AK/ADMS 4590 Comprehensive Cases and Multi-Subject Accounting Problems
Course Outline – Summer 2014
Instructors:
Section / Day / Time / Location / Instructor / Start DateA / Monday / 7-10 pm / ACW106 / Narmin Multani
/ May 5th, 2014
B / Thursday / 7-10 pm / ACW106 / Mark Kohler
/ May 8th, 2014
Course Website:
Section A:
Section B:
If the links are broken go to and follow the links to access your desired course website.
Office Hours: by appointment
Course Objective:
This is a capstone course with the intention to integrate various accounting disciplines, including financial accounting, audit, management accounting, finance and tax through the use of case studies. Through group discussions and individual case writing, students are expected to develop a solid foundation in the application of technical accounting knowledge to business scenarios and to writing business case responses.
Since class participation is essential in a case study setting, students are strongly encouraged to participate in both small group and class discussions. To facilitate class discussions, students are expected to have read the respective cases prior to each class session.
Learning Objectives:
After completion of this course, students should be able to distinguish between substance and form of an accounting problem, be able to understand how management motivations influence their choice of accounting policies and the impact on audit planning. Students are expected to develop analytical skills in analyzing accounting problems, and be able to make arguments based on first principles.
Furthermore, students should be able to identify and choose among different quantitative tools to help them analyze and make appropriate recommendations given some business scenarios.
Finally, students are expected to develop an understanding of an accountant’s role in different contexts (auditing, consulting, regulating, and managing).
Prerequisites:
This course enables students to apply their technical knowledge to complex accounting problems. Students will be required to interrelate the knowledge obtained from individual subject areas in order to identify problems, analyze data and formulate recommendations for action. Prerequisites: 1) For students in an Honours program, 78 credits including AP/ADMS 3510 3.00, AP/ADMS 3530 3.00, AP/ADMS 4510 3.00 (or AP/ADMS 4511 3.00 or AP/ADMS 4520 3.00), AP/ADMS 4551 3.00 (or AP/ADMS 4515 3.00), and AP/ADMS 4561 3.00 (or AP/ADMS 3520 3.00). Co-requisite: AP/ADMS 4562 3.00. or
2) for other students, these above-listed courses and an average grade of C+ or better in AP/ADMS 3585 3.00 and AP/ADMS 3595 3.00. Course credit exclusions: None. PRIOR TO FALL 2009: Prerequisites: 1) For students in an Honours program, 78 credits including AK/ADMS 3510 3.00, AK/ADMS 3530 3.00, AK/ADMS 4510 3.00 (or AK/ADMS 4511 3.00; or AK/ADMS 4520 3.00 and AK/ADMS 4530 3.00), AK/ADMS 4551 3.00, AK/ADMS 4561 3.00 (or AK/ADMS 3520 3.00) and AK/ADMS 4562 3.00, or 2) for other students, these above-listed courses and an average grade of C+ or better in AK/ADMS 3585 3.00 and AK/ADMS 3595 3.00. Course credit exclusion: AK/ADMS 4590 3.00.
PLEASE NOTE:
THE SCHOOL OF ADMINISTRATIVE STUDIES RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DE-ENROL ANY STUDENT WHEN IT IS DETERMINED THAT A STUDENT HAS REQUESTED A COURSE WITHOUT HAVING THE NECESSARY LISTED PREREQUISITES.
ANY ENQUIRIES REGARDING PREREQUISITES SHOULD BE CLEARED PRIOR TO REGISTRATION.
Required Text:
All cases and topic support materials to be used in class are included in the course kit available at the bookstore. Other material is on the course website.
Recommended Text:
The CICA Handbook (most current version). This is not a required text but is strongly recommended. The CICA Handbook is now available online through York Libraries.
Grading and Examinations
Class Participation 10%
Class Presentation10%
Midterm #1 – June 8th, 10am-12pm15%
Midterm #2 – June29th,2pm-4pm15%
Final Exam40%
Hand in Assignment 10%
Total 100%
- 10% for completion of an assigned class case by Week 12 of ADMS 4590 classes.
- 10% for participation, attendance and for completion each week that there is an assigned case (starting in week 2) of an Issue Analysis Paper (single sheet IAP) by your group as a hand-in sheet to the instructor.
