(UNSW Sydney) COMM1140: Financial Management

Course Description:

Are you looking to develop the skillset required to read and analyse financial reports so you can interpret a company’s financial position and performance? Are you eager to acquire the knowledge necessary to manage or run a successful business effectively? Yes – then COMM1140 is the perfect choice for you! 

COMM1140 provides you with a comprehensive understanding of crucial financial literacy skills. Through exposure to the exciting world of accounting, finance, and tax, you will be introduced to concepts that allow companies to manage and control profitability and cash and, most importantly, make good business decisions. You will also explore the intricate link between financial information and capital markets, gaining insights into how these connections shape a company's valuation. Additionally, you will develop an awareness of how issues of sustainability are impacting business management and reporting, equipping you with a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to run a successful and responsible business. 

By the end of COMM1140, you should gain a skillset to assist you in achieving your ambitions of becoming a successful entrepreneur, business leader, or consultant. 

Course Aims:

The course provides students with an introductory understanding of how accounting and finance function and co-exist within business. Key aims include: 

• Developing students’ capacity to understand and interpret key accounting and finance terminology.
• Encouraging students to think critically and analytically about financial information and how it impacts businesses financial performance and financial position. 
• Developing problem-solving skills by presenting students with various accounting/finance scenarios and challenges
• Building students’ confidence and ability to communicate financial information to their peers.
• Making students aware of careers and pathways in Accounting and Finance and preparing students for entry to these majors at UNSW.

COMM1140 is the first of four units within the IFY that focus on the theme of Business Management, that is the study of what goes on within a business organisation. It is a prerequisite for COMM1170 and COMM1180, which further develop the cross-disciplinary foundational knowledge covered in this unit.

Relationship to Other Courses:

COMM1140 prepares students for COMM1170 Organisational Resources and COMM1180 Value Creation and is a formal prerequisite.