Accounting is the process of identifying, measuring and communicating information to permit informed judgments and decisions by users of the information. Accounting mirrors economic reality. Accounting is the lingua franca of the financial world and impacts all aspects of management and financial decision making. Lawyers are faced with matters of business administration and business decision making and will be confronted with concepts of accounting. Business accounting is divided into financial accounting and management accounting.
Financial accounting deals with the annual report, the Statement of Financial Position (balance sheet), the Income Statement (profit and loss account) and the Statement of Cash Flows. Financial accounting refers to information describing the resources, claims, and activities of an economic entity. Financial accounting information is designed primarily to assist investors and creditors including banks in deciding where to invest their scarce investment resources.
Management accounting deals with cost classifications, full costing and the relationship between costs of production, volume of sales and profit. Management accounting involves the development and interpretation of accounting information intended specifically to assist management in managing and controlling the business.
Objectives of the course
1. Describe the role, function and usefulness of accounting in general
2. Describe the basic concepts of financial accounting and management accounting;
3. Recognise specific financial accounting and management accounting similarities and differences;
4. Apply financial accounting and management accounting cases and methods in simplified descriptions of real world situations;
5. Identify from real world cases the accounting relevant data to draw conclusions;
6. Able to perform and report a financial statement analysis;
7. Demonstrate a critical and independent view when confronted with financial and managerial accounting issues, to reach his or her own conclusions, and present or report the findings.
The following achievement levels apply with regard to the course:
1. A general insight of the main concepts of financial accounting and management accounting involved;
2. A general analytical and practical skill to apply financial accounting and management accounting in practice;
3. Knowledge and experience of financial analysis;
4. Introduction in accounting research.
The timetable of this course can be found in uSis.
Mode of instruction
Number of (2 hour) lectures: 7
Names of lecturers: Dr. D.H. van Offeren
Required preparation by students: reading literature
Number of (2 hour) seminars: 7
Names of instructors: Dr. D.H. van Offeren
Required preparation by students: in the weekly seminars, students will actively engage in presenting their knowledge. They need to prepare and present study problems from the textbook. During two seminars students have to present their findings about an annual report and a scientific article about accounting.
a. Multiple-choice tests
b. Presentations in groups consisting of the analysis of an annual report and of an accounting paper
c. Written exam
Examination form (for the exam and the retake)
Multiple choice tests and presentations: maximum 20 points
Written exam: maximum 80 points
Total: maximum 100 points
The multiple choice tests and the presentations cannot be retaken. The points earned on the multiple choice tests and the presentations will remain valid for the retake of the exam.
If a student has not passed the course by the end of the academic year, partial grades for written exam or multiple choice tests and presentations are no longer valid.
Regulation retake passed exams
In this course it is possible to retake an exam that has been passed (cf. art. 126.96.36.199 and further of the Course and Examination Regulations), on the condition that this course is included in the compulsory components of the degree programme. Students who have passed the exam may retake the final written assessment (test) of the course. Please contact the Student Administration Office (OIC) for more information.
Areas to be tested within the exam
The examination syllabus consists of the required reading (text) for the course, the course information guide and the subjects taught in the lectures, the seminars and all other instructions which are part of the course.
More information on this course is offered in Blackboard.
Obligatory course materials
- McLaney E. and P. Atrill, Accounting and Finance: an introduction, most recent (eighth) edition, 2016, Pearson.
Course information guide:
- Course information guide (Blackboard)
Students have to register for courses and exams through uSis.
Exchange students have priority and will be registered for the course first. Any remaining seats will be available for students from Leiden University and other Dutch Universities.
Co-ordinator: Dr. D.H. van Offeren
Work address: KOG, Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden, Office B 3.05
Telephone number: 071 527 8887
Institute: Institute of Tax Law and Economics
Department: Business Studies
Office hours: Monday-Friday 0.900-17.00
Telephone number secretariat: 071 527 8827
Belangstellenden die deze cursus in het kader van contractonderwijs willen volgen (met tentamen), kunnen meer informatie vinden over kosten, inschrijving, voorwaarden, etc. op de website van Juridisch PAO. Let op dat er wel voldaan moet worden aan de toegangseisen.