Financial Accounting Statements: An Introduction

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1 Higher National Unit Specification General information for centres Unit code: F Unit purpose: This Unit is designed to provide an understanding of the preparation of final accounts and will enable candidates to prepare basic financial accounting statements for internal use within a limited company. It is primarily intended for candidates who, whilst working in a nonaccounting role, may find that their work involves dealing with accounting data. On completion of the Unit the candidate should be able to: 1 Prepare a Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet for internal use in a limited company. 2 Prepare a draft Cash Flow Statement for a limited company. Credit points and level: 1 HN Credit at SCQF level 7: (8 SCQF credit points at SCQF level 7*) *SCQF credit points are used to allocate credit to qualifications in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Each qualification in the Framework is allocated a number of SCQF credit points at an SCQF level. There are 12 SCQF levels, ranging from Access 1 to Doctorates. Recommended prior knowledge and skills: Access to this Unit is at the discretion of the centre. However, candidates would normally expected to have competence in numeracy skills at SCQF level 4 or similar qualification or experience. Core Skills: There are no opportunities to develop Core Skills in this Unit. Context for delivery: If this Unit is delivered as part of a Group Award, it is recommended that it should be taught and assessed within the subject area of the Group Award to which it contributes. This Unit is designed to give a candidate a basic understanding of the preparation of final accounts and cash flow statement for internal use within a limited company and the emphasis is on the basic structure of these statements rather than the complications that may arise. Assessment: This Unit should be assessed by two instruments of assessment. Outcome 1 should involve the preparation of final accounts with year end adjustments. Outcome 2 should involve the preparation of a cash flow statement in line with current standards. Candidates should be given proformas for both Outcomes and because of the computational nature of the assessments they should be carried out under timed, controlled conditions. Candidates should be allowed 2 hours to complete Outcome 1 and 1 hour to complete Outcome 2. HN Unit (F138 34): 1

2 Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards Unit code: F The sections of the Unit stating the Outcomes, knowledge and/or skills, and Evidence Requirements are mandatory. Outcome 1 Prepare a Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet for internal use in a limited company Knowledge and/or skills Accounting Concepts: matching, going concern, consistency, prudence Preparation of profit and loss accounts for internal use in a limited company Preparation of balance sheets for internal use by a limited company Standard adjustments into the final accounts (straight line depreciation, reducing balance depreciation, bad debts, accruals, prepayments, closing stock, final dividends, debenture interest, corporation tax) Evidence Requirements Candidates should provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by showing that they can produce clear, accurate and legible final account statements trading, profit and loss account with appropriation of profit and balance sheet. Candidates should be given a year end trial balance and be required to incorporate nine different year-end adjustments appropriate to a limited company. The evidence should be produced with a pro-forma layout given under closed-book, controlled conditions. Assessment guidelines The assessment should be presented as a trial balance with nine year-end adjustments. From this information candidates should prepare clear, accurate and legible final accounting statements in an appropriate format and within an approximate 2 hour period. HN Unit (F138 34): 2

3 Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont) Outcome 2 Prepare a draft Cash Flow Statement for a limited company Knowledge and/or skills Preparation of cash flow statements in accordance with current accounting standards. Evidence Requirements Candidates should demonstrate their knowledge and skills by producing a clear, accurate and legible cash flow statement from the final accounts of two consecutive years with two notes to the accounts (sale and/or acquisition of fixed assets, sale and/or acquisition of investments). The evidence should be produced using a given pro-forma layout and generated under closed-book, controlled conditions. Assessment guidelines Candidates should be given the final accounts of a limited company for two consecutive years along with two notes to the accounts and from this they should construct a cash flow statement in accordance with current accounting practice which is clear, accurate and legible. The assessment should be completed within an approximate 1 hour period. HN Unit (F138 34): 3

4 Administrative Information Unit code: F Superclass category: Financial Accounting Statements: An Introduction AK Original date of publication: August 2007 Version: 01 History of Changes: Version Description of change Date Source: SQA Scottish Qualifications Authority 2006 This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that no profit is derived from reproduction and that, if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged. SQA acknowledges the valuable contribution that Scotland s colleges have made to the development of Higher National qualifications. Additional copies of this Unit specification can be purchased from the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Please contact the Customer Contact Centre for further details, telephone HN Unit (F138 34): 4

5 Higher National Unit specification: support notes This part of the Unit specification is offered as guidance. The support notes are not mandatory. While the exact time allocated to this Unit is at the discretion of the centre, the notional design length is 40 hours. Guidance on the content and context for this Unit This Unit is intended as an optional Unit, within a variety of HN awards, for candidates who require a basic knowledge of preparation of internal final accounts for a limited company. It is not suitable for candidates who wish to pursue a specialist accounting course. This Unit provides candidates with an understanding of the preparation of final accounts and it should be of value to those working in commerce, government or industry who may find that their work involves dealing with accounting data. This Unit is seen as preparation for the sister Unit Using Financial Accounting Statements. There is no requirement for candidates to have knowledge of double entry book-keeping and it should be possible to deliver this Unit to candidates who have no prior knowledge. Although candidates are not assessed on fundamental accounting concepts these will require to be taught as this will aid candidates in the construction of final accounts and cash flow statements. Guidance on the delivery and assessment of this Unit This Unit may form an optional part of varying HNC Group Awards and any assessment should be contextualised to take account of this. The Unit should be delivered by a subject specialist to ensure candidates are given a good understanding of the topics covered. It can be delivered at any time in the award as it is unlikely to impact on other Units. The most up to date version of financial statement layouts, in accordance with current standards, should be used for learning and assessment. Open learning If this Unit is delivered by open or distance learning methods, additional resources will be required for candidate support, assessment and quality assurance. For further information and advice please refer to the SQA document: Assessment and Quality Assurance for Open and Distance Learning, which is available on SQA s website: Candidates with disabilities and/or additional support needs The additional support needs of individual candidates should be taken into account when planning learning experiences, selecting assessment instruments or considering alternative Outcomes for Units. For information on these, please refer to the SQA document Guidance on Alternative Assessment Arrangements for Candidates with Disabilities and/or Additional Support Needs, which is available on SQA s website: HN Unit (F138 34): 5

6 General information for candidates This Unit is ideal for anyone working in a non-accounting role but who may deal with accounting data. The Unit will give you an understanding of the preparation of final accounts for a limited company, for internal use, from given information. You will not be expected to have previous accounting knowledge as the Unit will provide an understanding of basic accounting concepts. In order to complete the Unit, you will construct a Trading, Profit and Loss Account and a Balance Sheet and prepare a cash flow statement. There are two instruments of assessment both of which are carried out under controlled conditions with the use of pro-formas for layouts, which will be provided for you. On successful completion of this Unit you may progress to the follow on Unit Using Financial Accounting Statements. HN Unit (F138 34): 6