Course content

Different accounting theoretical models and approaches:

• Different accounting models
• (Theoretical) accounting development
• Accounting concepts/principles
• Practical challenges

Accounting as a tool for management and analysis:

• Profitability measurement and financial statement analysis
• Accounting quality
• Case review (accounting analysis)

Accounting manipulation:

• Various forms of manipulation
• Various measures to prevent and detect accounting manipulation
• Perspectives on accounting regulation and accounting manipulation

Interpretation of accounting practices, regulations and norms:

• Interpretation and compliance with accounting rules, including the exercise of discretion vs. rule violations.
• Special discretionary records
• Information management and user properties
• Information needs, including assessment of qualitative characteristics of financial statements.
• Market response to financial reporting

Accounting harmonisation and internationalization of accounting:

• Global vs. local accounting solutions
• Private sector vs. public sector

Critical perspective on accounting:

• The functions of accounting (normative descriptive approaches) and the effects of accounting, among other things, on sustainability
• Challenges and opportunities related to the postulates/assumptions of accounting

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The candidate has...

• advanced knowledge of accounting in an international perspective, including the importance of accounting harmonisation, as well as differences and similarities between international accounting models in the private sector.
• advanced knowledge of options in accounting preparation, including alternative accounting methods and techniques, and what is meant by aggressive vs. conservative accounting solutions.
• advanced knowledge of financial statement analysis and specialized insight into accounting quality and the importance of discretionary assessments for accounting interpretations.
• advanced knowledge of accounting use, both from a practical and theoretical perspective.
• advanced knowledge of how accounting models, concepts and frameworks guide accounting representation and reporting.
• advanced knowledge of different forms of accounting manipulation, the characteristics of the different forms and associated methodological and theoretical discussions.

Skills

The candidate can...

• elaborate on and discuss the importance of accounting from a critical accounting perspective, including the possibilities and limitations of accounting for promoting sustainable social development. This includes calculating and interpreting the accrual component, identifying and discussing key discretionary accounting areas, as well as assessing how conservative vs. aggressive the accounting assessments are. Other analytical elements are key figures, identification and assessment of the accounting model, non-recurring items, as well as market or surrounding expectations of the company.
• analyse and relate critically to different sources of information and use these to structure and formulate academic reasoning. This includes considerations of the risk of manipulated accounting information.
• Apply research results to develop investment strategies based on companies' publication of accounting results.
• Analyse methods, theories and interpretations within the subject area, including research articles and practical applications, and use this to shape academic reasoning. This includes assessments of accounting quality and different perspectives on accounting manipulation and regulation.
• work independently with practical and theoretical problem solving, including in the application of accounting principles and basic assumptions for accounting. This also includes the interpretation of regulatory requirements and norms in accounting vs. practical financial reporting.
• Identify underlying assumptions in accounting, assess what it means to change such assumptions and apply this insight in analyses of practical accounting issues and settings. This includes considerations and discussion of the similarities and differences between private vs. public sector accounting, as well as large vs. small organizations.

General Competence

The candidate can ...

• analyse relevant professional, professional and research ethical issues.
• apply their knowledge and skills in new areas.
• communicate independent work and master the subject area's forms of expression
• communicate about academic issues, analyses and conclusions within the subject area.
• collaborate with others on a group assignment or craft academic reasoning in an academic discussion.

Learning methods and activities

The course is session-based, consisting of around 6 sessions, of two days with 3-4 hours per day. However, some teaching sessions may be stand-alone days (not two consecutive days).

Work methods and learning activities include traditional teaching, case review, short videos, discussion of news stories, group work and guest lecture(s).

Compulsory assignments

• Obligatorisk innlevering av case

Specific conditions

Recommended previous knowledge

30 credits accounting/business economics

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

The syllabus of the course consists of:

• Robinson, T. R., Henry, E. and Broihahn, M. A. (2020). International Financial statement analysis (4 edn.). CFA Institute investment series. Wiley & Sons Inc., Hoboken.
• A collection of articles.

Subject to change. The final syllabus will be given at the start of the semester.