GSB003-Managing Financial Resources

Aim

Managers are responsible for the performance of their business units within their organisations and financial performance forms part of that responsibility. This unit aims to provide students with the foundations of Financial Management so as to equip them to be able to more effectively meet their responsibility for financial performance. This Includes being able to understand and evaluate the financial impact of decisions and activities within their organisations, and also be able to use financial information more effectively when making decisions.

Students will be introduced to terminology, principles, frameworks and models that underpin Accounting and Finance. These include the structure and content of financial reports, techniques and principles of budget development and control, costing principles and models, techniques for making capital investment decisions, and funding structures and decisions within organisations. 

In this unit, theoretical frameworks and models are provided as the foundation for learning, and from there theory is embedded within practical applications – both within students’ organisations and in other practical case studies.

One of the aims of the unit is for students to understand how financial principles and information can be used to better inform their operational and strategic decisions, and to understand how applying these principles ethically underpins responsible financial management and helps build sustainable enterprises. 

Task description

Prepare a report based on a selected organisation

This assessment gives you an opportunity to demonstrate that you can apply concepts covered in topics 1-4. It requires you to examine, analyse and discuss the information contained on the General Purpose Financial Statements of a chosen organisation in order to draw conclusions regarding its financial performance and financial position.

Instructions:

1. Obtain the most recent General Purpose Financial Statements (GPFS) of a listed organisation or any other organisation for which you are able to access the audited General Purpose Financial Statements (GPFS). 

2. Perform an analysis on these Financial Statements using a variety of analysis techniques, as covered in this unit and others that you may research. Ensure that you include financial ratio analysis

3. Draft a report in which you describe, discuss and evaluate the financial performance and financial position of the organisation as reflected by the Financial Statements and the supporting financial analysis. 

In order to inform your discussion and interpretation of the analysis, ensure that you:

• include a commentary on relevant context to the organisation. its industry and its operations

• ensure that your analysis clearly identifies the financial impacts of the organisation's activities and operations

In your discussion identify key financial issues that are of particular importance to the organisation.