COURSE SYLLABUS - Integrated MBA Block II

ACC 5105 / FIN 5805 - CONTROLLERSHIP AND THE TREASURY FUNCTION

6 Semester Hours, Spring 2006

I. Instructors:

Nick Fessler, CMA, CPA, Ph.D. Jose Mercado, Ph.D.

nfessler@cmsu1.cmsu.edu mercado@cmsu1.cmsu.edu
Dockery 405D Dockery 301B
543-8567 543-8650

Office Hours: Fessler: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00 – 11:00 A.M, 3:30 – 5:00 P.M.,
and by appointment
Mercado: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00 – 2:00, 3:30 – 5:00 P.M.,
and by appointment

II. Description of the course:

The course examines converging advanced accounting and finance topics and the comparison and contrast
of controller and treasurer perspectives. Emphasis will be placed on cash flow-based financial analysis for
purposes of organization valuation as well as performance measurement to assess and increase
organization value.

III. Required Text and Supplementary Materials:

Corporate Finance: A Valuation Approach, Benninga and Sarig. Financial Statement Analysis: A
Valuation Approach, Soffer & Soffer. Supplemental readings of articles will be required. Subscription to
the Wall Street Journal is required. A good financial calculator is recommended (HP 10BII+ is a good
choice, but others are also acceptable). Articles, lecture notes, homework exercises, discussion questions,
and other supplementary materials can be found at the Course on Blackboard.

IV. Course Specific Outcomes:

1. Gain an understanding of current accounting topics. Discussions may include value analysis,
strategic planning, relevance of decision information, activity-based management, financial
analysis, performance evaluation, capacity planning, high-technology investments (e.g., FMS,
CIM), and management control systems.

2. Gain an understanding of current finance topics. Discussions may include financial analysis and
interpretation of reported financial information, budgeting, working capital management, firm
valuation, financing needs assessment, risk analysis, asset management, and strategic cash flow
and investment planning.

3. Critically evaluate current accounting and finance literature.

4. Perform research and present results and conclusions of a strategic accounting and financial
analysis in an integrated project using appropriate communication modes and techniques.
The instructional objectives correspond to the broad topical areas covered in the course. Each area is
outlined following (I and II combined) along with specific detail of topics to be covered. Listed after
each topic area are planned student outcomes and assessments.

1 and 2. Gain an understanding of leading edge accounting and finance topics

The student will be exposed to, and will critically evaluate, accounting and finance topics
currently in use, or proposed for use, from current periodicals, texts, and other contemporary
sources.

Student Outcomes for the Topical Exposure and Understanding function:

1. The student will have an understanding of the topics.

2. The student will be able to correctly apply current accounting and financial tools.

Assessment:

The student will be required to demonstrate understanding and application of relevant tools in
examinations involving primarily essay questions and application/analysis-type problems.
The student will be required to critically evaluate relevant literature. Article summaries and
critiques will be evaluated for demonstration of conceptual understanding of relevant
topics.

3. Critically evaluate current accounting and finance literature.

Emphasis will be placed on reading and discussing new and integrating methods and topics (some
of which are not yet covered in current textbooks) relevant to the controller and/or the corporate
treasurer.

Student Outcomes for the Critical Evaluation of Literature function:

The student will be familiar with current literature and sources of accounting and finance
information.
The student will possess a confidence and ability to critique written and published relevant works.

Assessment:

The student will be required to critically evaluate relevant literature. Article summaries and
critiques will be evaluated for demonstration of topic relevance, thoroughness of coverage
and critique. In-class discussion will be evaluated by the instructors noting familiarity
with the literature, level of preparation, and perceptiveness of comments.
A written term paper and presentation will be required summarizing analysis, results, and
conclusions regarding an integrated strategic accounting and financial analysis.

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4. Perform research and present results and conclusions of a strategic managerial accounting and
financial analysis

The student will conduct and use effective oral and written communication skills to present the
strategic valuation analysis of an organization.

Student Outcomes for the Research and Presentation function:

1. The student will be able to correctly perform analysis and make application of relevant
concepts.
2. The student will be able to present the information (both in written and oral media) in an
appropriate and meaningful way.

Assessment:

The student will be evaluated on the quality of content regarding a strategic valuation analysis of
an organization.
The student will be evaluated on the quality of both the written and oral presentation of the
information.

