Accounting (ACCT) < Northeastern University Academic Catalog

Courses

ACCT 1201. Financial Accounting and Reporting. (4 Hours)

Covers the basic concepts underlying financial statements and the accounting principles followed in the preparation of the balance sheet, the income statement, and the statement of cash flows. Offers students an opportunity to become familiar with accounting terminology and methods designed to enable them to interpret, analyze, and evaluate published corporate financial reports. Wherever appropriate, the course relates current economic, business, and global events to accounting issues. Analyzes how financial reporting concepts affect the behavior of investors, creditors, and other external users. Emphasizes the importance of ethics in financial reporting.

ACCT 1209. Financial Accounting and Reporting. (4 Hours)

Does not count as credit for business majors. Counts as ACCT 1201 for business minors only. Requires second-semester-freshman standing or above.

ACCT 1990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)

Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.

ACCT 2301. Profit Analysis for Managers and Advisors. (4 Hours)

Focuses on the development and analysis of information for managerial decision making within the firm. Students take a managerial or advisory perspective to conduct cost and profit analyses that support the strategic goals of an organization to manage firm profitability. Topics include costing products, services, and customers; understanding cost behavior; cost-volume-profit analysis; relevant cost analysis for decision making; budgeting; variance analysis; and performance evaluation. Covers key knowledge and tasks that managers, consultants, and advisors need to understand to help a business run successfully.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 1201 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 1209 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 1202 with a minimum grade of D-

Attribute(s): NUpath Natural/Designed World

ACCT 2990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)

Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.

ACCT 3304. Business Law and Professional Ethics. (4 Hours)

Covers business law, professional code of conduct, and the importance of ethical behavior in today’s business environment. Examines legal aspects of commercial transactions and business relationships. Specifically, laws relating to contracts and sale of goods under the Uniform Commercial Code, agency law, and product liability law are discussed. May not be used as an accounting concentration elective.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 2301 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 2302 with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 3401. Financial Reporting and Analysis 1. (4 Hours)

Examines financial reporting concepts, emphasizing the link between them and financial statements. Focuses on both the preparation and interpretation of financial statements, with students also being introduced to basic tools in financial statement analysis, such as ratio and accounting analysis. Gives students the opportunity to understand how management decisions can influence reported income, asset, and liability values, and the importance of ethics when making accounting choices. Offers students the tools necessary to analyze the impact of alternative reporting decisions on financial statements. In addition to accounting majors, this course is ideal for students who wish to pursue careers in corporate finance, investment banking, investment management, or consulting.

Prerequisite(s): (ACCT 2301 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 2302 with a minimum grade of D- )

ACCT 3402. Financial Reporting and Financial Statement Analysis. (4 Hours)

Focuses on the analysis, interpretation, reformulation, and prediction of financial data, including profitability analysis, operating versus nonoperating performance evaluation, credit analysis, reformulation of financial statements, forecasting of financial statements, analysis of intercorporate investments, cash flow analysis, accounting-based equity valuation, cash-based equity valuation, assessment of earnings quality and earnings management, and the assessment of intangible assets. Emphasizes the analysis and application of financial statement information for investment, credit, and management decisions, including advisory and consulting services. Considerable importance is placed on evaluation, interpretation, and use of accounting data for decision making. Such knowledge will enable one to participate in and manage important business decisions.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 2301 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 2302 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 3403. Advisory Services and Emerging Accounting Systems. (4 Hours)

Provides an understanding of accounting information systems, with an emphasis on the role of technology and risk analysis. Information is critical for the effective and efficient management of any organization. Addresses concepts and applications relating to the design, analysis, and implementation of accounting systems. Examines the role of e-commerce and Internet-based technologies, including their implications for ethics and privacy, throughout the course.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 2301 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 2302 with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 3416. Strategic Cost Analysis for Decision Making. (4 Hours)

Develops understanding of the critical role of cost measurement and management in business decisions and in managing a firm’s profitability. Focuses on the strategic use of cost information for planning and control, as well as costing products, services, and customers. Emphasizes the role of management accountants as integral members of decision-making teams and as consultants to senior management. Studies alternate ways of measuring costs to meet different management objectives, the role of budgeting as a planning and management tool, the use of cost analysis as a control tool to help management meet short- and long-term profit objectives, and the importance of ethics in achieving all of these objectives. In addition to accounting majors, this course is ideal for students who wish to pursue a career in finance, general management, operations management, supply chain management, or entrepreneurship.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 2301 with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 3990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)

Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.

