Corporate Reporting

Plagiarism All submissions should be your own, original work.
You must submit an electronic copy of your work. Your submission will be electronically
checked.
Harvard
Referencing
The Harvard Referencing System must be used.
Learning
Outcomes
On successful completion of this assignment you will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the business combination framework and its application to published
accounts
2. Construct and critically analyse consolidated financial statements.
3. Compute values for various forms of financial instruments based on their categorisation
and analyse their impacts on financial statements of business entities.
Your Task The purpose of the assignment is to apply the concepts and techniques learned throughout
the course.
The first step of the final assignment, i.e. the Project, of the Corporate Reporting module
requires the preparation of a Research Proposal according to the instructions provided
below. Then, the second step of the final assignment is the preparation and submission of
the Project itself.
For the first step, i.e. the Research Proposal (weighting: 35%) the student has to:
1. Select one company (“A”):
 Whose financial statements have been prepared according to the International
Financial and reporting Standards (IFRS)
 Listed on a major Stock Exchange – for example the London Stock Exchange (LSE)
– and
 Which has acquired another firm (“B”) in the last 2 years
The choice has to be agreed with the moderator of the course in order to confirm
suitability. Individual and consolidated financial statements must show at least one financial
instrument,
2. Write a proposal about a research paper aimed at analysing:
 How the consolidated financial statements (“A” + “B”) have been prepared in terms
of financial accounting rules applied for the consolidation
 Discuss how the combined financial instruments (“A” + “B”) have been harmonised
and calculate one of the financial instruments using an alternative method
Guidance
Lines
Please read all questions and information provided carefully. Answer should be made in
appropriate length keeping in view the requirement of each question and total word counts
allowed.
In addition, your assignment should demonstrate the following qualities:
A critical appreciation of relevant literature and its use to support argument, substantiate
calculations and other aspects of the assignment.
Taking ownership of the content, being prepared to debate and argue a personal position,
and providing evidence of evaluative skills. A submission made up of extracts from
published sources that is descriptive or simply just theoretical regurgitation is not
acceptable. Your submission must have interpretation and consideration of the challenges
and issues of taking theory into practice.
Logical flow of ideas and treatment; appropriate selection of real world factors related to
the companies under scrutiny.
Evidence of additional personal research, and the ability to analyse material from a variety
of appropriate relevant perspectives.
Presentation, structure, appropriateness of methodology, breaking into section
headings/subheadings, tidiness.
Marks will be awarded for proper referencing and originality of work. Also note that
plagiarism is a serious offence and your submission will be electronically checked.
Your report must be handed in electronically no later than given date of submission
Word Limit Research Proposal: 1,200 words
An outstanding/excellent response to the task. The work demonstrates most or all of the
following characteristics in relation to those expected at the given level of study within the
discipline:  In-depth understanding, exploration, insight and/or research  All
specifications for the assessment task, including word limit/time limit where appropriate,
have been adhered to  The organisation, structure and standard of presentation of the
work, including referencing are excellent/exempl ary throughout  The work has been
approached and/or executed/perfor med in an original way  Inspirational, innovative and
authoritative – insightful contextualisation including relevant theory / literature/ artifacts/
performance  Evidence of high to very high quality analysis, synthesis, evaluation and
critical appraisal  Demonstrates high to very high levels of initiative, personal
responsibility, decision-making and achievement