Accounting (ACCT) 250

Overview

Accounting 250: Accounting for Managers focuses primarily on how to provide managers with the management information they need for making informed decisions and introduces the role accounting plays in providing reports to external bodies such as the federal government, banks, and other lenders of money.

The course emphasizes the importance of using advanced information systems such as the use of accounting software for small businesses and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for large companies in managerial accounting and decision making. Managerial accounting uses both financial and non-financial information; the financial accounting topics included in this course include basic financial accounting concepts and analysis of financial reports using online, interactive tools to facilitate learning.

A distinction is made between external and internal reports. External reports are for information users who are external to the organization. Large corporations must prepare and file such reports for governmental and other organizations such as stock markets. An important feature of external reports is that they have a similar format, and those who prepare these reports must follow specific rules when compiling them. Internal reports, on the other hand, help managers make informed decisions in areas such as planning and controlling the organization’s resources. These reports are prepared according to the managers’ needs, and there are no set rules concerning their preparation. However, there is a set of principles that should be followed to ensure that these reports provide meaningful information.

Outline

• Lesson 1: Introduction to Accounting
• Lesson 2: Cost Behaviour and Analysis
• Lesson 3: Cost Management Systems
• Lesson 4: Relevant Information and Special Decision Making
• Lesson 5: Basic Principles of Financial Accounting
• Lesson 6: Interpreting Financial Statements
• Lesson 7: The Budgeting Process and Standard Cost System
• Lesson 8: Capital Investments and Capital Budgeting
• Lesson 9: Performance Evaluation and the Balanced Scorecard

Evaluation

To receive credit for ACCT 250, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the Final Examination. The following chart describes the credit weight associated with each course requirement. The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Registration in this course includes an electronic textbook. For more information on electronic textbooks, please refer to our eText Initiative site.

There is no print version of this text.

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

Challenge for Credit Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the ACCT 250 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.

Online Exam

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form