Accounting and Finance for Non-Financial Managers Assessment Brief 2026 | University of Salford (Nova Retail Group)
| University | University Of Salford (UOS) |
| Subject | Accounting and Finance for Non-Financial Managers |
Accounting and Finance for Non-Financial Managers Assessment Brief
| University | University of Salford |
| Module title | Accounting and Finance for Non-Financial Managers |
| Level | 7 |
| Assessment title | 3,000-word Business Report |
| Weighting | 100% of the module mark |
| Word count | 3,000 words (±10%, excluding references, tables and appendices) |
| Academic year | 2025–26 |
Scenario: Nova Retail Group Ltd
You are acting as a financial advisor to Nova Retail Group Ltd, a fictional medium-sized company in the UK retail sector that runs a nationwide chain of lifestyle and consumer goods stores. The company wants strategic guidance to improve its financial performance and adopt emerging digital tools while meeting its ethical and legal obligations.
Prepare a cohesive, evidence-based business report (100 marks) that presents your financial insights, strategic evaluation and professional recommendations across the following areas.
Report Requirements
1. The Strategic Role of Accounting and Finance
- Critically evaluate how accounting and finance support strategic decision-making.
- Link your discussion to organisational objectives.
- Use real-world examples.
- Apply the discussion specifically to Nova Retail Group Ltd and the UK retail sector.
2. Financial Data Analysis
- Analyse the three years of financial statements provided.
- Apply appropriate techniques, such as ratio analysis and trend analysis.
- Evaluate profitability, liquidity, efficiency and financial structure.
- Provide clear, actionable recommendations.
3. Digital Trends in Finance
- Critically evaluate relevant digital finance trends in retail.
- Discuss technologies such as data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and block chain.
- Explain how these technologies support strategic financial decision-making.
4. Ethical and Legal Compliance
- Discuss the importance of ethical behaviour and legal compliance in financial reporting.
- Use corporate case studies or examples to show the consequences of non-compliance.
- Propose strategies Nova Retail Group Ltd can adopt to maintain integrity and comply with regulations.
5. Executive Summary and Conclusion
- Provide a concise executive summary of key findings and strategic recommendations.
- Summarise why these integrated financial and strategic insights matter for the company’s long-term success.
Provided Dataset: Statement of Profit or Loss
| Item | Year 1 (£) | Year 2 (£) | Year 3 (£) |
| Revenue | 2,400,000 | 2,950,000 | 3,200,000 |
| Cost of sales | (1,450,000) | (1,750,000) | (1,900,000) |
| Gross profit | 950,000 | 1,200,000 | 1,300,000 |
| Administrative expenses | (450,000) | (520,000) | (510,000) |
| Depreciation and amortisation | (60,000) | (70,000) | (85,000) |
| Operating profit | 440,000 | 610,000 | 705,000 |
| Finance costs | (35,000) | (40,000) | (55,000) |
| Profit before tax | 405,000 | 570,000 | 650,000 |
| Taxation | (90,000) | (125,000) | (145,000) |
| Profit for the year | 315,000 | 445,000 | 505,000 |
Provided Dataset: Statement of Financial Position
| Item | Year 1 (£) | Year 2 (£) | Year 3 (£) |
| Property, plant and equipment | 1,250,000 | 1,500,000 | 1,700,000 |
| Intangible assets | 120,000 | 150,000 | 200,000 |
| Total non-current assets | 1,370,000 | 1,650,000 | 1,900,000 |
| Inventory | 750,000 | 850,000 | 820,000 |
| Trade receivables | 520,000 | 700,000 | 680,000 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 320,000 | 360,000 | 450,000 |
| Total current assets | 1,590,000 | 1,910,000 | 1,950,000 |
| Total assets | 2,960,000 | 3,560,000 | 3,850,000 |
| Share capital | 850,000 | 950,000 | 1,100,000 |
| Retained earnings | 550,000 | 720,000 | 900,000 |
| Total equity | 1,400,000 | 1,670,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Long-term borrowings | 850,000 | 950,000 | 1,050,000 |
| Trade payables | 710,000 | 940,000 | 800,000 |
| Total liabilities | 1,560,000 | 1,890,000 | 1,850,000 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 2,960,000 | 3,560,000 | 3,850,000 |
Assessment Criteria
| Knowledge and understanding (30%) | Depth of understanding of the strategic role of accounting and finance; critical awareness of digital trends, ethical compliance and financial decision-making. |
| Application of theory (30%) | Effective application of financial analysis techniques to the dataset; relevance and practicality of recommendations. |
| Research and evidence (20%) | Credible academic and industry sources; integration of case studies and real-world examples. |
| Structure and clarity (10%) | Logical structure, adherence to word count, professional presentation with headings, tables and graphs. |
| Referencing and academic integrity (10%) | Correct use of a referencing style (e.g. Harvard or APA) and a high-quality reference list. |
Submission Guidance
- Use a standard business report structure: title page, executive summary, main body, conclusion and reference list.
- Submit a Word document or PDF via Turnitin on Blackboard.
- At Level 7 the pass mark is 50%.
- AI tools may be used only in an assistive role; the final work must be your own.