Financial Reporting and Sustainibility

Knowledge of financial accounting acquired through undergraduate study and/ or professional experience.

The course unit adopts a teaching and learning approach centred on the integration of conceptual and regulatory foundations with their application to real-world business contexts. Teaching sessions combine interactive lectures, case analysis and discussion, collaborative problem-solving, analysis of corporate reports, and peer-learning activities. Particular emphasis is placed on developing students’ critical analytical skills, professional judgement and decision-making abilities. A guest speaker is invited to one of the sessions to present research on a topic covered in the course syllabus. Group assignments contribute to strengthening the link between theory and practice and encourage students to engage in research.

The following teaching and learning methods (TM) will be adopted:

TM1 – Interactive Lectures: Presentation and systematic coverage of theoretical and regulatory content, combined with practical examples, analysis of corporate information, and guided discussion.

TM2 – Case Studies: Analysis and discussion of real-world cases, informed by academic literature and relevant documentation, fostering the application of knowledge and the development of critical analysis and judgement.

TM3 – Problem-Based Learning: Collaborative group-based problem-solving relating to the course content, drawing on financial and non-financial information from real-world companies, with a view to identifying, substantiating and discussing appropriate solutions.

TM4 – Group Assignment: Development of an applied group assignment integrating research and critical analysis of the literature with the analysis of corporate reporting, thereby fostering research, collaborative working, communication and peer-learning skills.

TM5 – Independent Study and Tutorial Support: Preparation, consolidation and further development of learning through reading, research, analysis of corporate information and the completion of assignments, complemented by tutorial guidance and support.

The course unit has the following Learning Outcomes (LOs):

LO1 – Contextualise the accounting requirements arising from globalisation.

LO2 – Analyse and discuss the emerging challenges in the preparation of corporate reporting in the context of the European strategy.

LO3 – Examine selected topics within the accounting regulatory framework in order to build upon and extend the knowledge acquired at undergraduate level, with particular emphasis on the measurement alternatives and requirements permitted under the relevant accounting standards and their impact on the financial statements.

LO4 – Examine current trends in corporate reporting, particularly in relation to sustainability, corporate governance and integrated reporting.

LO5 – Identify the enforcement mechanisms in place in Portugal.

The competencies (C) to be developed by students are as follows:

C1 – Technical and regulatory competence: Understand and apply the principal frameworks and requirements governing financial and sustainability reporting, recognising the requirements arising from accounting standards and their respective national and international regulatory contexts.

C2 – Analysis and interpretation of information: Critically analyse and interpret financial and sustainability information, with particular emphasis on assessing the impact of the accounting matters studied on the financial statements under the Portuguese Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards (NCRF) and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as well as their relevance to the assessment of organisations’ performance, financial position, risks and value creation.

C3 – Professional judgement and problem-solving: Apply accounting standards to business situations, identifying issues and alternative approaches to recognition, measurement and disclosure, providing a sound rationale for the solutions adopted, and assessing their respective impacts on corporate reporting.

P1 – Introductory aspects
1.1 International, European and national strategy on accounting standardisation.
1.2 The role of financial information in decision-making.
P2 – Financial reporting: study of some special topics
2.1 Intangible assets.
2.2 Revaluation model, fair value and impairment of assets.
2.3 Provisions, contingent assets and contingent liabilities.
2.4 Environmental matters.
2.5 Leases.
2.6 Financial investments: individual vs consolidated financial statements.
P3 – Trends in corporate reporting and sustainability
3.1 Sustainability reporting .
3.2 Corporate governance reporting.
3.3 Integrated reporting – the future?
P4 – Enforcement in corporate reporting
4.1 Enforcement system in Portugal .
4.2 Auditing, CMVM control and whistleblowing

MA1 - Regular Examination Period - Periodic Assessment

Periodic assessment is based on the following components and weightings:

Final Grade = 50% T + 5% A + 10% CA + 35% E

Group Assignment (T) - 50%: A group assignment (normally undertaken by groups of three students), comprising a research component and its application to a real-world context. Assessment comprises: (a) submission of a written assignment integrating a literature review with an empirical study and/or the analysis of a real-world case; and (b) an oral presentation of the assignment during scheduled class time, followed by discussion.

AI Use Guideline: Written assignment - Level 2 (AI may be used as a support tool for research, language revision and formatting). A declaration of AI use must be submitted, including a list of the prompts used and a record of the group’s critical engagement with the AI-generated outputs.

AI Use Guideline: Presentation - Level 0 (AI use is not permitted).

Class Activities (CA) - 10%: Group activities designed to apply the course content, including case analysis, problem-solving, and the analysis and interpretation of financial and sustainability information. These activities are undertaken throughout the teaching period and include peer assessment.

AI Use Guideline: Level 1 (AI may be used in the preparation of group activities but is not permitted during oral argumentation).

Critical Discussion (A) - 5%: An individual critical discussion of the work presented by another group. The students responsible for conducting the discussion are selected at random at the end of each presentation. Assessment is based on the relevance and substantiation of the questions raised, the ability to engage in critical analysis, and the quality of the arguments presented.

AI Use Guideline: Level 0 (AI use is not permitted).

Examination (E) - 35%: An individual written examination, taken during the regular examination period, designed to assess students’ understanding, application and critical analysis of the course content. A minimum mark of 6 out of 20 is required.

AI Use Guideline: Level 0 (AI use is not permitted).

Attendance requirement: Attendance at a minimum of 80% of all scheduled classes.

MA2 - Resit and Special Examination Periods

During the resit and special examination periods, assessment comprises the following components:

a) Individual Written Examination (70%): A minimum mark of 9.5 out of 20 is required.

b) Individual Oral Examination for Grade Validation (30%): A minimum mark of 9.5 out of 20 is required. This assessment component is compulsory.

AI Use Guideline: Level 0 (AI use is not permitted).

Grade Improvement and Retention of Component Marks

Students who have completed the A, CA and T components of periodic assessment may choose to retain the marks obtained for these components within the same academic year; however, these component marks cannot be improved. Students may improve only the mark obtained in the written examination, in which case the final grade will be calculated using the formula applicable to the regular examination period.

General Guidelines on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Level 0 - AI use is not permitted.

Level 1 - AI use is permitted solely for independent study and is not permitted in the preparation or completion of assessment components.

Level 2 - AI use is permitted as a support tool (for research, language revision and formatting), subject to the mandatory submission of a declaration of AI use and a critical record of the prompts used.

Failure to comply with the AI use guidelines constitutes academic misconduct and is subject to the applicable disciplinary regulations.

Important Notes

(1) Under both assessment methods, students are deemed to have passed the course unit if they achieve a final grade of 10 or above out of 20.

(2) All assessment components are graded on a scale of 0 to 20.

(3) Where, following the marking of a written examination, there is objective evidence that raises concerns regarding the authenticity of the work or whether it accurately reflects the student’s own knowledge, the student will be required to attend an oral verification examination before a panel comprising the lecturer responsible for the course unit and two members of academic staff from the relevant subject area. If the panel concludes, on substantiated grounds, that the student is unable to demonstrate the knowledge evidenced in the written examination, or if the student fails to attend the oral examination without due justification, the written examination will be declared null and void.

NAO