel experience.

For this assignment, you are the finance manager of Air UK and Co and are required to develop the business proposal.

Prepare a comprehensive presentation to assess the viability of the business expansion project. The following requirements need to be addressed when preparing the presentation.
• Review the regulations, policies and procedures used when trading in securities. (LO 2)
• Identify, analyse and review issues in global markets including the London Stock Exchange.(LO 2)
• Evaluate the portfolio management in relation to the investment according to the customer profile and needs. (LO 6)
• Justify appropriate types of savings and investments for the hypothetical expansion of Air UK & Co airline services. (LO 6)
• Explain the principles of investment theory and evaluate the use of securities. (LO 3)
• Demonstrate the underlying concepts of market analysis and efficiency. (LO 3)

Unit 02: Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance

Reference Number - Y/615/3237

Learning Outcomes
1. Understand laws and practices in a national and international context
2. Understand the nature and importance of corporate governance and ethical behavior
3. Be able to assess the impact of financial reporting on a business organisation's stakeholders
4. Understand the principal approaches of governance and assessment of risk
5. Be able to communicate complex issues in CSR and governance

Corporate Social Responsibility and Governance

You are required to choose a Public Limited Company on which to base your assignment. You are advised to check with your tutor that your choice of company is appropriate.

Tasks:

Prepare an information guide, to be used by stakeholders in your chosen business sector. You must include the following in your information sheet.
1. An identification and assessment of key laws and practices in both a national and international context. You should include practical examples based on the company you have researched. (LO 1)
2. An explanation of the importance of corporate governance and ethical behavior. (LO 2)
3. An evaluation of the ethical issues arising in relation to corporate activities and a review of any solutions to overcome these issues. (LO 2)
4. An identification and assessment of the impact of financial reporting on the stakeholders of your chosen company. (LO 3)
5. An identification of principal approaches of governance which must include a review of how risk can be managed to achieve effective corporate governance. (LO 4)
6. An identification of CSR and governance issues relating to your chosen company. (LO 5)

Unit 03: Global Finance and Strategy

Reference Number D/615/3238

Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the concept of globalisation
2. Understand the impact of the global business environment on national and multinational business organisations
3. Be able to construct strategies that will result in the enhancement of organisational value
4. Be able to evaluate the financial consequences of strategic decisions
5. Understand appropriate sources of finance
6. Be able to review techniques to manage global risk
7. Be able to assess potential investment decisions and global strategies

Global Finance and Strategy

The case study below illustrates how Syngenta, a company created from the fusion of two agronomical divisions of two conglomerates, plans its investments with the help of analytical tools such as the Average Rate of Return (ARR) and the Payback Period.

Case study

Formed in 2000 by the merger of the agronomical divisions of Zeneca and Novartis, Syngenta is one of the world's leading suppliers of seeds and crop protection systems. A multinational company, Syngenta employs 26,000 people across 90 countries. In 2010, its sales exceeded $11 billion. Syngenta's mission is ‘bringing plant potential to life'. It uses the latest science and technology to develop products that help its customers improve crop productivity. Syngenta's products are used by farmers to protect crops against weeds, pests and fungal diseases. The company's herbicides, pesticides and fungicides are usually based on complex chemicals. To develop products that can improve farm output without damaging the natural environment requires intensive Research and Development (R&D). To protect its investment, Syngenta obtains patents for its new products.

In 2008, Syngenta was faced with a major investment decision. As the Amistar range of fungicides moved through its product life cycle, its maximum capacity was approached. Syngenta could not produce more Amistar without investing in its production facilities. A proposal was put forward to expand production through a £150 million investment at the Grangemouth site in Scotland. The company had to decide whether increasing production would be financially viable and a worthwhile investment.

Part A

The table below shows estimated cash flow for the Grangemouth expansion project.

Cash flows (£'s million)
Year	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Cash Inflow
Sales		200	400	400	400	400	400	400	400	400
Total Inflow		200	400	400	400	400	400	400	400	400
Cash Outflow
Investment	150
Manufacturing Costs		80	160	160	160	160	160	160	160	160
Sales and Marketing		15	30	30	30	30	30	30	30	30
Other Costs		25	25
Total Outflow	150	120	215	190	190	190	190	190	190	190
Net cash flow	-150	80	185	210	210	210	210	210	210	210

Required:
1. Assess the investment opportunity using payback period and accounting rate of return. Review the advantages and disadvantage of each method. (LO 6)
2. Assess the sources of finance, the Syngenta Company, could have used and evaluate the risks involved on the identified sources. (LO 6)
3. Explain techniques used to mitigate and manage the global risk involved. (LO 6)
4. Discuss the potential financial decisions that can be taken for the investments. (LO 7)
5. Review investment decisions and the strategies applied in the global environment. (LO 4 and LO 7)
6. Use strategic implementation techniques to comment on the decisions made. (LO 3 and LO 7)

Unit 04: Strategic Financial Management

Reference Number - H/615/3242

Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the significance of strategic management and decision making to the performance of a business organisation
2. Understand key financial theories
3. Be able to apply stakeholder analysis and corporate valuation techniques
4. Understand the role of culture in strategic decision making
5. Understand performance measurement systems

Strategic Financial Management

You are required to choose a business organisation with which you are familiar in order to identify the organisation's competitive strategies. In addition, you are required to identify different business organisation in a similar industry to allow for informative comparisons to be made.

