ACCT101

Financial Accounting
Team Project
2021/2022 Term 1

Instructor and contact information

Dr CHARMAYNE Highfield
Telephone number: +65 9146 9520 (8.30am to 6pm please)
Telegram: Fairnesszone
Email address: [email protected]
SMU Office: Nil
Instructor’s Consultation: 1. Physical meeting at SMU: arrange via email
2. Virtual meeting: Zoom: arrange via email
3. Discussion forum in SMU eLearn, if appropriate
4. Direct email, WhatsApp or Telegram

Team project (20%) + Individual review of two presentations (2%) + Personal reflection (1%)

1. Objectives
The aims of this assessment are to enhance your understanding of useful financial accounting
information and the application of this information in practice. Therefore, you and your
teammates must:

• Assess the financial position and performance of your chosen company based on a
reasonable examination of the financial statements, notes to the accounts and other
disclosures; and
• Integrate non-accounting information (from other sources) with accounting
information to recommend and defend your advice.

In addition, you will engage in effective communication and use your leadership skills in a
team setting.

2. Company selection
Each team must choose one Singapore Exchange (SGX) Catalist or Mainboard merchandising
company to analyse and report on. Try to select a company that has reported in the last 12
months (reported a profit for the past two years and reports in Singapore dollars, if possible).

Please note, you must not contact your chosen company, its agents or competitors to obtain
research data, you must use ONLY PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. Under no
circumstances should you seek to use unpublished or private data.

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3. Deliverables
The Team Project has five deliverables (three as a team and two individually).

As a team (20%):
1. Team Charter (1%)
2. Written report (8%)
3. Pre-recorded presentation (11%)
As an individual (3%):
4. Review of two pre-recorded presentations (2%)
5. Personal reflection on team project experience (1%)

All sections
AS A TEAM (Tx%)
Deliverable Due date Mode of delivery
17:00 (5pm) eLearn
Team charter (T1%)
Monday, 30 August Template provided
eLearn (PDF & DOCX +
Written report (8%) + 17:00 (5pm)
presentation file/s) + your
presentation files (T11%) Monday, 25 October
company’s Annual Report
AS AN INDIVIDUAL (Mx%)
Deliverable Due date Mode of delivery
Review two presentations 17:00 (5pm) eLearn
(M2%) Monday, 15 November Template provided
Personal reflection on 17:00 (5pm) eLearn system
team project (M1%) Wednesday, 17 November Template provided

Late submissions may be accepted on a case-by-case basis but, generally, if the deliverable is
submitted less than 24 hours late a 50% penalty will apply. Deliverables submitted more than
24 hours late will be awarded zero.

3a. Team charter (T1%)

The template for the Team Charter is available for download from eLearn from the Team
Project folder. The questions and statements relate to establishing team norms and
expectations. Your team decides on its own ground rules – the things that are most important
to you and your teammates. All team members must agree to the Charter. Electronic
signatures or a simple email audit trail (a circular resolution) noting agreement is acceptable
evidence of consensus. Your Charter must be uploaded to eLearn as per the deliverables
schedule above for your ACCT101 section.

Grading: Complete and shows conscious effort 100%

Complete but lacks conscious effort 50%
Not submitted 0%
Late submission
- Less than 24 hours late 50% penalty
- More than 24 hours late 100% penalty

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3b. Written report (T8%)
The written report should not exceed 1,600 words using 12-point Calibri or similar font and
1.5 lines spacing. The word limit does not include the cover page, contents page, graphics,
tables, appendices or reference list.

Your team’s written report should include:

• An overview of the company and its industry;
• An evaluation of the company’s financial situation;
• Advice to your clients;
• Conclusion;
• Reference list (with appropriate in-text referencing); and
• Appendix/ices

Overview of the company and its industry (weight 15%)

An overview of your chosen company and an assessment of its industry, including its major
product lines/services, competitors and management’s expectations for the future.

An evaluation of the company’s financial situation (weight 30%)

Analyse your company’s financial statements and evaluate how it has performed in the past
two years. Profitability, ability to repay debts, growth potential and cash position are key
focus areas. Please only use the ratios presented in the Spiceland textbook on page S-1 of
the hardcover edition (see Annex 5). You do not have to evaluate all ratios, just the ratios
relevant to your selected clients.

Where possible, relate any ratios used to actual happenings within the company, the industry
and the economy in general. However, to achieve better than a C grade in this area, you need
to comment on why a ratio group (profitability and risk) may have changed and how your
company’s ratios compare with industry benchmarks or competitor firms (where available)
to give your analysis a clearer context. You should also include any assumptions that you
make. Your workings should be presented as an appendix.

