ACFI3424 International Accounting and Finance

Issues
Coursework 1 – 2019/20

Individual Assignment in report format

The assignment must be submitted via Blackboard using the Turnitin button
by Week 24 (Deadline: Thursday 12 March 2020 by 12.00 mid-day) (Please note
that Turnitin can only accept one document as your submission)
This assignment is designed to give you an opportunity to develop written
communication skills whilst working with international accounting and finance issues.
The total length of the assignment should not exceed 1,800 words (excluding
the list of references). Appendices should not be used with all relevant data in the
report. This word limit is the suggested maximum and you will be penalised if you
exceed it by more than 10%. You should state the word count on the front page of
your report. The report should be word-processed in Arial Font size 12 at 1.5 line
spacing.
Required:
You should write answers to each of a) b) and c) as three parts of the main body of a
single report to the non-financial directors of BP plc, using the 2018 Annual Report
as a resource (see copy of full report on Blackboard in the Assessment folder):

a) Analyse the 2018 BP financial statements in terms of performance, short

term liquidity and working capital comparing the results with 2017 (see
lectures 3 and 4 and Scott - Accounting for Business for the ratios that
could be used) (Indicative 800 words maximum) (40% weighting).

b) Explain the meaning of corporate governance using BP’s 2018 corporate

governance report in the annual report (pp57-111) to illustrate your
answer. Discuss your opinion on the strength of BP’s system of corporate
governance (Indicative 500 words maximum) (25%).

c) BP is financed from both equity and debt. Explain the meaning of equity
and debt. Using the notes to the accounts 26 and 31 from the 2018 BP
financial statements, explain the difference between fixed rate and floating
rate debt and between ordinary shares and preference shares and discuss
why BP is financed using all of these instruments (Indicative 500 words
maximum) (25%).

Only one introduction and conclusion is needed. A summary and

recommendations are not needed.

1
 10% weighting for presentation, report format and referencing using the
Harvard system. For basic report structure at DMU see:
http://www.library.dmu.ac.uk/Support/Heat/index.php?page=483

For part a) please use the ratio calculation methods per the lectures and
Scott – Accounting for Business. The ratios and calculations should be
included in a table in the report (not in an appendix).

Indicative Feedback Form

Coursework 1 Individual
Assignment

Student number P

Requirement % Fail 3rd 2:2 2:1 First

Analysis of BP performance, short term 40
liquidity and working capital (Ratios and
discussion).

Explanation and discussion of corporate 25

governance

Explanation and discussion of equity and 25

debt

Presentation including report format, list 10

of references and in-text references.

Comments

Penalties for late submission or exceeding the word count

Overall Grade

Plagiarism score checked (please tick and give score if more than 30%)
2
The allocation of marks is based on:

Judged to be outstanding in all aspects. No fault can be found with the work other than very minor errors,
90-100% for example typographical, or perhaps failure to satisfy the most challenging and exacting demands of the
assessment.

Indicates a very high level of understanding evidenced by an ability to engage critically and analytically
80-89%
with source material. Likely to exhibit independent lines of argument. Only minor errors or omissions.

70-79% Judged to be very good, yet not outstanding. May contain minor errors or omissions.

Indicates a sound understanding of basic points and principles but with some failure to express or to
60-69% apply them properly. Hence the answer is essentially correct, has some errors or omissions, and is not
seriously flawed.

Indicates a more limited understanding of basic points and principles, with significant errors and
50-59%
omissions. These errors and omissions, however, do not cast doubt on the basic level of understanding.

Indicates questionable understanding of basic points and principles yet sufficient to show that learning
40-49%
outcomes have been achieved at a rudimentary level. There may be inaccuracy and inconsistencies.

Indicates an answer that shows only weakly developed elements of understanding. The learning
30-39%
outcomes have been insufficiently realised.

Very little knowledge has been demonstrated and the work shows little coherence of material or
20-29%
argument.
0-19% Only isolated or no knowledge displayed.