Resit Coursework Work Related Learning 3 Unit Leader: Sarah Moore-Williams Unit Reference Number: MAC_4_WR3 Faculty of Business 20011/2012

I. Significance of the assessment The module will be assessed by a combination of coursework (50% weighting) and a 2 hour examination (50% weighting) Coursework The coursework will be assessed by a portfolio of work (20% weighting) a personal development plan (20% weighting) and an individual interview. (60% weighting) Portfolio of work This will demonstrate progression in the student’s academic & professional ability. Marks shall be awarded for evidence of a CV, a personal statements, written communication skills, spreadsheet skills, accountancy package skills, research, career planning, development & reflective practice. Students need to show improvement in learning over a period of time. The portfolio needs to be presented in a professional manner. Evidence should where possible be brought in from the work place. The portfolio is intended to develop and assess a range of skills including, professional development, reflective practise, key skills, work based skills, organisation of information. Personal development plan This is the student’s analysis of continuous professional development. It will require students to complete & submit their record of continuous professional development which includes: Personal SWOT analysis reflecting on self and then focus on different activities carried out & reflecting on how they have helped in developing their learning. The PDP is intended to develop and assess a range of skills including, reflective learning, self evaluation, professional development, improving performance, and critical analysis. Final interview Students must apply for, and then participate in an individual 15 minute interview for a specified position within the accountancy field. They need to be able to produce a CV, illustrate key successes and relevant abilities and demonstrate knowledge of the accountancy industry. They should also be able to discuss problems encountered in their development process, implications and suggestions for further improvement.

Interview Coursework (60%)

The final interview is intended to develop and assess a range of skills including Improving performance, reflection, interview skills and oral communication. Exam The two hour exam will be closed book, unseen and held under examination conditions. It shall be based around case studies to emphasise the practical nature of the syllabi. It shall assess student’s application of theory. Overall Students will be required to pass all of the individual elements and to pass the module. The pass mark for each element is 30%. Students must attain an overall mark of 40% to pass the module.

II. Aims of this assessment

The main aims of this assessment are to develop and assess the student’s ability to:

Understand the importance of key accountancy roles within business

Understand the different career paths available to them

Understand the role of the ACCA and other CCAB bodies

Understand the nature, processes and procedures of people management

Understand the principles of recruitment and selection procedures

Understand the role and process of learning and training

Understand the need for effective performance procedures

Understanding of the importance of CPD

Produce a CV and perform effectively at an interview

Students are expected to utilise some of the information prepared in their PDP & portfolio coursework’s

III. Assessment Requirements Attached is a job description, company information, and a list of possible questions that you may be asked at interview.

You are to apply for the job, by sending your CV and covering letter to Room 105 London road building, C/o June Kelly by 1st August 2012. On 2nd August you will receive a letter in response to your application, hopefully requesting you to attend an interview at a specific place, time and date, either on the 21st August 2012. YOU NEED TO KEEP THIS DATE FREE UNTIL YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR INTERVIEW IS. You must prepare answers to the questions that could be asked of you and submit these answers in a report format to the Financial Director of the company, Mrs Sarah Moore-Williams, at the interview. You will then be interviewed by the Financial Director and another employee for approximately fifteen minutes. You will be asked questions based on those include in your report.

IV. Important information relating to the assessment: Marking Scheme

a) CV & Covering Letter (20 marks) Marks will be allocated accordingly:

Covering letter (5 marks)

C.V. (15 marks)

b) Report on possible questions (40 marks) You should prepare answers to the possible interview questions. You should attempt to answer all questions given. Marks will be allocated accordingly:

Appropriateness of answers (1 mark per question completed maximum 22 marks)

Evidence of application of relevant theories (8 marks)

Spelling (1 mark)

Punctuation (1 mark)

Grammar(1 mark)

Bibliography (3 mark)

Referencing (3 mark)

General presentation (1 mark)

c) The interview (40 marks). You will be interviewed for approximately 15 minutes. Marks will be awarded for:

Promptness/timeliness (2 marks)

Personal presentation ( 5 marks)

Deportment ( 2 marks)

Appropriateness of answers (4 marks per question maximum of 28 marks)

Appropriate enthusiasm/keenness for the role (3 marks)

The attention of every student is drawn to the warning in the course guide on late submission of coursework, mitigating circumstances and plagiarism. For guidance on copyright and referencing see the following section ‘Guidance on referencing’.

