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Credit Value: 0.0
Credit Value Notes: N/A
Effective: Spring/Summer 2015
Prerequisites:
N/A
Corequisites:
N/A
Equivalents:
N/A
Pre/Co/Equiv Notes: N/A |
Course
Name (short): Accounting & Finance Essential
School: Continuing Ed & Corp Training
Program(s):
Accounting and Finance Profess
Program Coordinator(s):
Tba
Course Leader or Contact: N/A
Originator: Ravneet Malhi
Designate: Ravneet Malhi
Version: 3.0
Status: Approved - Under Rev (AREV)
Calendar Description
N/A
Typical Instructional Format
Lecture
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21.0 |
Total hours: |
21.0 |
Courses may be offered in other formats.
Section I Notes:
This course is offered in a blended format that includes online and in
class/virtual meeting components. The total instruction time will be
21 hours. The online portions of the course are web-based and offered
entirely online through Sheridan College's SLATE learning management
system. Students taking this course will need a laptop computer,
reliable access to the internet, should have a basic level of comfort
using computers as well as the self- discipline to study
independently. Students can expect to spend additional hours per week
for online activities such as postings, discussions, reading, homework
and assignments.
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Detailed Description
It is anticipated that students will either already be running their
own businesses or have a strong interest in starting one up.
Students will learn that, as entrepreneurs, they need a basic
understanding of accounting and financial management in order to
better understand their businesses, ensure their viability and plan
for growth/diversification in the future. Using real-world examples,
the students will learn about options for funding their businesses,
gaining the confidence of financial institutions and investors,
budgeting and how to read financial statements. The course will also
prepare students to price their products or services to make a profit,
market their businesses with low cost options, such as social media,
and manage the risks of being an entrepreneur in competitive and
uncertain markets.
Program Context
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Accounting and Finance Profess |
Program Coordinator: Tba |
This is an elective, non-credit
course offered through the
Faculty of Continuing and
Professional Studies.
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Course Critical Performance and Learning Outcomes
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CRITICAL PERFORMANCE:
By the end of this course, students will be able to manage and control
the financial aspects of their businesses, make accurate cash flow
projections, and complete and implement a business and financial plan.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
To achieve the critical performance, students will have demonstrated
the ability to:
1. Explain the crucial role that accounting and finance play in a
successful business.
2. Create a business and financial plan for a business.
3. Create a personal and business budget.
4. Analyze financial statements to predict and recognize financial
weaknesses.
5. Cost and price goods or services accurately.
6. Apply cost-effective strategies to marketing a business.
7. Describe various options for financing a business and financial
record-keeping.
8. Describe the importance of managing risk and risk mitigation
strategies.
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Evaluation Plan
Students demonstrate their learning in the following ways:
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As this is a non-credit course, there will be no official exams or
graded assignments. Students will assess their learning via self, peer
and instructor feedback on weekly assignments.
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Provincial Context
The course meets the following Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities requirements:
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Essential Employability
Skills
Essential Employability Skills emphasized in the course:
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Communication
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Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
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Interpersonal
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Numeracy |
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Information
Management |
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Personal
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Notes: N/A
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition
PLAR Contact: Multiple PLA Contacts
Students may apply to receive credit by demonstrating achievement
of the course learning outcomes through previous life and work experiences.
This course is eligible for challenge through the following
method(s):
Challenge Exam |
Portfolio |
Interview |
Other |
Not Eligible for PLAR |
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X |
Notes: N/A
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Some details of this outline may change as a result of circumstances such as weather cancellations, College and student activities, and class timetabling.
Effective term: Spring/Summer 2015
Professor: Multiple Professors
Textbook(s): Online texts, articles, videos, assignments and group discussions to
complete activities that support the learning outcomes and critical
performance requirements. Each class will include a short
podcast/interview of a local entrepreneur.
Applicable student group(s): For students in the Faculty of Continuing and Professional Studies
Course Details:Instructional Strategies
Each classroom session will be organized as follows:
- Lecture on the weekly topic
- Relevant examples/case studies related to the instructor¿s business
experience, as well as other local businesses
- Introduction of the business plan section to be covered that week
- Group work based on the weekly topic and business plan section¿
students to work in groups to complete the seven sections of their
business plans in class. Students will present their business plans to
the class in week 7 (the final week).
Online learning will include:
- Podcasts/interviews of local entrepreneurs (may be shown in class,
but also posted online)
- Readings and videos related to weekly topics
- Online discussions between classroom sessions based on the weekly
topic
Sample Exercises/Assignments
The students will:
- Prepare a 7-part business and financial plan for their business
during class time
- Create a personal budget and a business budget
- Participate in online discussions related to weekly topics between
weekly classes
Week 1 - Welcome and Introduction to Financial Management
- Introductions/discussion of course syllabus
- The crucial role that financial planning and financial literacy in
business success
- The components of a business and financial plan will be presented,
with the goal of having students' basic business structures up and
running by the plans
- Types of business structures - sole proprietorship, partnership
corporation
- Creation and organization of the online class discussion forum
Week 2 - Show me the money; Ways to finance your business
- Determining how much cash you will need
- Creating a personal budget and a business budget
- Pros and cons of various funding options, including bootstrapping,
government grants, bank loans, investors, family and friends
- How to address the fears and concerns of lenders before they raise
them
Week 3 - The Basics of Financial Statements
- Profit and loss statements
- Balance sheets
- Income statements
- Cash flow statements
- Calculating the break-even point
- Creating a balance sheet and an initial cash flow statement to back
up your financial goals
- Using financial statements to predict and recognize financial
weaknesses
- How financial literacy can help sustain and grow a business
Week 4 - Advice to bank on; Choosing a financial institution
- Differences between banks and credit unions
- Choosing a method of financial record keeping
- Differences between accrual and cash flow record keeping
- Terminology used by banks and financial professionals
- Bookkeeping and year end accounting
- When and how to hire a bookkeeper
- Low-cost accounting software, such as Quickbooks, Excel, Fresh books
Week 5 - Pricing, Inventory and Marketing
- Formulas for pricing goods and services
- Advantages and disadvantages of being a low price/high volume
business
- Advantages and disadvantages of being a high price/low volume
business
- How a marginal percentage increase in price can have a big impact on
a business's bottom line
- Strengths and weaknesses of traditional and new marketing methods
(e.g. social media)
- Setting a marketing budget
Week 6 - Mitigating Risk
- The three types of risk: the market, people (staff) and operational
- Thriving on change: how to adapt a business to cultural and economic
shifts
- Adding revenue streams without diluting a brand
- Financial planning for diversification
- Identifying and evaluating diversification directions for a business
Week 7 - Wrapping it Up! Student Business Plan Presentations and
Critiques
- Ways to remain motivated as an entrepreneur
- Student presentations: Students to present their completed business
and financial plans and discuss the progression of their new
businesses.
Academic Honesty
The principle of academic honesty requires that all work submitted for evaluation and course credit be the original,
unassisted work of the student. Cheating or plagiarism including borrowing, copying, purchasing or collaborating on
work, except for group projects arranged and approved by the faculty member, or otherwise submitting work that is not
the student's own violates this principle and will not be tolerated. Instances of academic dishonesty, including
assisting another student to cheat, will be penalized as detailed in the Student Handbook.
Students who have any questions regarding whether or not specific circumstances involve a breach of academic
honesty are advised to discuss them with the faculty member prior to submitting the assignment in question.
Discrimination and Harassment
Sheridan is committed to provide a learning environment that respects the dignity, self esteem and fair treatment
of every person engaged in the learning process. Behaviour which is inconsistent with this principle will
not be tolerated. Details of Sheridan's policy on Harassment and Discrimination are available in the Student Handbook.
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