Advanced Financial Accounting

It is recommended to have knowledge of Financial Accounting.

The program will be developed using active methods that involve the participation of the students and foster a theoretical-practical perspective of the topics covered. The classes will involve the presentation of practical cases, constantly seeking input and debate from the students to encourage reasoning and critical thinking. In addition, the active teaching-learning methodology, substantiated by group work outside the classroom environment, will also constitute a teaching strategy to be used by the professor.

• Upon completion of this course unit, the student will be able to:
• LO1. Critically explain the process of international accounting harmonisation, distinguishing the roles of the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the European Union (EU).
• LO2. Distinguish between the accounting frameworks that coexist in Portugal and determine their scope of application according to the characteristics of each entity.
• LO3. Interpret the Conceptual Framework of the Portuguese Accounting Standards System (SNC), relating its concepts to the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial information.
• LO4. Prepare, read and analyse financial statements drawn up under the SNC, assessing the effect of accounting policies on an entity’s financial position and performance.
• LO5. Apply the criteria established in NCRF 6, 7, 11 and 12 to practical situations and, where relevant, compare them with IAS 38, IAS 16, IAS 40 and IAS 36.
• LO6. Analyse the accounting treatment of financial investments, business combinations and consolidated financial statements under NCRF 13, 14 and 15 and the related international standards.
• LO7. Support accounting decisions by reference to the applicable standards and communicate technical conclusions clearly, critically and ethically, both in writing and orally.
• Associated competences:
• C1. Technical and regulatory competence: interpret and apply the SNC and relevant IAS/IFRS requirements.
• C2. Critical thinking and professional judgement: assess accounting alternatives, assumptions, estimates and their effects on financial statements.
• C3. Problem-solving: structure and resolve complex cases by combining concepts, standards and accounting evidence.
• C4. Communication and argumentation: present and defend accounting solutions using appropriate technical language.
• C5. Research, digital literacy and academic integrity: identify regulatory and scientific sources and use digital tools and artificial intelligence transparently, critically and responsibly.

P1. International accounting harmonisation and the Portuguese framework

1.1. The international accounting harmonisation process and the roles of the IASB and the EU.

1.2. Development of the SNC and the accounting frameworks that coexist in Portugal.

P2. Conceptual Framework and financial statements

2.1. Objective of financial information, qualitative characteristics and elements of financial statements.

2.2. Recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure.

2.3. Preparation, reading, analysis and interpretation of financial statements under the SNC.

P3. Non-current assets: recognition and measurement

3.1. Property, plant and equipment: NCRF 7 and IAS 16.

3.2. Intangible assets: NCRF 6 and IAS 38.

3.3. Investment property: NCRF 11 and IAS 40.

P4. Impairment of assets

4.1. Impairment indicators, recoverable amount, recognition and reversal of impairment losses: NCRF 12 and IAS 36.

P5. Financial investments, business combinations and consolidation

5.1. Interests in joint arrangements and investments in associates: NCRF 13, IFRS 11 and IAS 28.

5.2. Business combinations: NCRF 14 and IFRS 3.

5.3. Investments in subsidiaries and consolidated financial statements: NCRF 15 and IAS 27.

P6. Integrated application and comparison of accounting frameworks

6.1. Resolution of integrated cases and assessment of the effects of accounting policies on financial statements.

6.2. Critical comparison between the SNC and the IAS/IFRS standards covered in the course and justification of the required disclosures.

Students may choose one of two assessment regimes:

A) PERIODIC ASSESSMENT

MA1. Written assignment on one of the topics proposed by the lecturer (50%): completed in groups of two or three students. Mandatory component. Minimum grade: 9.5 points out of 20.

AI Guideline: Level 2 - AI may be used as a support tool for initial research, idea generation, structuring, language revision and technical assistance. The submission of unverified content or the replacement of the student’s own analysis is prohibited. The assignment must include an AI use declaration identifying the tools used, their purposes, the main prompts or interactions, and the procedures adopted for critical verification. All sources used must be properly cited.

MA2. Individual oral presentation and defence of the project (20%): each student presents their individual contribution and answers questions individually concerning the entire assignment and the applicable accounting standards. Mandatory component. Minimum grade: 9.5 points out of 20.

AI Guideline: Level 0 - the use of AI is not permitted during the oral presentation and defence.

MA3. Individual written test (30%): covers the syllabus content and assesses conceptual understanding, the ability to apply the accounting standards and the resolution of practical cases. Mandatory component. Minimum grade: 8.5 points out of 20.

AI Guideline: Level 0 - the use of AI is not permitted during the test.

Final grade formula:
FG = 0.50 × MA1 + 0.20 × MA2 + 0.30 × MA3.

To pass the course, students must achieve the minimum grade required in each assessment component and a final grade equal to or higher than 9.5 points out of 20.

Attendance: To be eligible for periodic assessment, students must attend at least 80% of the classes. Students holding working-student status are exempt from this requirement. For these students, the group assignment may be replaced by an individual project, although the corresponding individual oral presentation and defence remain mandatory.

Students who fail to complete a mandatory component or fail to achieve one of the required minimum grades will be transferred to the examination assessment regime during the applicable statutory examination periods.

B) ASSESSMENT BY EXAMINATION - RESIT AND SPECIAL EXAMINATION PERIODS

MA4. Individual written examination (100%): covers the entire syllabus and includes conceptual questions and practical application cases. Mandatory component. Minimum grade: 9.5 points out of 20.

AI Guideline: Level 0 - the use of AI is not permitted during the examination.

Grade improvement may be undertaken during the examination periods established in the assessment regulations, through component MA4. For the purposes of this proposal, grades obtained under the periodic assessment regime are not automatically retained.

Academic integrity: The use of AI or other sources in breach of the rules established for each assessment component will be dealt with in accordance with the institutional rules on academic integrity and assessment currently in force.

NAO