V. Handout/in dates Details will be be available on the Blackboard site. The C.V. and covering letter must be sent/handed to Mrs Sarah Moore Williams, Finance Director, C/o June Kelly Room 105 London Road, London Southbank University by 1st August 2012 The report with your answers must be handed at your interview. The interviews will be held either during the day or evening of 21st August 2012. YOU NEED TO KEEP THE WHOLE OF THIS DATE FREE UNTIL YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR INTERVIEW IS. If the deadlines are not met, then penalties will apply. (See Course Handbook for details.)

VI. Feedback

Generic feedback on the report shall be on Blackboard immediately after the completion of all interviews and two weeks after the report hand in date. Specific feedback and marks will be returned to you during the first week after the Christmas break.

VII. Guidance on referencing (Supplied by Academic Misconduct Officer) Correct referencing is an academic skill that you will be assessed on. Correct referencing demonstrates that you have read appropriately on the subject shows that you are acknowledging the sources you have used (that you are not trying to cheat) and provide information on useful sources of information to your reader. Doing it correctly

demonstrates professionalism, doing it incorrectly will lead to reduced marks, possibly to disciplinary action which includes the possibility of having your studies terminated. I do see cases where the student has clearly deliberately attempted to cheat. These are dealt with very firmly. However, most cases I see are where students have either referenced poorly or not bothered with referencing at all. Otherwise good work often fails in these circumstances. Guidance on referencing itself is available from the resources listed at the end of This sheet. If you have any concerns about your referencing ask for help before submitting. You can find online help-sheets by using the following link: http://www.lisa.lsbu.ac.uk/002_bcim/business/general/helpsheets_bm.htm In particular you should look at: HS4 Plagiarism HS30 How to do your Referencing (1): an introduction to the Harvard System (Printed Sources) HS31 How to do your Referencing (3) Web Sites, Electronic Journals and the Internet Further help is available on all academic matters from the ‘Academic Assistant’ at http://www.blc.lsbu.ac.uk/aa/aa/

JOB DESCRIPTION

Purchase Ledger Supervisor

Salary: £35,000p.a. Location: Elephant and Castle Hours: 8.30- 5.30 Monday – Thursday, Friday 8.30- 4.00 Company: Large multi national low cost supermarket Job Description: To effectively manage the payables team, ensuring it is strong, stable and appropriately resourced with a shared sense of the team’s objectives. Role/responsibilities:

Take leadership of the Payables Team and direct the team’s work (four staff expanding to four or five at busy time of the year) so as to deliver effective management of recording of invoices and prompt and accurate payment for the business.

Work with the Financial Controller to improve the processes and controls within the department.

To supervise/train appraise and develop the Accounts Payable clerks and when necessary recruit.

Ensure that the Accounts Payable function is managed in a cost effective and efficient manner.

Ensure invoice details are accurately input into the system

Ensure priority is given to valued suppliers business critical suppliers or small businesses.

Define a priority supplier on the system and ensure correct categories are created.

Ensure accurate credit terms are entered and adhered to, following prioritization of payments.

Liaise with the rest of the business, ensuring effective communication with regard to queries on invoices and payments.

Understand the needs of the cash flow of the business.

Supervise the team in processing cash expenses and company credit card expenses on a timely monthly basis according to service standards.

Provide a monthly late expenses report to the management team.

Control and oversee the expenses processing system, including reconciling the relevant balance sheet creditor control account to AP creditor sub ledger balance

To provide cover for the AP Clerks where workload makes this necessary or in their absence.

Perform BACS, Cheque and foreign currency payment runs.

Produce and review ageing analysis of suppliers at each month end.

All monthly direct debits and standing orders to be reviewed and posted

Regularly review supplier statement reconciliations. Investigate and resolve any discrepancies.

Deal with supplier queries in a timely fashion to agreed service standards.

Close AP module on time during month end and yearend cutoffs.

Ensure all filing is done correctly and promptly by the team including credit cards, payments run invoices etc.

Qualifications: Part qualified accountant (ACCA, CIMA or AAT qualified), or qualified by experience. Skills required: Excellent Microsoft office kills, Sage, interpersonal & communication skills Personal Attributes

A self starter who is willing to take on new and challenging tasks.

Ability to cope with changing priorities and tight deadlines.

Excellent communication skills

Demonstrable ability to implement robust new payables processes and controls.

