BUS 501 Managerial Accounting and Finance

Final Assessment Instructions

Competency Name: BUS 501 Managerial Accounting and Finance

Final Assessment Title: BUS 501- Managerial Accounting and Finance – Integrated Analysis and Application

Competency Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

Students who successfully complete this course will:

1) CLO 1- Apply financial management techniques to evaluate investment opportunities and optimize resource allocation

2) CLO 2- Analyze financial statements and performance metrics to assess organizational health and inform strategic decision-making

3) CLO 3- Utilize accounting information systems and financial models to support data-driven decision-making processes

4) CLO 4- Evaluate the impact of AI technologies on financial reporting, forecasting, and risk management practices

5) CLO 5- Demonstrate ethical and responsible financial management practices in compliance with regulatory standards and organizational values

Final Assessment – BUS 501 – Managerial Accounting and Finance – Integrated Analysis and Application

Purpose of the Assessment:
The purpose of this final assessment is to evaluate your ability to synthesize and apply core concepts from the Managerial Accounting and Finance course. This project-based assessment allows you to demonstrate proficiency in investment evaluation, financial statement analysis, financial modeling, technology integration, and ethical financial management. You will conduct a detailed analysis of a public company’s financials and reflect on how course concepts are applied in a real-world context.

Instructions:
Choose a publicly traded company (e.g., Apple, Amazon, Walmart, etc.) and download its most recent Annual Report (10-K) from the investor relations section of the company’s website or from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s EDGAR database (https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch.html).

Write a structured paper that addresses the components outlined below. Be sure to incorporate concepts and terminology from Modules 1 through 5.

Outline:

1. Introduction

• Provide an overview of the importance of managerial accounting and finance in supporting data-driven, strategic decision-making.
• Briefly introduce the company selected and explain why it was chosen.
• Summarize the purpose and scope of the paper.

2. Investment Evaluation Techniques

• Apply at least two capital budgeting techniques (e.g., NPV, IRR, Payback Period) to a recent or proposed investment made by the company.
• Discuss how these methods support financial planning and resource allocation decisions.
• Explain how time value of money, risk, and return are considered in these evaluations.

3. Financial Statement Analysis (Company-Based Section)

• Use the company’s most recent income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement to:
  • Calculate and interpret at least three financial ratios of your choice (e.g., current ratio, ROE, profit margin).
  • Conduct a trend analysis on one financial metric over the past 2–3 years.
  • Discuss what these figures reveal about the company’s financial health and future outlook.

4. Financial Models and Decision Support

• Describe how companies use financial models (e.g., forecasting, budgeting, scenario analysis) for planning and decision-making.
• Discuss how accounting information systems (AIS) support financial modeling and real-time reporting.

5. AI and Technology in Finance

• Evaluate how your selected company currently uses (or could benefit from) AI technologies in areas such as financial reporting, forecasting, or risk management.
• Provide two examples of tools or methods that support automation and real-time insights.
• Discuss the potential risks and limitations of AI adoption in financial decision-making.

6. Ethical and Regulatory Compliance (Company-Based Section)

• Assess the company’s approach to financial ethics, transparency, and regulatory compliance.
• Cite examples from the company’s 10-K report or sustainability/ESG report that demonstrate ethical financial practices.
• Reflect on how finance professionals can align decision-making with both regulatory requirements and organizational values.

7. Integrated Reflection

• Explain how investment evaluation, financial analysis, modeling, technology, and ethics work together to create an effective financial management system.
• Reflect on how the course has enhanced your ability to think critically, evaluate data, and make sound business decisions.
• Identify one or two areas where you plan to continue building your expertise.

References:

• Include a properly formatted list of at least 4 credible sources that support your analysis.

Submission Guidelines:

• Paper should be 8–10 pages in length (excluding cover page and references).
• Use clear headings and subheadings for each section.
• Format according to APA guidelines

Final Assessment Rubric

BUS 501 Managerial Accounting and Finance- Final Assessment Guide