General provisions

The course is offered for exchange students.

Entry requirements

Completed 30 credits from basic courses (A-level) in business studies, and attended 30 credits intermediate courses (B-level) in business studies of which at least 15 credits must be completed.

Learning outcomes

The course Advanced Financial Accounting, and Project Work is divided into two parts. The first part focuses on in-depth subject-oriented knowledge and the second part focuses on the application of acquired knowledge through the implementation of a project work.

The subject specific knowledge part of the course aims to provide students with knowledge and skills in:

• International accounting standards (IFRS),
• Detecting accounting manipulation,
• Leveraging digitalisation (e.g., AI as Machine Learning/LLM) applied to financial reporting.

Upon completion of this part of the course, the student will be able to independently:

• apply a selected set of IFRS accounting standards,
• perform advanced consolidated accounting, including addressing special accounting challenges that may arise during the consolidation process,
• identify common accounting techniques that may be used by firms to manipulate earnings,
• understand how AI and other emerging technologies can be applied in the context of IFRS accounting,
• comprehend how sustainability reporting can influence investors and creditors,
• present findings both verbally and in writing.

After completing the project work, the student should independently be able to:

• give and respond constructively to feedback on oral and written presentations,
• demonstrate the ability to work in teams and make joint decisions and to evaluate and reflect on the work process and their own role in the work process.

Content

The course Advanced Financial Accounting, and Project Work is divided into two parts where the focus in the first part is on acquiring in-depth subject specific knowledge and the focus in the second part is on applying the acquired knowledge.

The first part of the course focuses primarily on IFRS reporting and how it can be used to manipulate earnings. Since IFRS is designed to provide useful information to investors and creditors, the course concentrates on these two key stakeholder groups.

The content covers important and current IFRS standards, as well as special accounting issues related to business combinations.

IFRS reporting allows for certain accounting choices, which can lead to situations where reported earnings differ from economic earnings. We supplement standard IFRS instruction with an exploration of accounting techniques that can manipulate reported earnings. Our goal is to sensitize students to the use of accounting practices such as earnings manipulation and classification shifting.

Additionally, we will explore how emerging technologies, including AI (e.g. Machine-learning, LLM, SLM), can be leveraged to enhance the analysis of financial reports.

We also seek to discuss how the emerging sustainability reporting system can investors' and creditors' decision-making process.

During the project work students should explore a critical contemporary issue affecting the business world. By selecting an issue such as sustainable business practices, the influence of artificial intelligence on workforce dynamics, workplace diversity and inclusion, or managing supply chain disruptions, the goal is to formulate a research topic related to the chosen issue. The project involves gaining a deeper understanding of the topic, analysing relevant material, and proposing potential solutions to address the associated challenges. This project also aims to foster critical thinking, teamwork, and creativity while encouraging meaningful engagement with real-world business challenges.

Instruction

The course employs a wide range of teaching methods, including on-campus lectures, recorded video lectures, and in-person seminars. The course is taught in English.

Assessment

The examination consists of three modules:

1. Seminars and Assignments, 2 credits (U, G)
2. Written Exam, 8 credits (U, G, VG)
3. Project Work, 5 credits (U, G)

A collective grade is given for the entire course, 15 credits.

For a Pass (G) as a collective grade of the entire course, a Pass (G) is required of all modules respectively. For a Pass with distinction (VG) as a collective grade of the entire course, a Pass (G) is required on Module 1 and 3, as well as a Pass with distinction (VG) on Module 2.

In Module 1, the examination is carried out individually and in groups, while the examination in Module 2 is an individual examination. In Module 3 examination is carried out in groups. Grading criteria are presented in the study guide that applies to the course section. Examinations that are not submitted on time will not be graded, unless special circumstances can be substantiated.

For a student who has not attained a passing grade on Module 1, there is the opportunity to, without re-registration, submitting a supplementary or revised assignment for re-assessment and present it at a seminar at the same or a future teaching period of the course. For a student who has not attained a passing grade on Module 2, there is the opportunity to be examined without re-registration via a retake on the exam. For a student who has not attained a passing grade on Module 3, there is the opportunity to be examined via re-registration at a future teaching period.

Assignments and exams handed in late will not be graded except in special circumstances.

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating or plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.

NOTE: Only completed courses can count toward a degree.

Other regulations

The course overlaps among others Accounting and Finance 2FE411, Financial Accounting 2FE414 and Advanced Financial Accounting 2FE415.