- 10% for in class group presentation on a case assigned by the instructor
Class Format
Most classes will consist of group discussions and class discussions along with class presentations. Every student is expected to contribute by actively engaging in both group and class discussions. Participation marks of up to 10% will be assigned for participation in discussions, attendance and for completion each week that there is an assigned case (starting in week 2) of an Issue Analysis Paper (single sheet IAP) by your group as a hand-in sheet. Students failing to attend classes on a regular basis and hence not participating in class discussions will receive a failing participation grade (i.e. out of the total assigned within the 10%). Finally, students who attend classes regularly and actively participate in class discussions will do well out of the portion of the 10% not assigned to the IAPs. Note that the instructor will take into account degree of participation, and contribution to class discussions (e.g., through discussion of the Handbook Section, Reading and Case) when assessing non-IAP participation grades.
Midterm Examinations
Midterm examinations will consist of case simulation(s). Students may bring with them a simple function calculator, a one-page cheat sheet (hand written or typed, back and front). No other materials are allowed. There are no make-up exams or alternate sittings of the midterms.
If you are unable to attend a midterm examination, you must inform the instructor via email on or before the day of the exam. All absences must be supported by documentation provided within one week of the missed examination date.
If a midterm examination is missed due to a valid reason such as illness or other reason approved by the Course Director, the midterm weight will be added to the final examination weight.
The documentation required to support this reallocation is as follows:
- For illness, a completed medical form (Attending Physician’s Statement) provided by the Registrar’s Office:
OR for another valid reason, the documentation requested by the Course Director,
AND
- A signed statement stating that you are aware that your final examination will be worth 55% (if the first midterm examination is missed) or 60% (if the second midterm examination is missed). This signed statement is to be attached to the documentation provided in (1) above.
Please note that a “doctor’s note”, typically written on a prescription pad, is not acceptable. The only acceptable documentation for illness is an Attending Physician’s Statement dated within two days of the missed examination.
Final Exam Review:
Review of final exams in this course will be handled centrally by the School of Administrative Studies. There will be no individual reviews with the professor. Deadlines for exam review are set at the end of each term, but are normally complete by the end of the month following the exam period. Students should contact the School of Administrative Studies (416-736-2100) within two weeks of the new term in order to arrange for viewing.
Deferred Standing – Missed Final Examinations
Students who are unable to write their final examination at the scheduled time may be granted Deferred Standing in the course via either:
Following the Deferred Exam Request procedures outlined in the following link:
OR
Petition through your home faculty – if you submit beyond 7 days of the missed examination, if your DSA request is not approved, or if you are requesting an extension of an existing DSA.
Please ensure that you observe relevant deadlines for submission of petitions for deferred standing. [Note: The usual deadline is the end of the first month of the next academic term, but it is the student’s responsibility to confirm petition deadlines with his/her home faculty.]
Course Schedule
Date / Case / Concepts/ReadingsWeek 1
May 5/8 / Home Vintners / Accounting issues- ASPE,
corporate governance, management decision making, Pervasive issues, Case Writing
Week 2
May 12/15 / Holla Appliances Limited / IFRS vs. ASPE, Management compensation, Profitability analysis
Week 3
May 26/22 / Dr Bob. / Tax, Assurance procedures, IT controls and general controls
Week 4
June 2/May 29 / Steinbosen Pianos / ASPE- Accounting Issues-Revenue Recognition, Related party Transactions, Accounting issues, Audit, Tax
Week 5
June 9/5 / Ball Construction / Accounting issues IFRS, audit engagement issues, materially, reports, MD&A, pervasive issues.
Midterm Exam #1 / Sunday June 8th 10am-12 pm
Week 6
June 16/12 / Central Air / Governance, Strategy, Risk Management- Risks and opportunities, Assurance- due diligence, Accounting Issues- IFRS,
Week 7
June 23/19 / Memorial City School Board / Finance- Quantitative analysis, Governance- risks, Assurance- Procedures, Pervasive Qualities
Week 8
June 30/26 / ASAP / Performance measurement- quantitative analysis, Assurance- special reports, Control weakness IT and Management decision making, Pervasive qualities
Midterm Exam #2 / Sunday June 29th2PM-4PM
Week 9
July 7/3 / Fitness Elitists Inc. / Accounting issues ASPE, control issues, assurance, finance, pervasive issues
Week 10
July 14/10 / Recyclo Limited / Comprehensive Problem
Week 11
July 21/17 / Group assignment
Week 12
July 28/24
Hand in Group Assignment / Comprehensive Review
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