ACCT 4412. Auditing and Other Assurance Services. (4 Hours)

Focuses on issues relevant to the public accounting profession and to internal auditors and managers in private or governmental organizations. Topics include legal liability and ethics, business and audit risk assessment, fraud detection and prevention procedures, planning of audit engagements, audit reports, other assurance services and reports, and the effect of information technology on the audit process. Offers students the opportunity to think critically about issues facing the auditing profession.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 3401 with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 4414. Income Tax Determination and Planning. (4 Hours)

Provides a basic understanding of the structure of the federal income tax system. Taxes can have a significant impact on the viability of a number of personal finance and business decisions. Focuses on the individual taxpayer but also considers the implications for other entities. Tax return projects, research cases, and planning projects help demonstrate the potential impact of taxes on decision making.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 2301 with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 4501. Financial Reporting and Analysis 2. (4 Hours)

Continues ACCT 3401 with a more extensive study of financial statements and the financial reporting rules underlying them. Advanced topics include bonds, pensions, leases, earnings per share, and earnings management. Introduces more advanced financial statement analysis tools. Offers students an opportunity to continue to gain the ethical awareness and the knowledge necessary to analyze the impact of alternative reporting decisions on financial statements.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 3401 with a minimum grade of D-

ACCT 4990. Elective. (1-4 Hours)

Offers elective credit for courses taken at other academic institutions. May be repeated without limit.

ACCT 4992. Directed Study. (1-4 Hours)

Offers independent work under the direction of faculty members of the department on a chosen topic. Course content depends on instructor. May be repeated up to four times for a maximum of 8 semester hours.

ACCT 5201. Foundations of Financial Reporting and Analysis 1. (3 Hours)

Covers the preparation and interpretation of financial statements. Focuses on the accounting for revenue and accounts receivable, cash, inventory, fixed and intangible assets, and investments. This is the first of a two-course sequence. Department permission required.

ACCT 5202. Foundations of Assurance Services. (3 Hours)

Studies the foundations of financial statement auditing. Focuses on the economic importance of auditing and factors relevant to an external auditing professional—audit planning, risk analysis, internal controls, and substantive testing. Includes the report and opinion of the auditor to management and stakeholders. Considers the ethical and legal responsibilities of the auditor. Department permission required.

ACCT 5203. Foundations of Income Tax Determination and Planning. (3 Hours)

Studies the foundations of the structure of the federal income tax system. Focuses on the individual taxpayer but also considers the implications for other entities. Demonstrates the potential impact of taxes on decision making using tax return projects, research cases, and planning projects. Department permission required.

ACCT 5204. Foundations of Financial Reporting and Analysis 2. (3 Hours)

Continues ACCT 5201 with a more extensive study of financial statements and the financial reporting rules underlying them. Advanced topics include bonds, pensions, leases, earnings per share, and earnings management. Introduces more advanced financial statement analysis tools. Offers students an opportunity to continue to develop the ethical awareness and obtain the knowledge necessary to analyze the impact of alternative reporting decisions on financial statements. Department permission required.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 5201 with a minimum grade of C-

ACCT 5220. Data Analytics for Advisory Services. (4 Hours)

Covers how data analytics is used to address business problems in the advisory services field. Examines how to master, test, analyze, and present data using Excel, Tableau, and SQL, among other data analytics tools. Emphasizes how to apply data analytics skills to managerial analytics, financial statement analytics, and tax analytics through advisory-type projects and labs.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 2301 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 2302 with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 6207 with a minimum grade of C

ACCT 5230. Federal Tax Issues and Analysis. (3 Hours)

Gives a broad examination of tax authority as it guides action on tax issues including personal and business decisions. Examines the tax structure with a specific focus on the income and expenses for individual taxpayers. Emphasizes property transactions (including the calculation of basis, gain/loss, and the resulting tax treatment). Also incorporates tax planning and research related to these issues. Students who do not meet course prerequisites or restrictions may seek permission of instructor.

ACCT 5232. Estate and Gift Taxation. (3 Hours)

Focuses on the study of the taxes common to the transfer of property and wealth. Topics include gift tax deductions and exclusions, estate valuation, state tax deductions and exemptions, and tax rates. Also explores planning opportunities for these wealth transfer taxes. Students who do not meet course prerequisites or restrictions may seek permission of instructor.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 5230 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of D- or ACCT 5230 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C- (Graduate) or ACCT 6230 (may be taken concurrently) with a minimum grade of C-

ACCT 5255. Forensic Accounting. (3 Hours)

Offers an overview of occupational fraud and the methodology of fraud examination (i.e., obtaining documentary evidence, interviewing witnesses and potential suspects, writing investigative reports, testifying to findings, and forensic document examination). Offers students an opportunity to learn how to detect the most common types of occupational fraud, determining how each type of fraud is committed, and implementing prevention strategies. Students who do not meet course prerequisites or restrictions may seek permission of instructor.

ACCT 5256. Internal Auditing. (3 Hours)

Offers an overview of the internal audit function and explores the duties and responsibilities of the internal auditor. Offers students an opportunity to learn about the planning and organizing of an internal audit department and its coordination with an outside auditor as well as to learn to analyze how the design of an internal control auditing process can reduce risk exposure and enhance internal controls. Students who do not meet course prerequisites or restrictions may seek permission of instructor.

ACCT 5976. Directed Study. (1-4 Hours)

Offers independent work under the direction of members of the department on chosen topics. May be repeated without limit.

