University of Greenwich Business

School

MSc Accounting and Finance Programmes

Financial Management
 University of Greenwich Business School

1. COURSE DETAILS

1.1 Aims

The aim of the course is to develop necessary skills and understanding needed to apply appropriate
concepts, techniques and approaches for sound decision making in financial management:
a) To enable students to analyse financial situations and offer solutions to financial management
problems.
b) To understand and apply theoretical concepts to a range of investment and financing
decisions.

1.2 Learning Outcomes:

On completing this course students should be able to:

A. Knowledge and understanding of:

How shareholder wealth is created, and the role of financial management in this process.
Investment and valuation process and techniques.
Relationship between risk and return.
Investment and financing decision making process in relation to the role of capital markets
and their efficiency.
How to value different sources of long term finance.
Alternative capital structure policies and dividend policies.
Financial Derivatives and their use in Corporate Finance.
B. Intellectual Skills:

To develop a framework and provide a set of analytical tools for financial decision making
based on financial theory and the best industry practices. To evaluate the business decision
making implications of financial management.

B1. Breadth of Outlook

Focus on a range of securities, industries and types of businesses. Fundamental financial

theories, tools and techniques covered in the course can be utilised in any financial decision
making in any business sector.

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B2. Wisdom

The student will select and apply appropriate tools and use sound judgement in the
application of financial decisions.

Appreciate the merits and demerits of, as well as alternatives to, various analytical
frameworks and techniques used for investment and financing decisions in business.
B3. Personal Effectiveness

Calculate, analyse, interpret and communicate business problems and solutions from the
financial perspective.
C. Subject Practical Skills:

Focusing on, and identifying options for improving, shareholders value.

Valuation of securities – shares, bonds etc.

Valuation of businesses and projects.

Investment decision making – alternative investment evaluation tools available.

Asses the role of capital markets in investment and financing decision making – alternatives
available, effect of market efficiency/inefficiency for financial decisions, practical
implications for managers.

Framework for analysing and deciding on debt policy and dividend policy.

Use of derivatives for corporate risk management.

D. Transferable Skills

Basic principles of finance covered on the course are the foundation for all other finance
based courses on the programme. These are also very relevant and applicable to practical
financial decisions making process in business situations and for quantifying merits of
individual projects and/or business undertakings.
D1. Critical Thinking

Critically assess merits and demerits of various financial theories and practical analytical
tools and their use in particular business situations.

Evaluate and quantify available alternatives for making investment, valuation and financing
decisions.

D2. Information Management

Access, evaluate, utilise and communicate accounting and financial data and information for
investment and financing decision making problems.
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D3. Communication Skills

Deal with complex issues in systematic and critical way, make sound judgements in the absence
of clear data and communicate analysis and solutions clearly to specialist and non-specialist
audiences.

3.3 Learning and Teaching Activities:

A mix of formal lectures and tutorials will be used to introduce students to the basic areas of
knowledge and to demonstrate and practice techniques.

Knowledge and understanding of:

Principles of Finance – through formal lectures.
Intellectual Skills:
Problem solving and class debates in addition to a research based coursework.

Subject Practical Skills:

Tutorials will be used to develop students’ practical and problem solving skills skills.

Transferable Skills
Numerical and analytical skills.

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2. COURSE CONTENT:

A The Role of Financial Management in Decision Making and First Principles of Finance
Introduction to financial management; main function and role; corporate goals and wealth
maximisation; agency theory; models of the firm; contemporary trends in global finance; opportunity
cost of capital, time value of money and net present value rule.

B Market Efficiency
The secondary capital market, its efficiency and consequences for valuation and financing decisions.

C Valuation and Bonds

The time value of money, annuities and perpetuity; the yield curve, bond prices; interest rates;
inflation and the effect on rates.

D Valuation of Equities and Businesses

Shares as discounted stream of dividends, valuation of shares and companies, using Gordon Model
and zero growth to capitalise dividends; discounted free cash flows; retention model; different bases
for valuation.

E Portfolio Theory
Risk and return, indifference curves and utility; standard deviation as a measure of risk, efficiency
sets, risky and risk free assets; portfolio risk, systemic and unique risk; volatility; risk and
diversification.

