ACC4000H - Business Analysis & Governance

Course Outline:

This course aims to enable students to integrate and contextualise the technical knowledge gained in their accounting courses within the South African business environment. This is a capstone course which reflects on and integrates the technical subject matter included in the four core disciplines included in the Chartered Accountant BCom programmes (Financial Reporting, Managerial Accounting & Finance, Auditing and Taxation) in a highly contextualised and integrative manner. Inter-related aspects of these disciplines are traced through the Annual Financial Statements and Integrated Reports of several listed South African Companies, focusing on the analysis and interpretation of the results and disclosures, financial management and governance of the selected companies, in the context of their respective business environments. Topic areas covered include the analysis and interpretation of company results, reports and disclosures in the context of the entity’s economic, industry, operating and business environment; preparation of financial forecasts and analysis thereof; valuations including consideration of relevant risks and assurance procedures; financial management, governance and financial reporting aspects of a merger/acquisition and relating to a business in financial distress; capital structure, dividend policy, financing and cash management, risk management, governance, internal control, disclosures and sustainability reporting of the entity; key reporting, governance and financial management concerns of certain specialised industries such as, banking, mining, pension funds and unit trusts; report writing for a designated audience or from an appropriate role in relation to any of the broad areas covered in the course.