Program Overview

The Financial Reporting Landscape (MSIN0316)

Key Information

• Faculty: Faculty of Engineering Sciences
• Teaching department: UCL School of Management
• Credit value: 15
• Restrictions: The module is restricted to students on the MSc Strategic Accounting and Finance (online) programme.

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

Financial statements for external reporting are prepared within a framework of protocols, conventions, and regulation. Within annual reports of organisations, the financial statements form only part of the reports. They are set in the context of environmental, social and governance (ESG) contexts, non-financial qualitative reports, and evolving assurance requirements. The reporting environment is turbulent. Additional reporting requirements emerge with a seemingly increasing regularity presenting organisations with compliance challenges. Those challenges are in addition to the existing and continuing reality of tensions within financial reporting frameworks, including debates surrounding international reporting standards, together with the nature of 'true and fair' reporting. Additionally, interested parties require assurance through audit that what is being reported on is what should be reported on and is reported on appropriately. To be effective, financial decision-making requires decision makers to be conversant with the nature of and drivers for such tensions, and to engage with emerging regulations which go beyond conventional financial reporting. This module identifies and explores the significance of such tensions and compliance requirements to equip you with the ability to factor in the characteristics of the landscape when faced with making a range of financial decisions.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

• Intended teaching term: Term 1
• Postgraduate (FHEQ Level 7)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: Online
• Methods of assessment:
  • 30% Other form of assessment
  • 60% Coursework
  • 10% In-class activity
• Mark scheme: Numeric Marks

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 50
• Module leader: Professor Susan Smith

Last Updated

This module description was last updated on 10th March 2026.