Strong people and process manager who is able to lead and supervise a team to agreed service standards.

Be a good team player and willing learner.

Energetic and enthusiastic.

Must be numerically accurate with a good eye for detail, thorough, organized and consistent.

Absolute discretion and observance of confidentiality requirements Benefits: Salary, Pension, Study Package, 25 days annual leave plus possibility of 1 month flexi time, Closing Date for Applications: 1st August 2012 If successful, interviews are to be held on the 21st August 2012

Finance Department Structure

Payables Departmental Structure

Payable Department Staff Information Joan Morgan Aged 59, Joan has worked in the company for twenty years and has been acting as the interim Payables manager for the past six months prior to the role being advertised .She has no formal qualifications and does not want the pressure of the Managers role on a full time basis as she hopes to retire next year. In the past Joan was responsible for the development of the current system.

Financial Director

Management Accounting Department

Financial Accounting Department

IT Systems

Payables Department

Receivables Department

Financial Reporting

& Tax

Southern Region

Northern Region

Internal Audit

Personal Assistant

Payables Manager

Joan Morgan Suppliers

A-F

Alastair Brown

G-L

Jai Jai Yung M-Q

Samia Begum

R-Z

Liliane Rodriguez

Modern Apprentice

Alastair Brown Aged 19, Alastair has been with the company for two years, ever since leaving school. He has ambitions to become an accountant but needs guidance as to how to achieve this. He enjoys his job and would like to ‘grow within’ the company. He would have applied for the Managers job but felt that he lacked the managerial experience necessary. Jai Jai Yung Jai Jai is a twenty five year old accounting graduate. She is pleasant and very bright but there are issues with her accuracy and timelines, she is often late or off sick. Samia Begum Samia is a thirty six year old mother of four who works four days a week. She has no formal qualifications but she has been with the company for seven years and was involved in the implantation of the current system. She has also applied for the mangers job. Liliane Rodriguez Liliane is a seventeen year old modern apprentice who has just started her NVQ Level 2 Accountancy studies. She has been with the company two weeks and carries out basic, routine administration tasks such as filing, opening the post. Other Information Morale Morale in the department is very low. The previous manager was suspended and then sacked after a fraud investigation following a review by the newly formed internal audit department. Workload Workload has also increased by 25% due to a massive increase in turnover over the past year and the team has been working approximately thirty hours overtime a week to keep up with the work. They feel undervalued and exhausted as their additional efforts have not been recognised except through overtime payments. Internal controls and fraud Joan is concerned that controls over purchasing and payments are still very weak despite the recent fraud. A purchase order system is still not utilised, pre printed cheques are not kept securely and all members of the team can set up a suppliers account on the system without further authorisation. She is hoping that the new Manager will rectify the situation Contingency Planning Joan is also concerned that the company has very little in the way of a disaster recovery plan and the possible consequences of this.

Possible Interview Questions Question regarding your personal information 1. What is your name?

2. What qualifications do you have?

3. What has your experience as a student been like? What has is taught you

about your self?

4. What skills have you learnt at University that you can bring to your place of work?

5. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

6. What do you do in your spare time?

7. Do you prefer working as a team or on your own? Why?

8. Do you intend to continue studying if you are offered this job? If so what, and how will you do this whilst also working full time?

9. We offer a study package with this job that would support you to complete the ACCA qualification. On the completion of the Foundation Degree, how long will it take you to complete the ACCA? Where would you study? How much would this cost us if we were to sponsor you? Would you need time off?

10. Where do you see you’re self in five years time?

Questions regarding team leadership responsibilities 11. What do you think makes a good team leader?

12. Do you think that you would make a good team leader? Why?

13. You have seen our organisational chart. How would you motivate your team?

14. What do you perceive to be the strengths and weaknesses of our ‘payables’

team?

Questions regarding the purchase ledger 15.

If you had a purchase invoice for £120.00 what are the postings to the nominal ledger and the customers account in the sub ledger?

16.

What are purchase orders? How do they act as a form of control over purchasing within a company?

17.

What is a BACS system? Can it improve our payments system? If so, how? If not, why?

18.

What opportunities do you see in the current department for fraud to be carried out?

19.

What controls and procedures could be established to reduce the possibility of fraud?

20.

How would you reconcile the payables ledger?

Other Business Related Questions 21.

Why is cash flow so important to a business?

22.

What is a contingency plan and why is it so important to a business?