Business finance course: This home learning course in Business Finance deals with the raising and managing of funds. Irrespective of the organisation's size, at some point in time, management will need to address the issues raised when attempting to secure funds for the organisation.

Fund management activities require financial forecasting. This forecasting allows the organisation to develop long term strategic plans for the organisation. Short-term budgets can then devised to meet the organisation's strategic goals.

This course is suitable for anybody who is interested in the financial aspects of an organisation and covers a broad range of relevant financial and managerial issues.

Unit 1 - Cost and Management Accounting

In this unit, you review the important role played by management accounting in the business world, for example, helping management in decision-making, policy formulation and the achievement of objectives. We contrast historical costing with predetermined costing and look at how costs are classified. This unit provides you with a brief introduction to cost and management accounting with particular attention being paid to absorption costing and marginal costing.

By the end of this unit you will have:

• Explored costs and historical costs.
• Investigated the methods employed by management to control costs.
• Discussed the principles of marginal costing.
• Defined the marginal cost equation.
• Described the uses and limitations of break-even analysis.

Unit 2 - Budgetary Control

Budgetary control is a technique that is essential to the success and survival of any organisation, large or small. In this unit, we illustrate the principles, and what is considered to be good practice. We then consider the benefits of budgeting and follow with a concise appraisal of the rules for effective budgeting. We also produce budgeted profit and loss accounts and budgeted balance sheets, which, together with the cash budget, make up what many companies call the master budget.

By the end of this unit you will have:

• Introduced the household budget.
• Explored the benefits of budgeting.
• Identified the rules for budgeting and budgetary control.
• Examined cash budgets.
• Discussed the behavioural implications of budgets.

Unit 3 - Introduction to Accounting

In this unit, we begin by looking at the background to accounting. We identify different types of business and organisations, and how accounting can serve their needs. We clarify the different areas of financial accounting, management or managerial accounting, and financial management. We consider the basic concepts, conventions and policies adopted when preparing financial statements. We explore the vital differences between profit, profitability and cash flow.

By the end of this unit you will have:

• Introduced the accounting concept.
• Explored the differences between financial and managerial accounting.
• Identified the characteristics of accounting information.
• Investigated the relationship between profit, profitability and cash.
• Examined the fundamental accounting conventions and concepts.
• Described the capital structure of a limited liability company.

Unit 4 - Working Capital Management

In this unit we look at the structure of working capital, the role of working capital management within corporate financial objectives. The significance of the production cycle and the financing cycle and their roles in the working capital cycle are investigated. We look critically at the traditional accounting approach to working capital management and specifically the concepts of solvency and liquidity.

Qualification 2:

Level 3 Business Finance Professional Award

This is a fully accredited and recognised award. See our qualifications page for further details

 

In addition to the traditional method of tutor support students on this course will be given access to a student community.

Within this area you will be given access to the following resources:

• Access the student forum which allows you to share ideas and chat with other students.
• View your tutor's feedback on your marked assignments.
• View optional reading lists for your course (where available).
• Access free online games, for when you need a break from studying.
• View the study guide with plenty of useful hints and tips on how to get the most out of your course.
• Access free courses such as: Improving Learning Skills, Job Interview Skills, The Effective Learner, Goal Setting and Time Management, Ten Tips to Complete a Good Test Paper.
• Find details on our generous Referral Programme.

Course Fee: Starting at: £299.00