Key Objectives
The key objective of this section is to provide you with:
• the schedule of work for the report
• advice on preparing the report
• assessment criteria for the report
The company report is an individual piece of work based on an assigned company’s report
and accounts.
PLEASE NOTE THE COMPANY REPORT YOU ARE TO ANALYSE IS PROVIDED IN
THE ASSESSMENT SECTION OF MOODLE.
The length should be 1500 (+/- 10%) words overall as set out as follows. You need to
clearly and correctly state on the report the number of words when submitting it.
The list of references and appendices are NOT included in the word count.
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Schedule of Work
(i) Introduce the company to the reader. It is expected that this will include some company
history, the principal activity of the company, products, markets and key financial results.
(20 marks……approximately 300 words)
(ii) Using the annual report and accounts, calculate the percentage movement on the
following figures. You should include the following table in your assignment.
Current
year
Previous
year
%
movement
Revenue
Operating profit / loss
Capital employed – show workings if
needed
Total assets
Net cash generated / used in operating
activities
Number of employees
Earnings per share
Total dividend paid per
ordinary share
Year-end share price
Year-end market
capitalisation – using
share price above.
Show calculation
(10 marks)
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(iii) Calculate, for BOTH the current and the previous year, the following ratios that help
to highlight the company’s performance for the trading period. Show definitions and
workings:
• Current ratio
• Operating profit margin
• Trade receivables collection period
• Gearing ratio
• Return on capital employed
(10 marks)
(iv) Your best friend is thinking of buying 5,000 shares in the company under examination.
Write a report to them analysing the performance of your company over the last trading
period. You will be expected to make use of all relevant percentage movements and
financial ratios, NOT just the ones you may have calculated above.
You should conclude the report with your advice on whether or not you think your friend
should make the investment.
(50 marks….approximately 1200 words)
(v) The report should be word processed (Arial font size 12) and well presented.
Referencing and bibliographies should use the APA 6th System (name and date). For
detail of the APA 6th System refer to Learning Information Services (i.e. the Library’s)
Referencing web page and Guide
(10 marks)
(Total 100 marks)
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Some other advice on preparing your report
Always clearly label the question and sub-questions, which you are dealing with. Where
a word limit is imposed aim to stay within this. Always provide clear referencing of the
material you use to support your arguments. Explaining rather than describing will get you
more marks. Providing illustrative examples for key arguments demonstrates you
understand the topic rather than can just remember it. Make sure you very specifically
answer the question that has been set.
Please use ‘Group’ figures rather than ‘Company’ ones from the
annual report and take any figures before exceptional items.