AACSB INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: The business programs in the Harmon College of Business
Administration (HCBA) are accredited by AACSB International. AACSB International was founded in
1916 and sets standards for undergraduate and graduate education for business administration and
accounting. Institutions that earn accreditation confirm their commitment to quality continuous
improvement through a rigorous and comprehensive peer review. AACSB International requires business
programs to provide perspectives in ethical and global issues. In addition, the influence of political,
social, legal and regulatory, environmental and technological issues are to be considered. Finally the
impact of demographic diversity on organizations is to be examined. The AACSB International
perspectives covered in this course are footnoted in the class schedule.

Course Requirements:

1. The integrating project consists of a group project that results in a written paper and oral
presentations. The students will form groups, pick a company, and perform a thorough financial
analysis of the company and its industry. Analysis specifics will be explained as the class
progresses. A modest amount of class time will be allocated for group interaction and consultation
with the instructors.

2. Readings and/or written analysis exercises will be assigned for each class. Students are expected to
complete the reading and analysis assignments before coming to class. These will be collected and in
some cases graded.

3. Grades are based on class discussion, quizzes, homework, exams, and integrating project content,
writing, and oral presentations. The proportions of the final grade will be determined as follows:

Points Percent Points Percent

EXAMS: INTEGRATED PROJECT:
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 First 200 20% Written Report 200 20%
Second 200 20% Oral presentations 80 8%
Final 250 25% Peer review and
Participation 50 5% presentation attendance 20 2%
700 70% 300 30%

TOTAL CLASS POINTS 1000

4. All students are required to read, understand, and adhere to the guidelines described in the
University Policy on academic honesty. This policy can be found in the Planner Handbook (pp.
141-144).

5. Attendance is strongly encouraged. Excused absences will be determined and evaluated by your
instructors on an individual basis. No makeup exams will be given unless the absence is due to a
valid medical emergency or university sponsored activity.

6. Prerequisites: Prerequisite MBA core or permission of graduate advisor. ACC 5105 and FIN 5805
must be taken concurrently.

CONTROLLERSHIP AND THE TREASURY FUNCTION

CLASS SCHEDULE SPRING 2006
INTEGRATED MBA BLOCK II
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 Textbooks--> CP: Corporate Finance FSA: Financial Statement Analysis
WEE DAT
K E MO COVERAGE INSTRUCTOR
1 10 JAN COURSE INTRODUCTION BOTH
12 CP: C15 MERCADO
2 17 CP: C1, FSA: C85 MERCADO
19 CP: C52,6 MERCADO
3 24 CP: C52,6 MERCADO
26 FSA: C41,4 FESSLER
4 31 FSA: C4, CP: C21,4 FESSLER
2 FEB CP: C21,4 FESSLER
5 7 TEST 1 → CP: C1, C2 & C5, FSA: C4 & C8 BOTH
9 FSA: C5 FESSLER
6 14 FSA: C5, CP: C62,3 FESSLER
16 CP: C62,3 FESSLER
7 21 CP: C6 & C4 FESSLER
23 SALES GROWTH PRESENTATION BOTH
8 28 CP: C4 FESSLER
2 MAR CP: C4 FESSLER
6-10 SPRING BREAK
9 14 TEST 2 → CP: C4 & C6, FSA: C5 BOTH
16 CP: C8, FSA: C115 MERCADO
10 21 CP: C8, FSA: C115 MERCADO
23 PROFORMA STATEMENTS PRESENTATION BOTH
11 28 CP: C9 MERCADO
30 CP: C9, FSA: C7 MERCADO
12 4 APR CP: C101 MERCADO
6 CP: C101 MERCADO
13 11 FINAL EXAM → CP: C8, C9 & C10, FSA: C7 & C11 BOTH
13 COST-OF-CAPITAL PRESENTATION BOTH
14 18 GROUP WORK
20 FINAL GROUP PRESENTATION BOTH
15 25 FINAL GROUP PRESENTATION BOTH
27 FINAL GROUP PRESENTATION BOTH
2 MAY WRITTEN PAPER DUE
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Ethical, Global, 3Political, 4Regulatory, 5Technology, 6Demographic Diversity
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