Finance Director of a company - Howard Assignments

You have been asked to write a report to the board of directors of one of the selected companies below as

part of the interview process for your first appointment as a Finance Director of a company listed on AIM

(which is the Alternative Investment Market for small companies) within the London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The board of directors have asked you to write a report about your vision and strategic financial goals for the

company.

The companies are within a selected sector of the AIM. Assume that your selected company has ambitions

and plans to become a FTSE 100 (the largest UK listed companies) company in the near future.

Guide:

You need to introduce the company, discuss the product or services, location, turnover, number of

employees, etc. The report should be maximum 2,500 words (+/- 10%). Remember you need to make an

impression on the board of directors for you to be considered for the critical post of Finance Director.

The essence of this assignment is to test your knowledge and understanding of key accounting and

corporate governance concepts, theories and tools and ability to present data in a concise manner.

Required:

You have been asked to write a report to the board of directors of one of the selected companies below as

part of the interview process for your first appointment as a Finance Director of a AIM company. The board of

directors have asked you to write a report about your vision and strategic financial goals for the company.

The companies are within the AIM index. Assume that your selected company wants to become a FTSE 100

(the largest UK listed companies) company in the near future.

Additional Guidance

You need to introduce the company, discuss the product or services, location, turnover, number of

employees, the contribution of the sector to the UK economy. To analyse, you need to compare the financial

data / ratios of your selected company with either a competitor within the sector or the average of the sector.

The report should be maximum 2,500 words. Remember you need to make an impression on the board of

directors for you to be considered for the critical post of Finance Director.

Section A- 2000 words.

Analyse the performance of your chosen company using relevant financial and non-financial ratios (5

years). Your analysis should include profit ratios, efficiency, liquidity and other ratios that you

consider relevant.

Section B 500 words

Critically evaluate the company’s corporate governance compliance and its impact on the brand and

reputation as reported in the press (print, online and social media)

Discuss the proposed medium term financial strategies for your selected company to become a

FTSE100 company or for your company to become dominant in the industry / sector.

The learning outcomes to be addressed through this assignment are:

(a) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the nature and role of the finance professional

and how financial control processes impact on the organisation and its stakeholders.

(b) Critically evaluate the impact of the external context on the financial domain, both

domestically and internationally.

accounting information and techniques, both within organisations and by reference to

relevant research.

(d) Demonstrate the ability to evaluate critically and communicate effectively the financial

performance of an organisation by reference to internal or published financial information.