Assessment Information – Trimester 1, 2017
Subject Code: ACCM 4300
Subject Name: Financial Accounting & Reporting 2
Assessment Title: Teamwork Assignment
Weighting: 25%
Due Date:
Team Presentation: During week 9, week beginning 15th May 2017 in the lecture/tutorial session
Written Memo: Due Monday of Week 10 – 22nd May 2017 by 19:55 PM (AEDT) to be submitted electronically via the student portal.
Note: The above time is AEDT. Brisbane and Adelaide must allow for
time difference.
.Assessment Description
Learning Outcome 4: Develop written and oral communication strategies to enable the effective presentation of accounting information to accountants and non-accountants.
Required:
Work in teams (groups) of 3 (4 with prior approval from your lecturer – if your lecturer has not approved a team of 4 the work you do will not be considered/marked) and write a memorandum (“memo”) to the board of directors (assume the members of the board have varying degrees of accounting knowledge or understanding) and then present your findings addressing the issues noted in the assignment details.
Your team presentation will be limited to 10 minutes (13 minutes for 4 members if applicable) and each member of the team must present a part of it demonstrating individual oral presentation skills. A separate mark will be given to each member of the team for individual presentation skills. You must discuss the selection of teams with your lecturer who may decide to allocate you into teams or form teams using a random process.
The Assignment is designed to test the following skills:
1. Your knowledge and your ability to research the issues and then apply the information appropriately using judgement
2. Your communication skills and teamwork: team presentations and written: memo writing.
Part A Technical Component (15%) – This mark covers the technical content of your advice and the explanation on each of the issues, the calculations and the sources and references used, and the format of the memo as well as the group technical knowledge during the presentation.
Part B Professional Competency Skills: Communication Skills – Oral presentations (10%) – This mark covers the presentation skills of the individual student of 5% and a team mark of 5% for the content, structure and visual aids for the presentation.
Please make sure you follow the guidelines relating to presentation of written work, late policy and academic integrity. Please familiarise yourself with the assessment marking rubric (attached) to guide you in how you can score marks.
ACCM 4300FAR2/3T2016/MIR
Details of Assignment:
The class will be grouped into (ideally) teams of 3. You must discuss the selection of teams with your lecturer who may decide to allocate you into teams or form teams using a random process. Your lecturer may accept a team of 4 members – but you need to discuss this with your lecturer, obtain approval and finalise your team members.
Select a set of financial statements for a group of companies and obtain approval from your lecturer for the group of companies that you have selected. Please note that two teams may not work on the same group of companies so if another team has already registered their interest in the particular group of companies you will be requested to select a different group of companies.
Read the annual report including the financial statements of the group and write a memorandum (a report format will not be marked) to the board of directors clearly explaining some of the technical aspects of consolidation. Make sure that you draw on the selected group of companies’ specific details to explain the intricacies of consolidation to the board, and as much as possible avoid answering in general terms.
Some of the aspects that you need to cover as a team are:
1. The composition of the group; namely the subsidiaries, associates, any joint ventures and any other significant investments – summarise for the memo
2. Why did the parent entity have to prepare consolidated financial statements when the subsidiary company is a separate legal entity in its own right? Is there a need for disclosure in the financial statements? Legal requirement or otherwise?
3. The non controlling interest – where would you find it in the financial statements and what does it represent? Details of any direct and indirect non controlling interest? What do these mean? Is it important to show them separately? Why or why not?
4. Has there been any goodwill on acquisition? Or any gain on bargain purchase? Where would you find it in the financial statements and what does it mean? Have there been any impairments to assets during the period?
5. Intra-group transactions and balances: How much are they? In which set of financial statements will we be able to locate them? Are they an important part of the consolidation process? Why or why not?
6. Does the group have any foreign subsidiary companies? How have they been accounted for in the financial statements? How have the subsidiary company’s financial statements been translated?
7. Does the published set of group financial statements reveal the company’s policy on any of the following areas, namely Sustainability; Corporate governance; Audit committees; Solvency? If so, where is the information located and why is it included? Is it compulsory to disclose these statements? Why or why not?
8. Any other relevant matter that you may wish the board of directors to make note of in respect of some transaction or event, balance of account or disclosure that will assist them in understanding the financial statements of the group.
