BIZ201: Accounting for Decision Making Assessment

Learning Outcomes

The Subject Learning Outcomes demonstrated by successful completion of this task include:

a) Explain the role and importance of financial information in business decision making.
b) Analyse and apply financial information to facilitate business decision making.
d) Recommend financial decisions to relevant stakeholders.

Assessment Task Overview

You are required to calculate financial information for a given business case study and then interpret and analyse the results to demonstrate how business decisions are informed by financial analysis.

Context

This assessment requires you to apply financial statement analysis using the provided company data. You will perform calculations, interpret numerical outcomes, and explain how these financial results influence business decision making.

By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate:

• The importance of financial information in business decisions

• How to apply financial statement analysis

• How to interpret results and use them for practical decision making

Instructions

Download Required Files

You must download both files from the Assessment 2 section on MyLearn:

1. Assessment 2 – Student Workbook.xlsx

2. Financial Statements Document

These will be the only permitted sources for calculations and analysis.

Complete the Following Tasks

Horizontal Analysis

Conduct a percentage-based horizontal analysis of “Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June 2025” in the Balance Sheet worksheet of the Excel workbook.

• Round all results to two decimal places

• Use Excel formulas only

Ratio Analysis

Perform a ratio analysis for the years ended 30 June 2025 and 2024 in the Income Statement worksheet.

You must calculate ratios for:

• Profitability

• Efficiency

• Liquidity

• Solvency

All calculations must be completed using Excel formulas. Numerical answers without formulas will not be accepted.

Report: Analysis & Impact on Business Decision Making

Using the ratio analysis, write a detailed analysis of the company’s:

• Profitability

• Efficiency

• Liquidity

• Solvency

Your analysis must:

• Explain why each ratio changed

• Identify what numerical factors caused the change

• Compare ratios to industry standards or similar entities

• Include in-text references to the annual report with specific page numbers

• Provide specific, company-focused recommendations (not generic solutions)

• Highlight areas needing improvement or investigation

This section should be 1000–1100 words.

Statement of Cash Flows Analysis

Using the Statement of Cash Flows (in the Excel workbook):

• Explain reasons for changes in Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents between 2024 and 2025

• All reasons must be supported with specific page-referenced evidence from the annual report

• No recommendations are required for this part

Important Note

All calculations in Excel must show formulas. Providing values without formulas will result in zero marks.

Report Format Requirements

Your final submission must follow a professional report structure and correct academic writing standards.

Cover Page

Must include:

• Student Name and ID

• Subject Code and Title

• Assessment Number

• University Name

• Learning Facilitator’s Name

• Submission Date

• Word Count

You are encouraged to be creative with the design.

Executive Summary

The executive summary should:

• Summarise the key content

• Highlight major findings and outcomes

• Allow readers to understand the purpose without reading the full report

This is not an introduction to the company.

Table of Contents

Include headings, sub-headings, and page numbers.

(Not included in word count.)

Introduction 

Briefly introduce the company.
Do not summarise the report itself.
Must include references.

Analysis & Recommendations 

This section contains:

Profitability Analysis

Explain ratio changes, numerical factors, annual report references, industry comparisons, and recommendations.

Efficiency Analysis

Explain ratio movements, causes, benchmarks, and actionable recommendations.

Liquidity Analysis

Discuss changes, reasons supported by report data, comparison to standards, and improvement strategies.

Solvency Analysis

Interpret ratio shifts, identify financial risks, compare with the industry, and recommend solutions specific to the business.

Recommendations 

If separated, ensure the structure is:

• Analysis Section

• Recommendations Section

Recommendations must be:

• Specific

• Justified

• Tailored to the company

• Based on ratio findings

Brief Summary of the Assessment Requirements

This assessment requires the student to analyse financial information using real company data and demonstrate how financial analysis informs business decision making. The key tasks include:

1. Downloading the required documents

• Assessment 2 – Student Workbook.xlsx

• Financial Statements Document
  These are the only allowed sources for calculation and interpretation.

2. Completing financial analyses using Excel formulas

• Conduct a percentage-based Horizontal Analysis of the Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June 2025.

• Perform Ratio Analysis (Profitability, Efficiency, Liquidity, Solvency) for 2024 and 2025.

• All answers must be calculated with Excel formulas, rounded to two decimals.

3. Writing a detailed report (1000–1100 words)
Based on the ratio analysis, the student must explain:

• Why each ratio changed

• What numerical factors caused the change

• How the ratio compares with industry benchmarks

• Page-referenced evidence from the annual report

• Specific, company-focused recommendations for improvement

4. Analysing the Statement of Cash Flows

• Explain reasons for changes in the net increase/decrease in cash equivalents between 2024 and 2025 using page-referenced evidence.

• No recommendations required.

5. Following formal report structure

• Cover page

• Executive summary

• Table of contents

• Introduction

• Analysis & recommendations

• References

• Professional academic writing

• APA 7 citation

• Word count compliance

Completing all tasks demonstrates the application of financial information, ratio interpretation, and decision-making based on financial analysis.

How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student 

The Academic Mentor followed a structured guidance approach, ensuring the student understood each requirement and progressed logically from calculations to interpretation and decision making.

Understanding the Assessment Scope

The mentor first explained the purpose of the task: to connect financial calculations with business decisions. The student was guided to read the learning outcomes so they understood the objectives behind calculations and analysis. The mentor clarified the marking criteria and emphasised that Excel formulas were mandatory.

Downloading and Reviewing the Required Files

The mentor showed the student where to access the Student Workbook and the Financial Statements Document. The student was instructed to review the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement to understand the structure and available data before calculations began.

Performing the Horizontal Analysis

The mentor demonstrated how to use Excel formulas to calculate percentage changes from one year to the next. The student learned to:

• Reference correct cells

• Apply percentage formulas

• Round results to two decimals

• Identify significant changes

The mentor encouraged the student to note major increases or decreases for later interpretation.

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