Assignment Remit
Programme Title MSc Financial Management
Module Title Ethics, Governance and Regulation in Treasury
Module Code 07 36330
Assignment Title Individual Assignment
Level LM
Weighting 70%
Lecturers Dr. Thomas Kuo
Hand Out Date 28/02/2025
Deadline Date & Time 07/05/2025 12 noon GMT UK
Time
Feedback Post Date 05/06/2025
Assignment Format Essay
Assignment Length 3000 Words
Submission Format Online Individual
Assignment:
The questions required for the individual assignment:
Section A:
Critically discuss the corporate governance issues related to independent directors and ownership concentration and demonstrate their impact on firm performance using data downloaded from the CSMAR database. Compare your empirical results with two other studies from the literature looking into similar corporate governance issues for different markets.
The sample firms need to be in the same industry/industries and listed on the same stock exchange. The minimum number of sample firms is 50. You are required to provide a table of summary statistics and a table of baseline regression results. (50%)
Section B: Undertaking research for your chosen firm, you are required to answer the following questions:
▪ Q1) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the treasury operations of your chosen firm. What are the improvements that you would recommend? (15%)
▪ Q2) Does the organisation use an IT system to manage its treasury operations? If not, what type would you recommend? If it does, explain why the system is a good choice for the organisation. (13%)
▪ Q3) Define ethical conduct. How would you change the organisation’s framework for ethical conduct if you feel it isn’t as good as it could be, or what would you suggest if it does not have a framework for ethical conduct? (12%)
▪ Q4) By considering at least 3 measures, evaluate the performance of the treasury function of your chosen firm. Do you find any poor performing areas? Please recommend changes and explain how they will address the weaknesses you have identified. (10%)
The company you choose must be listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Module Learning Outcomes:
In this assessment the following learning outcomes will be covered:
LO 1. Be able to explain the principles, importance and detailed application of treasury policy, procedures and reporting in order to support their development and implementation in practice.
LO 2. To be able to demonstrate how corporate governance and regulatory controls and policies are applied to treasury and how they enable treasury to be carried out in an efficient and ethical manner.
LO 3. To understand the key controls over treasury operations and propose controls for systems and processes.
LO4. To be able to be able to critically assess and recommend appropriate IT solutions for different treasury requirements and describe the project management steps required for their successful implementation and security controls.
LO 5. To be able to explain the fundamental principles of financial reporting and taxation relating to treasury in order to support the preparation and analysis of financial reports, tax analysis and financial and business analysis.
Grading Criteria:
Fail 49% or below
Students only discuss few basic theories, undertake few basic data analyses using the CSMAR database and search for little basic information about the sample firm (i.e., only refer to the sample firm’s annual reports and few journal articles as references of the lecture.) application of few key concepts of lectures on the results of data analyses and the sample firm. Analysis is not logical, and it lacks references. The work shows lacks of understanding about the related topics.
Pass 50% to 59%
Students only discuss some basic theories, undertake some basic data analyses using the CSMAR database and search for the basic information about the sample firm (i.e., only refer to the sample firm’s annual reports and a few journal articles as references of the lecture.) application of key concepts of each lecture on the results of data analysis and the sample firm. Analysis is logical, but it lacks references.
Merit 60% to 69%
Students are expected to input much effort on theoretical arguments, data analysis and information searching, such as with referring to different information sources like news, journal articles, website information and analysts’ reports, apart from simply referring to annual reports, while demonstrating their understanding of key concepts of each related lecture and application of these concepts on the sample firm case study.
Analysis is logical with some support of references.
Presentation: formal structure of a report with clean and tidy professional presentation. All
the information sources are formally presented at references. Some typos, or grammar mistakes.
Distinction 70% or above
Students are expected to input much effort on theoretical arguments, data analysis and information searching, such as with referring to different information sources like news, journal articles, website information and analysts’ reports, apart from simply referring to annual reports, while demonstrating their understanding of key concepts of each lecture and application of these concepts on the results of data analysis and the sample firm. Logical, sophisticated, in-depth analysis and evaluation of the evidence, the results of data analysis and the sample firm. Arguments/points are required to be supported by evidence and/or references. Presentation: a formal structure of a report with clean and tidy professional presentation. All the information sources are formally presented at references. Only few typos, or grammar mistakes.
Feedback to Students:
Both Summative and Formative feedback is given to encourage students to reflect on their learning that feed forward into following assessment tasks. The preparation for all assessment tasks will be supported by formative feedback within the tutorials/seminars. Written feedback is provided as appropriate. Please be aware to use the browser and not the Canvas App as you may not be able to view all comments.
Plagiarism:
It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand correct referencing practices. You are expected to use appropriate references and keep carefully detailed notes of all your information sources, including any material downloaded from the Internet. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are not vulnerable to any alleged breaches of the assessment regulations. More information is available at https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/policy/conduct/plagiarism/index.aspx.
Use of Generative AI:
Unless explicitly stated otherwise, students should assume that the use of generative AI within an assessment or assignment is not permitted. Any assessment submitted that is not a student’s own work, including that written by generative AI tools, are in breach of the
University’s Code of Practice on Academic Integrity
(https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/policy/conduct/plagiarism/index.aspx
Wellbeing Extenuating Circumstances:
The process for Extenuating Circumstances is to support students who have experienced unforeseen issues that have impacted their ability to engage with their studies and/or complete assessments. Students should notify Wellbeing of any extenuating circumstances as soon as possible via the online form, following the guidance provided.
https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/social-sciences/college-services/wellbeing/index.aspx