Team Presentation
Your team is required to explain the financial statements of the group of companies you have selected to the board of directors making sure you bring to their attention any unusual or interesting information. Please note that it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to present the information relating to the questions above.
Your team presentation will be limited to 10 minutes (per group of 3) and each member of the team must present a part of it demonstrating individual oral presentation skills. A separate mark will be given to each member of the team for individual presentation skills.
Note: You are not required to present your complete answer in the oral presentation by your team but can choose to present a part of your written assignment or alternatively a totally different aspect of the group you have selected within the 10 minute time frame (13 minutes for a group of 4). Remember to work as a team when presenting your company’s information to the board. Team presentations longer than the set limit will be penalised.
Team Meetings
1. The team should have a minimum of three meetings (the team may have as many meetings as they need to) and should maintain minutes of those meetings detailing - 2. Where the meeting was held
3. People present; absent; apologies
4. What was discussed and agreed on;
5. The follow up action relating to each member of the team; 6. Any other relevant matter, things you agreed or disagreed on etc.
The minutes of team meetings should be included as an attachment with the written copy of your assignment – the memo.
Note: The assessment marking rubrics is a separate document and you are advised to read through it to obtain guidance on how the lecturers will mark your assignment.
REQUIRED:
1. Presentation – according to the information given above, each team will make a presentation explaining the financial statements of the group of companies you have selected to the board of directors making sure you bring to their attention any unusual or interesting information.
2. Memo (written submission) from Team - this written document will need to be submitted via ‘Moodle’ and will also include minutes of team meetings – see instructions on the team cover sheet attached.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ End of Assignment ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Team Work Cover Sheet
Team Number: ADE/BRI/MEL/SYD: ……………………………………….….……………………..
Team Name: ………………………………………………………………………………….………….
Student Number Student Name Indicate the
Team Leader
Instructions:
By the end of week 5
Team Number: In creating your team numbers please note to include the location and then your team number; for example, ADE01Team or BRI01Team or MEL01Team…MEL02Team etc., or SYD01Team. Please note to liaise with the lecturer on your campus to get unique team numbers.
Please finalise your team members and your team number with your lecturer by the end of week 5 at the latest. Inform them in class or by email.
Upon submission of the assignment
If you are not the team leader, then you are required to upload this cover sheet only, duly completed to include all the names and student IDs of the team members. Individual members should not upload copies of the assignment.
If you are the team leader, you must upload the assignment including this cover sheet. This assignment will then be marked by the lecturer. The marks awarded will be the same for each member of the team for the “team work” section of the assignment.
Please note that this cover sheet must match the with the team members you previously informed your lecturer of, and must be the same for all team members.
This task has been designed to measure subject learning outcome 4.
Learning Outcome 4: Develop written and oral communication strategies to enable the effective presentation of accounting information to accountants and non-accountants.
The assignment assesses the following outcomes:
1. Your knowledge and your ability to research the issues outlined
2.. Your ability to critically analyse the scenario and use judgement correctly in selecting and designing an appropriate response with suitable references.
3. Professional Competency Skills – Teamwork and Communication skills: oral presentation skills; memo writing skills (Be clear, concise and correct!)
Overall Marks – Assessment 2: Teamwork Presentation and Memo Assignment
Summary: Marks Awarded Marks Available
Part A Technical Content 15.00
Part B Communication Skills 10.00
ASSESSMENT 2 - ASSIGNMENT 25.00
The assessment rubrics below set out the specific criteria that will be used to assess this task and descriptions of different levels of achievement for those criteria. The different levels of achievement for each criterion have a range of marks attached.
To improve your performance, it is helpful to; review the indicators in the rubrics and make sure you understand these in terms of marker expectations
• review marker feedback on your assessments
• review the relevant topics.
In reviewing the topics:
• look in detail at relevant examples
• review relevant learning activities
• review required readings and further resources.