Advice to clients (weight 35%) – select TWO clients only

Each of client has a decision to make. The objective of this project is therefore to help them
make this decision by undertaking an analysis of the annual report. Your team is, however,
encouraged to use alternative sources of information (e.g., company’s website, press
releases, newspaper clippings, etc.) to supplement your analysis. All sources of information
must be cited and referenced properly.

You can have a general advice section but you must also address TWO client’s needs
individually. You should aim to present a balanced view in line with your chosen client’s risk
profile and needs and provide supporting evidence from your analysis. In addition, whenever
you make a recommendation always word it with authority. You have conducted in-depth
research and carefully analysed all the options and this is the recommendation that your team
believes is the most appropriate in the current situation. Therefore, your recommendations
should always project an image of being the best possible solution for your chosen client.
Remember to also state any assumptions you make and identify any other information (if any)
that is not available that could strengthen the advice to your chosen clients.

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 The clients Background
Your chosen company has approached a multinational IT supplier to
supply goods / services. This is a new business relationship and involves
a significant recurring order placement. The multinational supplier is
Major
considering granting credit terms. Based on your analysis, make a
multinational
recommendation on the credit worthiness of your chosen company and
supplier
state why you would (or would not) grant your chosen company credit for
its first purchase. While they are very keen to secure new business, fair
business practices and prompt payment are essential.
Your chosen company has approached a small but well-respected local
A local
IT supplier. While they are very keen to secure new business, fair
supplier
business practices and prompt payment are essential.
Your chosen company has applied to a local bank for a $3,000,000 five-
year interest-only loan (Note Payable). The interest rate will be 7% per
Local Bank annum, with interest paid monthly. The loan would be secured by
taking a mortgage over the assets of your company. (Hint: think about
how taking on more debt will impact your company)
This married couple recently sold their catering business for a tidy sum.
They have no children and live in Woodlands in their HDB maisonette unit
(fully paid for). The couple used some of the sale proceeds to top up their
Mr Koh respective CPF retirement accounts to the full retirement sum. However,
and as they are not yet eligible to draw a monthly pay-out, they are looking to
Madam Tay invest the remainder of the sale proceeds to generate a passive income.
Mr Koh and Madam Tay have asked you for advice on the appropriateness
of your chosen company as a suitable investment option. (Hint: The facts
presented will give you an indication as to the age range of your clients)
Your chosen company has offered your client a fast-track position as a
management trainee. Your client, a recent graduate with a double degree
Prospective in Information Technology and Social Science, is seeking your advice on
employee the company’s performance over the past two years and the potential for
the future. They are unsure if they should accept the offer. (Hint: as soon
to be graduates, what will you be looking for in your ideal employer)

Note: Teams may choose to integrate the analysis component with the advice to their clients.

Conclusion (weight 5%)

In your conclusion, state any risk factors or limitations that may threaten the validity of your
advice, and reiterate your strongest arguments for a more persuasive conclusion.

Reference list (weight 5%)

A complete reference list together with in-text referencing must form part of your report (but
not included in the word count). See: https://researchguides.smu.edu.sg/apastyle. A
reference List contains only the materials that you cite or quote in the body of your report.
A reference list is different from a bibliography. A bibliography is a list of ALL the references
that you consult in researching your chosen company.

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Professionalism (10%) – flow and accuracy
It is important in business to be able to write concisely. To help you master this skill, please
keep within the set word limit (+10% max.). Using the appropriate professional tone is an
important aspect of communicating your message in your report and will help you to engage
your reader.

When you use a confident and professional tone, your reader is more likely to agree and
accept the message you are conveying. Whenever possible, always use active rather than
passive constructions when writing your report. As the active voice is more direct, it is
generally shorter and clearer. Moreover, active voice portrays confidence in your analysis,
conclusions and recommendations.

It is important to be consistent with your spelling throughout your report. The UK and the US
spelling are often different. Examples include behaviour v behavior; organisation v
organization; analyse v analyze; colour v color. SMU, in its official documents, adopts the UK
spelling convention, however, you are free to choose. Whichever you choose, please be
consistent in adopting either the UK system or the US system, but do not use both.

In academic and business writing, we usually write the numbers 0 to 9 as zero, one, two, etc.
and the numbers 10 upwards as 10, 11, 12, 13, etc., although there are variations.

Language to avoid – you should refrain from using jargon, slang, vague or emotive language
in your report, and never use language that is discriminatory, offensive or culturally
insensitive. Although it is important to convey strength and confidence in your report, you
must avoid coming across as being overly confident, condescending or arrogant.

Refer to Annex 1 for the marking rubric for the written report deliverable.