ACCT 6200. Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 1. (3 Hours)

Offers the first of a two-course sequence that focuses on the acquisition, measurement, and management of firm resources. Business managers make strategic decisions about the acquisition and use of a variety of firm resources. Helps enable students to understand and utilize critical information in corporate financial reports to improve business decision making. Offers students the opportunity to learn contemporary methods of financial reporting and analysis used by internal decision makers and external capital providers. Required course for co-op MBA/part-time MBA.

ACCT 6201. Financial Reporting and Managerial Decision Making 2. (1.5 Hours)

Continues ACCT 6200, offering the second of a two-course sequence that focuses on the acquisition, measurement, and management of firm resources. Critical to the effective planning, implementation, and management of successful business strategies is the ability to measure and manage the commitment and utilization of entity resources. Focuses on contemporary methods and frameworks used in the process of measuring, analyzing, and allocating firm resources to achieve strategic and operating objectives. Required course for co-op MBA/part-time MBA.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 6200 with a minimum grade of C-

ACCT 6203. Business Entity Taxation. (3 Hours)

Provides an in-depth look at the structure of the federal income tax system as it relates to different taxable entitites. Emphasizes tax compliance, planning, and research as they impact the decision-making process for corporation and flow-through entities. Also examines the implications of wealth transfer taxes.

ACCT 6204. Financial Reporting for Integrated Multinational Enterprises. (3 Hours)

Presents and discusses financial reporting practices for diversified, international business entities. In today’s global business environment, many corporations operate diverse economic activities and often conduct those activities across geographic boundaries. Examines accounting and disclosure standards in the United States that are relevant to presenting consolidated financial statements. Also analyzes accounting and disclosure standards in other countries and those developed by international bodies with respect to their effects on reporting entities and the financial markets.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 6203 with a minimum grade of C-

ACCT 6205. Auditing in a Big Data Environment. (3 Hours)

Intended for students with a prior course in assurance services and/or auditing. Focuses on the coverage of current significant issues in the assurance services and big data environment. Topics include the impact of technology on the audit process, client risk assessment and statistical data analysis, other assurance services and nonattestation engagements, and the use of complex decision aids. Emphasis is also on contemporary ethical and legal issues confronting the public accounting profession. Offer students the opportunity to think critically about a number of significant issues facing the auditing profession and also introduces impact of big data, the audit judgment, and decision-making process through the completion of a variety of audit cases.

ACCT 6207. Contemporary and Emerging Issues in Financial Reporting. (3 Hours)

Focuses on the theoretical concepts of accounting with an examination of standards issued by various professional organizations including the FASB, SEC, and AICPA. Also examines emerging issues in corporate, governmental, and nonprofit financial reporting. Real-world cases are used to illustrate and discuss the complex financial reporting process and ethical issues confronted by the business community and accounting profession.

ACCT 6216. Financial Reporting for Governments and Nonprofit Entities. (2 Hours)

Covers business issues and financial reporting standards for state and local governments within the United States, as well as for nonprofit organizations. These organizations make up a large and growing share of the economy, and so it is important to consider whether the funds entrusted to them by taxpayers and donors are being used effectively. These entities have unique ways of reporting their financial results, based on their specific business purposes and the needs of their constituents. The course discusses these reporting methods and the use of the resulting financial reports in evaluating performance within the government and nonprofit contexts.

ACCT 6217. Corporate Governance, Ethics, and Financial Reporting. (3 Hours)

Deals with issues related to corporate governance and audit committee mechanisms in preventing financial reporting disasters and in providing high-quality financial reports to global capital markets. Emphasizes the role of the board of directors and its committees, management, shareholders, external auditors, and internal auditors in developing sound ethical practices and a good corporate governance culture. Examines efforts by legislative and regulatory bodies and the accounting profession in improving financial reporting transparency and auditor independence.

ACCT 6220. Corporate Financial Reporting and Decision Making 1. (3 Hours)

Examines the development of financial reports including their underlying concepts and measurement theories. Corporate financial reporting is a dynamic process in which information is provided to internal and external decision makers to assist them in the effective allocation of economic resources. Examines the legal, economic, and political processes that influence the financial reporting process.

ACCT 6221. Corporate Financial Reporting and Decision Making 2. (6 Hours)

Continues ACCT 6220. Examines corporate financial reporting in the decision-making process. Emphasis is on the economic consequences of alternative financial reporting practices. Provides students with the ability to understand and utilize critical information contained in corporate financial reports to improve business decision making.

Prerequisite(s): ACCT 6220 with a minimum grade of C-

ACCT 6222. Corporate and Governmental/Nonprofit Financial Reporting and Decision Making. (6 Hours)

Continues the study of corporate financial reporting, covering specialized topics that assume knowledge of the accounting principles covered in the first two courses. Topics include corporate reporting as equity instruments, executive compensation, reporting of fund flows, and reporting and disclosures for corporations engaged in diverse economic activities and those operating across geographic boundaries. Examines accounting and disclosure standards in the United States and in other countries, as well as standards developed by international bodies. Covers financial reporting models used by governmental and nonprofit entities.