Names: Students IDs:
Assessment 2 Part A - Assignment Rubrics: 15% Technical Content and Memo Format
Components High Distinction
85 – 100%
(Marks 12.75 to 15.0) Distinction
75 - 84%
(Marks 11.25 to 12.74) Credit
65 – 74%
(Marks 10.0 to
11.24) Pass
50 – 64%
(Marks 7.5 to 9.9) Fail
0 – 49%
(Marks 0 to 7.4) Mark
Awarded
(Out of 15)
Written
Memo and
Group
Presentation
skills -
Technical content
15%
(12% Written
Technical and 3%
Technical presentation)
Answers in the wrong
format will not be
marked as
noted in the
assignment
* The Memo clearly identifies and addresses all the technical issues raised, and provides clear, correct and decisive answers displaying an outstanding understanding of each of the technical issues. * It is easy for the client (non-accountants) to understand.
* Oral Presentation as a group had excellent technical content. * Where applicable and appropriate reference has been correctly made to the AASBs, GAAPs and other legislation
* The Memo clearly identifies and addresses most of the technical issues raised by the client and provides clear, correct and decisive advice displaying a good understanding of most of the technical issues. * It is easy for the client (non-accountants) to understand.
* Oral Presentation as a group displayed a good understanding of the technical content. * Where applicable and appropriate, reference has been correctly made to the AASBs, GAAPs and other legislation * The Memo clearly identifies and addresses some of the technical issues raised by the client and provides reasonably clear, correct and decisive advice displaying a reasonably good understanding of some of the technical issues. * It is relatively easy for the client to understand. * Oral Presentation as a group displayed a fairly good understanding of the technical content. * Reference has been made (with gaps) to some of the AASBs, GAAPs and other legislation where applicable * The Memo identifies and addresses some of the technical issues raised by the client and provides fairly clear, but not always correct and/or decisive advice. It displays a reasonable understanding of some of the technical issues raised.
* It is relatively easy for the client to understand. * Oral Presentation as a group displayed a reasonable understanding of the technical content. * Reference has been made (with gaps) to some of the AASBs, GAAPs and other legislation where applicable and/or appropriate *The Memo does not identify or address the technical issues raised by the client It displays a lack of understanding of some
or most of the technical issues raised.
*It is difficult for the client to understand. * It does not give correct clear and/or decisive advice on most of the issues raised and makes little or no reference to the
AASBs, GAAPs and
other legislation where applicable.
*Oral Presentation as a group displayed a lack of or no understanding of the technical content.
Overall Comments on Technical Component:
Total Technical Component /15
Name: Student Number:
Assessment 2 Part B - Assignment Rubrics: 10% Communication Skills – Oral Presentations
Team Communication High Distinction
85 – 100%
(Marks 8.50 to 10.0) Distinction
75 - 84%
(Marks 7.50 to 8.40) Credit
65 – 74%
(Marks 6.50 to 7.40) Pass
50 – 64%
(Marks 6.40 to 5.0) Fail
0 – 49%
(Marks 0 to 4.90) Mark Awarded
(Out of 10)
Language and presentation (delivery)
Individual 50%
• Structure of sentences and paragraphs
• Vocabulary
• Pronunciation
• Evidence of rehearsal
• Nonverbal communication
• Use of notes Sentences are well structured, varied, clear and designed to complement the content
Pronunciation is flawless
Vocabulary is professional, appropriate and extensive
The main points and new technical terms are clearly described and/or explained
Presenter appears fully rehearsed and well prepared
Presenter uses facial expressions, eye contact, paralinguistics, vocalics, gesture, posture and clothing to appear confident and positive
Presenter uses effective strategies to engage the audience and clearly Sentences are mainly well structured and clear
Few errors in pronunciation
Vocabulary is professional and appropriate
The main points and new technical terms are clearly described and/or explained, with few exceptions
Presenter appears rehearsed and well prepared
Presenter uses facial expressions, eye contact, paralinguistics, vocalics, gesture, posture and clothing well, with minor exceptions
Presenter uses good strategies to engage the audience and communicate with them Sentences are mainly well structured and clear with a few errors which compromise meaning
Some errors in pronunciation
Vocabulary is appropriate
The main points and new technical terms are described, with few exceptions
Presenter appears rehearsed and prepared for most of the presentation
Presenter uses facial expressions, eye contact, paralinguistics, vocalics, gesture, posture and clothing well, with some exceptions
Presenter uses some strategies to engage the audience and communicate with them Sentences are mainly well structured
Some errors in pronunciation
Vocabulary is adequate
The main points and new technical terms are clearly described and/or explained, with some exceptions presenter appears somewhat rehearsed
Presenter attempts to use appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, paralinguistics, vocalics, gesture, posture and clothing
Presenter attempts to use some strategies to engage the audience and communicate with them
Presenter frequently refers to notes Sentences are poorly structured
Many errors in pronunciation
Vocabulary is inadequate
The main points and new technical terms are not clearly described and/or explained presenter does not appear well rehearsed
Presenter’s nonverbal communication detracts from presentation
Presenter does not use strategies to engage the audience and communicate with them
Presenter reads presentation directly from notes
Language and presentation of very low
communicate with them
Presenter is not reliant on notes and does not appear to have memorised the presentation Presenter is not reliant on notes Presenter is not reliant on notes but refers to them level.
