Finance for Non-Financial Managers

Course code: ACC240

Term and year: Fall 2026

Day and time: TBA

Instructor: Ing. David Mareš, M.B.A., Ph.D.

Instructor contact: david.mares@aauni.edu

Consultation hours: Book an appointment via email

1.  Course Description

This is an entry-level course in finance for non-financial managers. The course introduces essential finance skills needed by managers to understand financial data, evaluate the effectiveness of business operations, support planning, and communicate financial implications in a clear managerial context.

The course focuses on financial statement analysis, performance and liquidity ratios, leverage and market indicators, budgeting, capital budgeting, costing methods, pricing, activity-based costing, financing options, banking services, and spreadsheet-based financial reasoning.

ACC240 Finance for Non-Financial Managers is designed as the introductory finance course taken before FIN240 Corporate Finance. It provides the conceptual, numerical, and managerial foundation needed for further study of corporate finance topics.

2.  Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

·         1. Explain the use of financial data and its significance for managerial decision-making.

·         2. Interpret basic financial statements and use them as tools for evaluating business performance.

·         3. Calculate and interpret performance, liquidity, leverage, and selected market-related financial ratios.

·         4. Explain the role of budgeting in planning, control, and managerial responsibility.

·         5. Apply basic capital budgeting methods to support investment and planning decisions.

·         6. Compare traditional costing, process costing, pricing approaches, and activity-based costing in managerial contexts.

·         7. Discuss financing options, banking services, and their implications for operations and investment returns.

·         8. Communicate basic finance analysis clearly in numerical, spreadsheet-based, and managerial formats for a non-financial audience.

3.  Reading Material

Required Materials

·         Sackey, D. N. O. (2024). Basic finance for non-financial managers. Step Books. Availability: AAU Library / instructor reserve / NEO LMS as confirmed at the beginning of the semester.

·         Selected lecture notes, financial examples, practice problems, spreadsheet demonstrations, and case materials posted in NEO LMS.

Recommended Materials

·         Brealey, R. A., Myers, S. C., & Allen, F. (2009). Principles of corporate finance. McGraw-Hill.

·         Additional practice exercises and managerial finance examples may be provided through NEO LMS.

 

 

4.  Teaching methodology

The course combines interactive lectures, applied financial examples, guided quantitative problem-solving, spreadsheet-based demonstrations, short case discussions, and in-class analytical practice.

The teaching approach is practical and managerial. Students are guided step by step from basic financial data to interpretation, decision-making, and communication of financial implications. Emphasis is placed on understanding the logic of financial information rather than on specialist accounting or advanced finance theory.

Teaching activities are designed to develop critical thinking, effective communication, and responsible action by linking finance concepts to operational efficiency, profitability, budgeting discipline, investment appraisal, ethical use of financial information, and managerial accountability.

5.  Course Schedule

ACC240 runs in the first half of the Fall 2026 semester before the mid-term break. It is an entry-level course and provides the foundation for FIN240 Corporate Finance, which runs in the second half of the semester. The final test takes place during Session 7.

 

6.  Course Requirements and Assessment (with estimated workloads)

Attendance is compulsory under AAU rules. Attendance itself is not graded and does not carry any weight in the final grade. The only graded components of the course are tests during classes and the final test.

*1 = Critical Thinking; 2 = Effective Communication; 3 = Effective and Responsible Action

 

6.1 Conversion of points to grades

With 100 points in total, points correspond directly to percentages. The following scale is aligned with the AAU Study and Examination Code:

Percentage / points | Grade

93–100 | A

90–92 | A–

87–89 | B+

83–86 | B

80–82 | B–

77–79 | C+

73–76 | C

70–72 | C–

67–69 | D+

63–66 | D

60–62 | D–

0–59 | F

 

6.2 Minimum requirement to pass

The minimum number of points required to pass the course with a grade of C– is 70 points out of 100. A student who earns fewer than 70 points will fail the course.

 

6.3 Tests, dates and attempts

Quizzes - tests, final test: One attempt only. Regular make-up dates are not offered. In justified cases (for example illness with documentation), procedures follow the AAU Study and Examination Code.

 

7.  Detailed description of the assignments

Assignment 1: Tests

Tests are individual assessments held during classes and in the final part of the course before the mid-term break. They cover the content of the ACC240 course and assess whether students can understand basic financial information, perform essential calculations, and interpret results from the perspective of a non-financial manager. In-class quizzes may assess material previously covered in earlier class session(s).

Tests may include numerical problems, short conceptual questions, financial statement interpretation, ratio analysis, budgeting logic, basic capital budgeting, costing and pricing questions, and short applied managerial situations.

Students are expected to demonstrate not only calculation accuracy, but also the ability to explain what the result means for managerial decision-making.

Assessment breakdown

 

8.  General Requirements and School Policies

General requirements

All coursework is governed by AAU's academic rules. Students are expected to be familiar with the academic rules in the Academic Codex and Student Handbook and to maintain the highest standards of honesty and academic integrity in their work. Please see the AAU intranet for a summary of key policies regarding coursework.

Course specific requirements

·         Attendance is compulsory by default according to AAU policy. Attendance itself is not graded and does not carry any weight in the final grade.

·         Students are expected to participate in in-class financial practice, guided calculations, spreadsheet-based demonstrations, and case discussions because these activities support preparation for the tests.

·         Students are expected to bring a calculator and/or a device capable of basic spreadsheet work when requested by the instructor.

·         During tests, the use of AI tools, unauthorized notes, unauthorized communication, or unauthorized collaboration is prohibited.

·         The only graded components of this course are tests during classes and the final test.