Financial Management
The main aim of this course is to provide students with a sound understanding of contemporary corporate finance both theoretically and practically. The course will explore key aspects of financial management, including investment decision, financing decision and working capital management. It will enable a critical appreciation of the link between accounting and finance, and the interaction between financial decision-making and capital market behaviour, as well as developing students’ skills in analysing principles of strategic financial management decisions and determining appropriate methods for long- and short-term financing decisions.
• Fundamentals of financial management, including external environment, objectives of financial management, needs of different stakeholders and regulations in the area of corporate governance.
• Fundamentals of financial markets and financial products, including a comprehensive description of all types of fund raising for SMEs
• Financing decision making, including equity finance, debt finance and dividend policy.
• The cost of capital and capital and balance sheet structure.
• Financial planning: long term and short term financial planning; working capital and liquidity management policies.
• Search and behaviour versus potential financiers and communication with banks
• Risk and return: nature and measurement of risk
• Significance of cash flow management
• Fundamentals of strategic financial decisions, such as international investment, risk management, acquisitions and restructuring.
On successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate a critical awareness and understanding of Financial Management at the bachelor's level that provides a basis for developing and/or applying new ideas, often within a research context.
- apply knowledge, critical understanding, and problem-solving abilities in new or unfamiliar environments within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study (Financial Management)
- assimilate knowledge and formulate opinions with incomplete or limited information, but that include a reflection on social and ethical responsibilities.
- communicate their assumptions, and knowledge regarding Financial Management and the rationale underpinning these, to specialist and non-specialist audiences clearly and unambiguously.
- use the acquired skills to allow them to continue to study in a manner that may be largely self-directed and autonomous.
- integrate knowledge from other courses of the master program and practical business and formulate critical judgments with incomplete data.
The course is offered as self-study in e-learning. The learning material is provided in the form of lectures, literature, and lecture notes. Independent learning is required. In the case of paper submissions, further research is expected in compliance with the given scientific standard. LIVE course sessions are offered to support the students with questions regarding the content. Students are supported in their scientific work by corresponding online seminars.
All lectures and learning materials are made available in the online campus GHU Campus. All lectures are recorded and are available for download 24/7. The lecture notes, as well as additional material provided by the lecturer, can also be accessed in the GHU Campus.
Documents for exam preparation consisting of lectures and lecture notes. Additional material provided by the lecturer serves as independent files and can be used to work on the exams. The examination comprises theory questions, reflection, and case study and is intended to confirm all learning objectives.
The assessment consists of a 5000-word Financial Management analysis and assesses all learning outcomes. As a master-level assignment, the analysis requires a command of a complex and specialized area of knowledge and skills. This implies that, in addition to demonstrating a sound grasp of the ideas and concepts relevant to the topic of theanalysis, students will show that they can evaluate aspects such as conventions of approaches, their internal consistency, relevance, and applicability, as well as strengths and weaknesses.
To reach an assessment, students will consider competing approaches and draw on critiques put forward in scholarly literature. The position adopted in the assignment and any claims made must be based on a careful, coherent, and logical arguments, need to be appropriately supported with evidence from relevant scholarly sources, and should be presented in a coherent piece of writing. Sources must be referenced appropriately in-text and in a quote/reference list as set out in the GHU Referencing Guidelines.