Not completed
Visual aids (Team/Group)
20%
Presentation of slides – language, format, graphics
Grammar, spelling and punctuation are flawless In-text referencing and reference list format correct
Titles and headings accurately describe the contents
Text bullet pointed and brief (no more than 6 points on a slide)
Graphics are appropriate, labelled and used effectively
Fonts and colours are effective and appropriate and adhere to conventions (eg no more than three colours and readable fonts)
Referencing correct
Grammar, spelling and punctuation have few errors
In-text referencing and reference list format correct, with minor errors Titles and headings accurately describe the contents in most cases Text bullet pointed and brief with some overuse of blocks of text
Graphics are appropriate and labelled
Fonts and colours are effective and appropriate
Referencing correct with minor errors
Grammar, spelling and punctuation have few errors
In-text referencing and reference list format correct, with minor errors Titles and headings accurately describe the contents in most cases Text bullet pointed and brief with some overuse of blocks of text
Graphics are appropriate and labelled
Fonts and colours are effective and appropriate
Referencing correct with some errors
Grammar, spelling and punctuation have some errors
In-text referencing and reference list format correct, with some errors Titles and headings accurately describe the contents with several exceptions
Text often presented in blocks
Graphics are mainly appropriate and labelled
Fonts and colours are not always effective and appropriate
Omissions and errors in referencing
Many errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation In-text referencing and reference list format incorrect or omitted – evidence of plagiarism Titles and headings do not accurately describe the contents
Text not summarised, presented in large, unreadable blocks Graphics are not appropriate and labelled
Fonts and colours are not effective and appropriate No referencing
Powerpoint slides not professionally presented
Not completed
Content and structure
(team/group) 30%
Introduction includes effective background, purpose and overview and catches audience attention Introduction includes effective background, purpose and overview Discussion develops a clear, logical argument Introduction includes background, purpose and overview Discussion develops argument or description Introduction includes some aspects of background, purpose and overview
Discussion develops a Introduction does not provide essential information on topic, e.g. overview Discussion is not
•
• Introduction, discussion and conclusion
Audience awareness Discussion develops a clear, logical argument or description using a structural convention (eg spatial, chronological, problem-solution) Conclusion accurately summarises the presentation and ends on a meaningful, thought provoking note
Content demonstrates audience awareness (accountants and nonaccountants) or description
Conclusion accurately summarises the presentation
Content demonstrates audience awareness with few exceptions
Conclusion summarises the presentation
Content demonstrates audience awareness with some exceptions
clear argument or description Conclusion summarises the presentation
Content demonstrates audience awareness with some significant exceptions
logically structured Conclusion brief or omitted
Content does not demonstrate audience awareness
Presentation is not appropriately structured and does not meet audience information needs
Not completed
Comments on communication skills:
Total Communication Skills Component /10
Individual Marking Sheet
Team Name/Number: ..................................................................................
Students Names: .............................................................................................. Student Nos: ....................................................
Marks Available Marks Awarded Comments
Team work – Technical component: 15.00
Written (Answers in the wrong format will not be marked as noted in the assignment) 12.00
Presentation 3.00
Team work - Presentation 10.00
Content and structure 3.00
Visual Aids 2.00
Individual Presentation 5.00
Assignment Mark - Total 25.00
Overall Comments:
GET ANSWERS / LIVE CHAT