You are advised to check with your tutor that your choice of business organizations is appropriate.

Tasks:

Prepare a business report, to be presented to the Directors of your chosen company. You must include the following in your business report:
1. A description of business resources used to meet organisational objectives and key performance measurement systems. (LO 1 and LO 5)
2. An application of theories to review the various internal and external organisational factors affecting your chosen organisations. (LO 1)
3. An explanation of the financial analysis techniques used by business organisations. (LO 5)
4. An application of financial analysis systems and techniques to analyse the final accounts of your chosen business organisations. You should review the Annual Reports of the two business organisations that you have studied. (LO 5)
5. An evaluation of the role of culture in strategic decision making in business organisations. (LO 4)
6. An evaluation of key financial theories. (LO 2)
7. An assessment of strategic implementation techniques using balanced scorecard and portfolio management tools. (LO 2)
8. An application of stakeholder analysis for your chosen business organisation. (LO 3)
This should include:
a. An analysis of the significance of stakeholder analysis.
b. An explanation of business expansion methods and their impact on stakeholders.
c. An application of stakeholder analysis to a named business organisation.
d. Return and risk computations.
e. An explanation of the concepts of corporate and business valuation techniques.
9. An explanation of the concepts of corporate and business valuation techniques - you should include exemplar return and risk computations where appropriate. (LO 3)

Unit 05: Strategic Audit

Reference Number - Y/615/3240

Learning Outcomes
1. Understand historic and current auditing processes and procedures
2. Understand the importance of legal and professional requirements when completing an audit
3. Understand audit strategy
4. Understand the risk involved in the audit process
5. Understand current developments in auditing

Strategic Audit

For the purpose of this assignment, you have been employed by a large auditing firm as a senior audit practitioner. The audit firm specializes in audit and assurance services across a relatively large geographic area.

You have been asked to prepare a presentation and accompanying business report can be presented to new members of the audit firm. You are required to include the following information in your presentation and / or accompanying notes.

1. A review of historic and current auditing processes and procedures. You are advised to include practical examples based on an audit firm you have researched. (LO 1)
2. A review of current developments in auditing and an assessment of the importance of the current development in audit processes. (LO 5)
3. An assessment of the rules of professional conduct for auditors. (LO 1)
4. An explanation and assessment of the importance of legal and professional requirements for auditors working in an audit firm. (LO 2)
5. An analysis of audit strategies used in business organizations with an assessment of the effectiveness of audit monitoring processes. (LO 3)
6. A discussion of the risk involved in the audit process and a review of measures to minimize identified risk. (LO 4)
7. An explanation of the link between account preparation and audits completed. (LO 4)

Unit 06: Corporate Reporting

Reference Number D/615/3241

Learning Outcomes
1. Understand the accounting and finance regulatory framework
2. Understanding accounting concepts, principles and theories
3. Be able to prepare and interpret accounting information
4. Be able to demonstrate specific policies, practices and regulations within corporate accounting

Corporate Reporting

Corporate reporting is an area of Accounting and Finance that incorporates Regulatory Framework, Financial Reporting and Ethical considerations.

You are required to choose a Public Limited Company on which to base your assignment. You are advised to check with your tutor that your choice of company is appropriate.

Tasks:
Prepare a formal business report, to be presented to the Directors of your chosen company. You must include the following:
1. An identification of the main sources for regulatory framework, accounting and corporate concepts, principles and theories. (LO 1 and LO 2)
2. An explanation of the impact of the accounting and finance framework on business organisations in general and your chosen company. (LO 1)
3. Identify, review and assess specific policies, practices and regulations for your business and the business sector it operates within. (LO 4)
4. An assessment of areas of abuse and exploitation in accounting and financial reporting.
(LO 1)
5. An assessment of the importance of accounting concepts, principles and theories. (LO 2)
6. An interpretation and assessment of the published accounting information of your chosen company. You should prepare additional accounting information, for example ratios, in your interpretation and assessment.
You should analyse and assess the following financial statements:
a. Income Statement
b. Statement of Financial Position
c. Cash Flow Statements

Attachment:- Diploma in Accounting and Finance.rar