Strategic Financial Analysis COURSEWORK 3000 WORDS (100%) Companies Selected: Booker and Tate&Lyle Describe, critically assess and evaluate the principal methods of analyzing company accounts as an outsider to the company. Indicate the major shortcomings that are inherent in such processes and propose contemporary analysis methods that will limit these shortcomings.

Strategic Financial Analysis
COURSEWORK 3000 WORDS (100%)
Companies Selected: Booker and Tate&Lyle
Describe, critically assess and evaluate the principal methods of analyzing company accounts as an
outsider to the company.
Indicate the major shortcomings that are inherent in such processes and propose contemporary analysis
methods that will limit these shortcomings.
Illustrate your answer with worked examples of dynamic analysis for any two listed companies i.e. Booker
and Tate&Lyle.
This assignment is essentially a critical analysis/evaluation of methods of analyzing corporate financial
statements. Traditional approaches, such as ratios, trend/horizontal, and vertical comparisons should be
briefly described and techniques applied to the financial statements selected Booker and Tate&Lyle.
This should lead to preliminary conclusions on the financial performance and strength of the companies.
However, in additional to demonstrating knowledge and application of these techniques, a critical
analysis/evaluation of the technique is also required and this will significantly increase the marks earned
for this section. The evaluation is supported by reference to relevant academic sources and other research
findings. A brief summary of this section would be useful.
The assignment continues with brief descriptions of “contemporary” analysis methods. The likely starting
point is the use of “Economic value added”, but it is then for the writer to decide the breadth and depth of
11/5/2019 51960 – Strategic Financial AnalysisCOURSEWORK 3000 WORDS (100%)Companies
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methods described. Again, where appropriate, methods are applied to the companies selected above, but it
is the critical analysis that earns most of the marks.
(From previous guidance, “The intent of the word -dynamic- is that the student should feel free to pursue
analysis that they think relevant, of interest, or of particular research interest in the pursuit of explaining
and analyzing performance and financial position.)
The marking grid shows there are 30 marks awarded for coherence of argument and therefore analysis that
compares and contrasts findings from traditional and contemporary methods will score heavily, as will
clear linkage how contemporary methods might address identified shortcomings of traditional analysis.
This should lead to a well-structured and supported set of conclusions.
A clear challenge is keep within the word count, which is relatively short. Two pieces of advice – use an
appendix if necessary (not included in word count) and then “write a little about a lot” – better to make
many short, concise points, rather than spend paragraphs going into detail on one point.
For a listed company of your choice (Tate & Lyle and Booker) complete a report (using the Olam/Muddy
Waters Report as a guide) indicating the major factors which influenced the past three years trading.
Justify your answer with appropriate ratios and trend information drawn from the company’s accounts (to
include half-yearly data).
Mark
1 Summary of trends over three years 20%
2 Supporting information properly applied and derived 20%
3 Strength and clarity of argument 20%
4 Appropriateness of evaluative techniques 30%