3c. Team project pre-recorded presentation (T11%)

Each team member has up to five minutes to present and all team members must present.
The presentation should be audio and presenter video. The presenting student’s identity
must be disclosed (verbal identification or text-based identification; for instance, the
student’s initials in a corner of the frame while they are speaking). Each team should aim for
no more than five slides per team member, excluding the slides with the title and credits.
There is a minimum time expected of 15 minutes in total for each presentation and a
maximum of 25 minutes overall.

You can use any presentation software that you like such as handwriting animation,
whiteboard animation, etc. to add that ‘creative touch’. However, you cannot create your
entire presentation using PowToon or similar video editing software.

The final grade awarded for your team’s presentation will be based in part on the reviews
your team receives from your classmates (see 3d below and Annex 3).

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The pre-recorded presentation has two components:

1. Oral (with video) presentation of the major findings from your analysis and the advice
to your clients. The presentation may be supported by static media (such as
PowerPoint slides, digital whiteboard, animation production software, etc.). Teams
are encouraged to be imaginative and resourceful in their delivery (weight 75%); and

2. Creative element of no more than 10 minutes. The creative element should be an

integral part of the overall presentation. The key requirement being to demonstrate
creative thought and engagement with the audience (weight 25%).

Refer to Annex 2 for the marking rubric for the pre-recorded presentation deliverable.

3d. Individual presentation review (M2%)

Each team will be assigned two pre-recorded presentations to review. You may discuss your
opinions with your teammates, but each team member must submit a review personally
(using the template in Annex 3) to obtain individual participation marks. In order to obtain
full marks, you must comment on each presentation indicating what you liked and why and if
there are any areas for improvement.

Grading: Complete and shows conscious effort 100%

Submitted but lacks conscious effort/no comments 50%
Not submitted 0%
Late submission penalty
- Less than 24 hours late 50%
- More than 24 hours late 100%

3e. Personal reflection on team project (M1%)

As part of your team project, you must rate your teammates (not yourself), with specific
reference to the agreed upon ground rules in your Team Charter. Although the rating process
is not an onerous task, it is compulsory (see Annex 4). Failure to rate your teammates will
result in a 20% penalty applied to you personally, and deducted from your team’s Written
Report score (written report component only, not the presentation component).

Grading: Complete and shows conscious effort 100%

Submitted but lacks conscious effort/personal reflection 50%
Not submitted * 0%
(* zero for the M1% component + an additional penalty
equivalent to 20% of your team’s overall mark for the
Written Report component for not rating your
teammates)
Late submission penalty
- Less than 24 hours late 50%
- More than 24 hours late 100%

Additional information about being a good team player

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Peer review is an excellent means of seeking the opinions of others in a fair and objective
manner and is an integral part of doing business in an ethical way. Should the feedback from
your teammates be less than ideal, you will be given an opportunity to explain the situation
before any adjusting penalty is applied. Please refer to Annex 4 for the teammate rating
rubric.

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Annex 1 – Written Report marking rubric

3b. Written report (8%)

Exceptional Clearly competent Competent Needs improvement

Attribute Fail
A B C D
Overview
Comprehensive Elevated Clearly competent Needs improvement Missing or irrelevant
(15%)
Shows an exceptional Shows an elevated level of
Shows synthesis and
level of synthesis and synthesis and evaluation Lacks complete synthesis Limited ability to
evaluation of the facts
evaluation of the facts of the facts presented. and evaluation of the facts synthesise and evaluate
presented. Demonstrates
Evaluation presented. Demonstrates Demonstrates strong presented. Demonstrates the facts presented.
adequate problem-solving
(30%) exceptional problem- problem-solving skills. limited problem-solving Unable to problem-solve.
skills. Emphasises most
solving skills. Emphasises Emphasises all essential skills. Includes some Irrelevant material blurs
essential points. No
all essential points. No points. No irrelevant irrelevant material. the message.
WRITTEN REPORT

irrelevant material.
irrelevant material. material.
Well-reasoned and Well-reasoned Shows some measured
Adequately reasoned.
reflective independent independent opinions. opinions but largely draws Unable to identify even
Identifies most
opinions. Identifies all Identifies all stakeholder on knowledge from the obvious stakeholder
Professional stakeholder issues and
stakeholder issues and issues and recognises textbook or other issues. Unfocused
advice given recognises common
explains complex complex common sources. thought processes and/or
(35%) interrelationships.
interrelationships. interrelationships. Identifies only obvious limited responses.
Assesses the situation
Assesses the situation Assesses the situation stakeholder issues with no
appropriately.
comprehensively. thoroughly. interrelationships.
Conclusion Concise and highly
Concise and persuasive Concise but doubts remain Weak and unconvincing Missing
(5%) persuasive
High quality references, Good quality references, Mostly good quality Incomplete or poor-
References
complete and complete and references, complete and quality references. Poor Missing
(5%)
appropriately formatted. appropriately formatted. appropriately formatted. citation technique.
A very pleasing style.
Flow and A pleasing and engaging Satisfactory construction. Uninspiring content. Poorly articulated or
Worth reading for its
accuracy style. Mostly accurate with no Numerous inaccuracies inappropriate professional
written expression alone.
(10%) Highly accurate. major errors. but no major errors. language. Major errors.
Totally error free.

