26832 Startup Finance and Accounting
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 3 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject develops finance and accounting knowledge and skills for entrepreneurs. The topics covered provide an understanding of key concepts and help plan and deliver financial management-related aspects of early-stage startups and small businesses. Students learn how to interpret financial statements, analyse financial performance, manage cash flows, as well as start-up metrics relevant for asset valuation and capital budgeting processes. Students also develop an understanding of how finance and accounting information is used to support strategic and operational decision making.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 1. | Apply methods of internal and external value measurement, planning and control |
|---|---|
| 2. | Apply financial management methods related to capital budgeting, cash flow, cost of capital, and valuation |
| 3. | Synthesise finance and accounting information to make decisions in relation to start-up management |
| 4. | Assess and develop funding alternatives for early-stage startups |
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
This subject is designed to help students develop a suitable understanding of the relevant finance and accounting frameworks that are essential for establishing and running a start-up business by providing students with a foundational understanding of the accounting reporting system, and its use for internal and external decision making. Additionally, student understanding of start-up valuation, funding structure and other key attributes will aid candidates to better understand the skills needed to financially manage, grow and raise capital for start-ups
This subject contributes to the development of the following graduate attribute(s):
- Professional and technical competence
Teaching and learning strategies
The subject is offered in blended learning mode during the short teaching periods of six weeks duration. The teaching and learning approach is a mix of online learning and in-class seminars typically scheduled over four evening seminars. Classes are based on blended and flipped learning approaches: students engage with learning materials (including papers, book extracts, videos, etc.) before attending seminars.
Seminars include guided critical discussion of learning materials, group work on contemporary case studies, scenarios, workshops, peer discussions and learning from students own professional experiences. Discussions and application of theory, case studies and best practices are supported by online learning and communication tools and the UTS learning management system.
Students are guided in understanding accounting and finance related issues and devising strategies and processes towards desired outcomes as they relate to their startup. Students also reflect on the effects of such strategies including relevant regulatory and ethical demands.
A formative assessment provides students with feedback to direct their self-study. Ongoing general and individual feedback will be provided throughout the subject via consultation seminars. A summative assessment provides feedback on students' comprehension and application of learning. Students also receive formal feedback on assessment tasks.
Students engage with a broad range of material, including relevant chapters in recommended books, videos, slide decks, practitioner literature, news articles, academic journal articles and online content. Each learning module contains a list of readings and background material provided in advance on UTS Canvas. Students are expected to review and engage with materials before attending the relevant class to stimulate in-class discussion and to explore how the content affects their startup enterprise.
Content (topics)
- Financial statements
- Financing alternatives and funding options
- Key start-up financial ratios
- Valuation
- Incentive, ownership structures and exit strategies
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Quiz (Individual)*
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 1 and 2 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Students have an hour to complete each quiz. |
| Criteria: |
*Note: Late submission of the assessment task will not be marked and awarded a mark of zero. |
Assessment task 2: Report (Individual)
| Objective(s): | This addresses subject learning objective(s): 3 and 4 |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | 3,000 words |
| Criteria: |
|
Minimum requirements
Students must achieve at least 50% of the subject’s total marks.
References
Booth, L., Cleary, W. S., & Rakita, I. (2020). Introduction to corporate finance. John Wiley & Sons.
Bhimani, A. (2017). Financial management for technology start-ups: A handbook for growth. Kogan Page Publishers.
Clarke, E. A., & Wilson, M. (2018). Accounting: An Introduction to Principles and Practice 9ed. Cengage AU.
Datar, S. M., & Rajan, M. V. (2018). Horngren’s cost accounting: a managerial emphasis. Pearson.
Leach, J. Chris and Lelicher, Ronald W., Entrepreneurial Finance, South-Western (Cengage Learning), 7th edition. 2021 ISBN-978-0-357-44204-3.
Thomas, A., & Ward, A. M. (2019). EBOOK: Introduction to Financial Accounting, 9e. McGraw Hill.