F The Growth Decision

Market for corporate control; mergers and acquisitions; reasons and motives; pricing and benefits; the
P:E argument, its use in valuation and validation.

G Derivatives and Option Pricing

Major types of derivative instruments, their characteristics and application; introduction to options
and option pricing, use of options for hedging and valuation.

H Capital Budgeting and Risk Analysis

Portfolio analysis, capital and security market lines; the capital asset pricing model in decision
making; beta values, risk levels and return of assets; financial risk and business risk; WACC and
discount rates; restrictions and realism; equity and beta values.

I The Dividend Policy

Relevance and irrelevancy arguments; clientele and signalling effects; practical considerations; home
made dividend policy; contemporary research and current policies.

J The Capital Structure Decision and Gearing

Alternative approaches to the decision; traditional, M&M (with and without taxes) and real word
arguments; gearing levels; optimal capital structure and gearing decisions; debt policy, taxation and
the costs of financial distress; the effect on cost of capital; keeping the gearing ration intact.

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 3. ASSESSMENT DETAILS:

Learning Outcome Methods of Grading Weig Mini Words Outline Details

Assessment Mode hting mum Length
% Pass
Mark
Closed Book 0-100% 50% 50% 2.5 A mix of written and
A. Knowledge and Examination hours computational
understanding
B. Intellectual Skills questions with
C. Subject Practical Skills approximately equal
D. Transferable skills weight.

A. Knowledge and
Understanding Research Based
B. Intellectual Skills 0-100% 35% 50% 2,500 Critical analysis a
Coursework – financial management
D. Transferable skills
3,000 topic.
words

A. Knowledge and
Understanding
A mix of written and
B. Intellectual Skills Mid Term Test 0-100% 15% 50% computational
C. Subject Practical Skills questions with
D. Transferable skills approximately equal
weight.

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4. INDICATIVE TEXTS:
N.B. please check for the latest editions of recommended textbooks. In addition, further
reading of academic and professional journals’ articles is recommended and expected.

Bibliography - Core Reading:

Blake, D., Financial Market Analysis, McGraw Hill

Brealey, R. and S. Myers, Principles of Corporate Finance, McGraw Hill

Coombs, H. M. and D.E. Jenkins, Public Sector Financial Management, International

Thomson Press

Cuthbertson, K., Quantitative Financial Economics: Stocks, Bonds and Foreign Exchange,
John Wiley & Sons

Demirag, I. and S. Goddard, Financial Management for International Business, McGraw Hill

Emery D. R. and J. D. Finnerty, Corporate Financial Management, Prentice Hall

Hutchinson R., Corporate Finance, Stanley Thornes

Hull, J., Options, Futures and Other Derivatives, Prentice Hall

Levy, J. and M. Sarnat, Capital Investment and Financial Decisions, Prentice Hall

Lumby, S., Investment Appraisal and Financing Decisions, Chapman and Hall

McMenamin, J., Financial Management: An Introduction, Routledge

McLaney, E. J., Business Finance: Theory and Practice, Pitman Publishing

Moyer, R., J. McGuigan and W. Kretlow, Contemporary Financial Management, West

Publishing

Samuels, J. M., F. M. Wilkes and R. E. Brayshaw, Management of Company Finance,

Chapman and Hall

Useful sources for assignment:

Journals & Newspapers

Journal of Finance
Journal of Corporate Finance
Journal of Banking and Finance
Journal of Portfolio Management
Financial Analysts Journal
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Financial Management
Financial Times
Economist

Electronic Databases in Library

Science Direct Athens Intranet (full text articles)

Business Source Premier EBSCO (full text business journals)
Emerald (full text international and business journals)
Fame (financial information on UK companies)
Lexis Nexis (Lexis Professional) (national /regional newspapers)
UK GAAP (financial and accounting information)
Hydra (financial information on stocks and shares)

General Financial Websites

www.bloomberg.com (market news and statistics)
www.gtnews.com (Global Treasury news)
www.economist.com (Economist magazine)
www.cfo.com (CFO magazine)
www.ft.com (Financial Times)