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Annex 2 – Presentation marking rubric

3c. Pre-recorded Presentation (11%)

Exceptional Clearly competent Competent Needs improvement

Fail
A B C D
Exceptional use of various High quality use of various
Good use of various media Limited use of media or
media formats with all media formats with
CREATIVITY (25%)

formats with mostly original little original content.

original content that is significant original content No creative component.
T& Audience

content to present the Lacklustre / does not hold

dynamic and captivating to that is lively to showcase
company. the audience’s attention.
showcase the company. the company.
Motivates classmates to Made classmates interested Classmates were neural in Classmates were confused
Just blur!
engage with the topic. in the topic. their reviews. by the presentation.
The grade awarded for your team’s presentation will be based in part on the reviews your team receives from your classmates
Shows an exceptional level
PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION
PRESENTATION

Shows an elevated level of Shows synthesis and

of synthesis and evaluation
synthesis and evaluation of evaluation of the facts. Lacks complete synthesis Limited ability to synthesise
of the facts presented.
the facts. Emphasises all Emphasises most essential and evaluation of the facts. and evaluate the facts.
Emphasises all essential
essential points. points.
points.
Well-reasoned and
Well-reasoned independent Unable to identify even
ADVICE GIVEN

reflective independent Adequately reasoned. Identifies only obvious

opinions. Identifies all obvious stakeholder issues.
opinions. Identifies all Identifies most stakeholder stakeholder issues with no
stakeholder issues and Unfocused thought
stakeholder issues and issues and recognises interrelationships. Shows
recognises complex processes and/or limited
explains complex common interrelationships. some measured opinions.
interrelationships. responses.
interrelationships.
No irrelevant vocalised Irrelevant vocalised pauses Vocalised pauses became
Vocalised pauses impede
PROFESSIONALISM

pauses (e.g., ah, um). All Few irrelevant vocalised more obvious. Most team distracting. Few team
understanding. Team
team members are pauses. All team members members are articulate. members are articulate.
members are not very
articulate. Language and are articulate. Language Language and tone are Language and/or tone are
articulate. Language and
tone are professional. and tone are professional. professional. sometimes not professional.
tone are not professional.
Presentation lacks
An exceptional A high-quality presentation. A clearly competent Presentation competent
competence and care.
presentation. presentation. only in parts.

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Annex 3 – Individual presentation review sheet (template)

Team name: ____________________________________________ Clearly Needs

Exceptional Competent Fail
This is the name of the team you are reviewing Competent Improving
Topic clearly stated and I was interested to hear more (please tick)
The financial analysis was thorough, concise and compellingly
presented (please tick)
The advice to clients was easy to understand and justified (please
tick)
Static media (e.g. PowerPoint quality) enhanced the presentation
(please tick)
The creative component within the presentation was imaginative
and showed resourcefulness and effort (please tick)
Overall, the presentation was professional, organised and well-
integrated (please tick)
Presenters exhibited a good understanding of the company and its
ALL MOST 50/50 <50%->0% NONE
industry (please circle)
Presenters spoke clearly and confidently (please circle) ALL MOST 50/50 <50%->0% NONE

Review comments (what you liked, how to improve, etc.):

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Annex 4 – Personal reflection on team project and teammate rating (template)
Your name

Team member’s name Rating

Circle the most appropriate rating for each team member

Legend
A great team member Met expectation Below expectation
Absolutely fabulous! OK lah! Avoid!

A short reflection or other comments (good and not so good) about your personal team
experience (four or five sentences, but more if you want to share).

Penalties
A majority of with no is the minimum acceptable rating. If your teammates rate you
below this, then the following penalty will be applied to you personally, and your written team
report score will be reduced accordingly.

Rating Penalty applied

50% 50%
Benefit of the doubt
Majority +1 (n > 0)
n +n +1
Majority but no 5% penalty

50% 50% 10% penalty

Majority but not all 15% penalty

All 20% penalty

Name Signature

Remember failure to rate your teammates will result in a 20% penalty being applied to you
personally, and your written team report score will be reduced accordingly.

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Annex 5– Ratios to use from Spiceland

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