BUS210 Management Accounting

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Stig Aleksander Aune

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:Annually

Nominal workload:250 hours.

Teaching and exam period:The course starts in Spring parallel. The course has teaching/evaluation in the Spring parallel.

About this course

Introduction to basic methods and techniques related to managerial accounting and budgeting. The students will acquire knowledge and skills on data collection, analysis and interpretation and presentation of decision relevant information.

Key topics:

  • A finance function`s role
  • Types of costs and cost allocation
  • Perspectives on pricing
  • Activity Based Costing (ABC)
  • Cost- volume- profit analyses and decision making challenges
  • Budgeting and planning
  • Performance evaluation
  • Sustainability reporting

Learning outcome

Upon completion of the course, the candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills and general competencies:

The candidate has:

  • knowledge of managerial accounting's strategic value
  • Knowledge of different types of costs and different methods for cost allocation and calculation, including ABC calculation and is able to carry out cost- volume- profit analyses
  • Awareness of different pricing models, including transfer pricing
  • Knowledge of a traditional approach to budgeting, but also about new ideas and tools for planning, management and cost control
  • The ability to discuss the purpose of budgets in general, the organising of the budgeting process and develop cash flow-, P&L- and Balance Sheet budgets
  • Knowledge of diverse financial and non-financial performance targets, and is able to evaluate advantages and disadvantages associated with them
  • Awareness of strategic management accounting models like the Balanced Scorecard, Economic Value Added (EVA) and Beyond Budgeting
  • Knowledge of how to measure and report sustainability

General competencies:

The candidate can:

  • Reflect on management accounting business issues from a management perspective
  • Master managerial accounting terminology
  • Convey key topics within managerial accounting both to peers and others in private enterprises or public entities
  • Continue to deepen his or her knowledge within the area
  • Develop spreadsheet models
  • View managerial accounting in a wider business context
  • Exercise critical thinking when evaluating calculations, management accounts and budgets
  • Work independently and in cooperation with others in project groups
  • Discuss theory in light of practical cases
  • Distinguish between important and less important information
  • Lectures and supervised exercises. To some extent case based learning.
  • It is recommended that the students have knowledge in financial accounting corresponding to BUS110.
  • 3,5 hours written exam on campus (counts 100 % of the grade).
  • External examiner will control the quality of syllabus, questions for the final examination, and principles for the assessment of the examination answers.
  • Six mandatory assignments, whereof at least four must by approved to sit the exam. Previously approved mandatory assignments do not constitute grounds for exemption.
  • Lectures: Four hours per week. Exercises: Two hours per week.
  • Reduction of credits: 10 ECTS with BUS210F
  • Letter grades
  • Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse)