Analytical accounting and management control

Duration

40h Th, 20h Pr

Number of credits

Lecturer

Didier Van Caillie

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course 'Cost Accounting and Management Control' covers the basics of cost accounting, management accounting and management control necessary to understand how an organisation measures, manages and controls its costs, and how it translates this information into an effective control system. This is presented in 10 concrete theoretical questions structured around 4 themes.

The first part of the course provides a detailed overview of the main techniques of internal accounting and demonstrates how they can be used to inform decision-making processes.

The second part presents the characteristics of management control systems used in organisations, providing an overview of the main techniques and methods specific to control by results, control by actions, and personal control.

After introducing the features of management accounting and defining the relevant terms and concepts, the course first addresses the accumulation of costs for the purpose of accurately measuring profits within a company. It then presents various techniques for managing accounting information from a decision-making perspective, such as cost-volume-profit analysis, activity-based costing, profitability analysis, pricing decisions, and accounting decision-making in conditions of risk and uncertainty.

The third part of the course presents the characteristics of an effective and efficient management control system, focusing on the various techniques implemented within organisations to ensure effective daily management. Particular attention is paid to results-based control techniques (the accounting and financial approach and the organisational approach), action control techniques (the organisational and production management approach), and individual control techniques (motivation mechanisms).


This course uses a reverse learning pedagogy based on action. Each week, students progress in their acquisition of theoretical concepts by preparing presentations based on podcasts, slides and written materials. They learn to use all the educational possibilities offered by artificial intelligence in a critical and rational manner.

They then apply this theory directly to a small activity chosen from their immediate environment. Working in groups of no more than five, they study the activity in order to discover the reality of its cost accounting, management and control methods. Each group's progress is monitored very regularly.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

This course intends to meet the ILOs such as defined for this course in the program of "Bachelor in Business Engineering", i.e.

Strategy :
The course will allow students to establish a strategy in order to optimize the value chain of a company, an organization or a project.
- based on the analysis of its financial and economic context
- taking into account its scientific and technological context
- demonstrating  scientific precision and a critical mind
Implementation :
The course will allow students to take charge of the everyday management of a company, an organization or a project
- analyzing his managerial practice with a critical and ethical mind
Quality and Performance Control :
The course will allow students to plan and implement the performance and quality control in a company, an organization or a project
- using the appropriate analytical tools
Adaptability :
The course will allow students to adapt their managerial practice to the needs of a fast-evolving world
- showing curiosity and a scientific precision of academic level
- showing creativity, autonomy.

More specifically, it insists particularly on the following aspects :

• Ability to master the fundamentals of cost and management accounting.
• Ability to master the principles and the fundamentals of financial and organisational management control.
• Ability to apply the concepts and techniques considered during the course to a practical case and to design an action plan in order to optimize its cost structure and to maximize its security margin

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

General accounting.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Learning method: learning by doing

Theory :
- Business modeling: 9 h
- Cost and management accounting: 21 h
- Organizational and financial controlling: 10 h

Case study (in groups of no more than 4 students):
- From week to week, based on the analysis of a real case study of a small business (less than 10 FTE) chosen from their immediate environment, students provide precise, documented answers to a series of questions covering the themes covered in the course: 20 h

- Personal work on the case study: 20 h.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Blended learning


Further information:

The theoretical course is mainly delivered via distance learning to allow the case study to be carried out progressively and with flexibility.

The case study is carried out at home for the "analysis" part and at the company for the "observation and information gathering" part.



 

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Van Caillie D. (2005) : Principes de comptabilité analytique et de comptabilité de gestion, Liège : Editions de l'Université de Liège - 2ème édition, 242 p. (it will be published in an electronic format on the Campus website section for this course)
Merchant K, Van der Stede W. (2011) : Management control systems - Performance measurement, evaluation and incentives, Prentice Hall, 2nd Edition, Chapters 1 to 10
+ additional supports available on the Lola platform : http://lola.hec.uliege.be/course/view.php?id=129

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Further information:

Assessment:

Oral examination:

This examination covers all the topics and issues addressed in the theoretical course, as well as the student's vision for completing their case study.

The examination lasts 15 minutes and is conducted in French. Students are given 30 minutes to prepare.

It accounts for 50% of the final mark.

Case study:

The case study is the subject of a 25-page group report (not including the cover page, table of contents, or appendices), which presents the process implemented and the results (i.e. the answers to the questions asked) of the practical study carried out in a group within a company.

The assessment of this report accounts for 30% of the final mark.

Individual involvement in weekly group theory presentations and company work support sessions accounts for a further 20% of the final mark.

If the health or regulatory context does not allow an oral examination to be held under healthy conditions, a written examination will be organized.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

All the supports that are necessary are available on your Lola platform.

Contacts

Professor Didier Van Caillie, d.vancaillie@uliege.be

Assistant : Mrs Louise Colling, louise.colling@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

Items online