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Introduction to Accounting - MAN00033C

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  • Department: The York Management School
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: C
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

This module introduces the core concepts of financial accounting and management. It enables students to prepare and interpret financial statements and considers how these may be used in practice. The module then continues with introducing the core concepts of management accounting and how it affects the business organisation. It enables students to perform and evaluate management accounting tools and concepts available to managers for financial and non-financial decision making and considers how these may be used in practice.

Overall, this module offers a proper introduction of the interrelationship of two important accounting systems and how these are working together in organisations, while offering students avenues to recognise their uses and differences.

Module learning outcomes

Identify the key concepts underpinning financial accounting.

Understand the basis of preparation of financial statements.

Prepare a range of financial statements.

Apply and interpret financial analysis techniques to the successful development of business.

Gain an introduction to financial markets.

Identify the key concepts underpinning management accounting.

Understand the nature and purpose of a range of management accounting tools.

Apply the use of management accounting tools to the evaluation of the operating environment.

Module content

The main accounting statements: Balance sheet, Profit and loss account, cash flow statements

The users of financial statements.

Adjustments to accounts: stock, accruals, prepayments, bad and doubtful debt, depreciation.

Preparation of accounts from trial balance.

Interpretation of accounts: ratio analysis.

Introduction to financial markets.

Costing: cost classification, traditional (absorption) costing vs ABC costing, life-cycle costing (and Kaizen costing), Total Quality Management, target costing.

Contribution analysis: break even and margin of safety, scarce resources and analysis of contribution per limiting factor.

Budgeting: the budgeting process, introduction to and critique of standard costing and variance analysis.

Indicative assessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 100

Special assessment rules

None

Indicative reassessment

Task % of module mark
Closed/in-person Exam (Centrally scheduled) 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be given in accordance with the University Policy on feedback in the Guide to Assessment as well as in line with the School policy.

Indicative reading

Thomas A. and Ward A. M. (2019), Introduction to Financial Accounting, 9th Edition, McGraw Hill

Drury, C. (2020), Management and Cost Accounting, 11th edition. Cengage.

Other suggested texts:

McLaney, E. and Atrill, P. Accounting and Finance: An Introduction, 11th edition. Prentice Hall

Elliot B. and Elliot J. (2024) Financial Accounting and Reporting, 20th edition, Pearson


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University constantly explores ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary. In some instances it may be appropriate for the University to notify and consult with affected students about module changes in accordance with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.