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2025/2026  BA-BISHO1008U  Financial Accounting

English Title
Financial Accounting

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Quarter
Start time of the course Fourth Quarter, Summer
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for Global Relations
Course coordinator
  • Jukka Kettunen - Department of Accounting (AA)
Main academic disciplines
  • Accounting
Teaching methods
  • Face-to-face teaching
Last updated on 30-06-2025

Relevant links
Learning objectives
After having completed the course students should be able to:
  • Read, understand and examine the data in an annual report.
  • Fully comprehend the difference between cash and accrual accounting.
  • Prepare financial statements from the source data based on accounting transactions.
  • Understand the critical role of ethics in providing decision useful accounting information.
  • Develop financial ratios for a company and analyze the information content of these measures to make sound business decisions.
  • Understand current issues in non-financial reporting.
Examination
Financial Accounting:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Written sit-in exam on CBS' computers
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 4 hours
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Spring and Summer
Aids Limited aids, see the list below:
The student is allowed to bring
  • An approved calculator. Only the models HP10bll+ or Texas BA ll Plus are allowed (both models are non-programmable, financial calculators).
  • Language dictionaries in paper format
The student will have access to
  • Advanced IT application package
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
The number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination may warrant that it most appropriately be held as an oral examination. The programme office will inform the students if the make-up examination/re-take examination instead is held as an oral examination including a second examiner or external examiner.
The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools or apps is not allowed for this exam.
Description of the exam procedure

The final exam will consist of a mix of questions, which may include open questions, case questions, and true/false (or multiple choice) questions (for the true/false questions, students may be asked to briefly justify their choice of answer). The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) tools or apps is not allowed for this exam.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach
  • Accounting as a form of communication
  • Financial statements and Annual Reports
  • Double-entry bookkeeping
  • Cash basis and accrual basis of accounting
  • Inventories and Cost of Goods Sold
  • Cash, receivables and short term investments
  • Fixed Assets (Tangible & Intangible)
  • Goodwill
  • Current Liabilities, Present Value, and Long-term liabilities
  • Shareholders’ Equity
  • Cash Flow Statements
  • Financial Statement Analysis
  • Current issues in non-financial reporting


Course aim:

This course offers an introduction to financial accounting. Students have the opportunity to learn how to prepare and interpret corporate financial statements.


Relation to a Business or an Institutional Setting: Class discussions are focused around multinational companies in different industries and institutional settings. The tasks of analyzing financial data intend to stimulate students' curiosity about ambiguities in accounting and thereby develop analytical and critical thinking.

Relation to International Business or Economics: A core theme of the course is the financial accounting within multinational corporations.

 

In relation to Nordic Nine:

Accounting is the language of business that measures, summarizes and communicates business information to various stakeholders. The objective of financial accounting is to provide information that is useful to decision making of existing and potential investors, creditors and other stakeholders. Given that the practice of accounting is supported by several qualitative characteristics such as relevance, faithful representation, comparability, verifiability, timeliness, and understandability with the overall purpose of producing useful information to the users of reporting, this course will develop your skills in the domain of several Nordic Nines:

  • NN1 You have deep business knowledge placed in a broad context
  • NN2 You are analytical with data and curious about ambiguity
  • NN5 You understand ethical dilemmas and have the leadership values to overcome them
  • NN6 You are critical when thinking and constructive when collaborating
  • NN7 You produce prosperity and protect the prosperity of next generations

 
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • The research-based teaching in the course covers theories and studies related to corporate disclosures including non-financial reporting.
Research-like activities
  • Analysis
  • Students become familiar with research-like activities e.g. through financial statement analysis and discussions and critical reflections during the course.
Description of the teaching methods
The teaching sessions comprise lectures and class discussions as well as practical exercises (on campus). Though the course is offered face-to-face, there are integrated elements of blended learning such as pre-class assignments where relevant. Classroom activities include for example in-class activating questions, quizzes, group discussions and exercises.

The research-based teaching in the course covers theories and studies related to corporate disclosures including non-financial reporting. Students become familiar with research-like activities e.g. through financial statement analysis and discussions and critical reflections during the course.

Problems and exercises are at times given for homework and to be included as a part of class discussions. Various mini case problems are considered, whereby students are expected to analyze and interpret the accounts of a company under certain conditions. In addition to the sessions there are workshops to work through more extensive financial reporting and accounting problems and to review the most important points of the lectures through supplementary exercises, and thus prepare students even better for the final examination.
Feedback during the teaching period
Continuous feedback activities comprise teacher-student and student-student feedback on in-class activating questions, quizzes, group discussions and exercises. In addition, students will have the possibility to obtain direct feedback on their performance in exercise workshops. Students are also encouraged to take full advantage of staff consultation hours to advance their comprehension of course content.
Student workload
Lectures 33 hours
Exercise workshops 9 hours
Preparation for exam and classes 160 hours
Final exam 4 hours
Total 206 hours
Expected literature

Thomas, C. W., Tietz, W. M., Suwardy, T., Koh W. C., Harrison, W. T., Horngren, C. T. (2024). Financial Accounting: International Financial Reporting Standards. 12th Global Edition. Pearson.

 

Additional articles and readings/Case material (links will be provided through Canvas, students can then access the material through the CBS library).

 

A comprehensive reading list can be found in the course plan that will be published on Canvas before classes begin.
Last updated on 30-06-2025