MBA 503 Final Project, Final Project Milestone Three: Rules of Financial Reporting

MBA 503 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
There are two summative assessments for this course. For your first assessment, you will be objectively assessed by your completion of a series of
MyAccountingLab homework assignments throughout the course. These will measure your understanding of how to communicate the financial performance of
companies and how to prepare basic financial statements.
For your final project, you will complete a financial analysis of a particular company’s financial statements. You will assume the role of an analyst in a fictional
company that is looking to glean what it can from the methods and business decisions used at this company. In determining the overall financial health of the
company, you will demonstrate an understanding of both the financial calculations that go into financial statements as well as the meaning behind the numbers.
Basic accounting skills and knowledge are critical to effective management in today’s business environment. Future business leaders need an understanding of
the process and rules related to creating financial accounting statements and the meanings behind their individual components in order to make informed
business decisions. To demonstrate these skills, you will need to analyze this accounting information in terms of a company’s performance and financial health
within its industry. This will ultimately help develop your skills as a business leader who is better prepared to manage effectively and make informed
management decisions.
This final project addresses the following course outcomes:
 Analyze the financial condition of companies by accurately interpreting basic financial information used for informing business decisions
 Determine the importance of accounting regulations and reporting requirements in the preparation of financial reports
 Conduct basic financial analysis that accurately utilizes horizontal, vertical, and ratio techniques to determine the overall financial health of companies
The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Four, Six, and Eight. Your final submission, the financial analysis, will be submitted in Module Ten.
Prompt
You are an analyst for Coffee Connection, a coffee shop located in the Midwest. You have been marginally successful as a company. You are now tasked with
analyzing the competition and developing benchmarks for the purpose of both improving profitability and expanding operations. You have identified Starbucks as
your most similar competitor. Your job now is to use multiple tools to analyze Starbucks’ performance and offer well-researched observations concerning the
success and challenges faced by Starbucks. You should include an Excel spreadsheet with all calculations.
Specifically the following critical elements must be addressed:
I. Introduction: Provide a concise, professional introduction explaining the purpose of your analysis to your executive.
II. Horizontal and Vertical Analysis: In this section, you will conduct horizontal and vertical analyses for the balance sheet and income statement accounts
and report any significant observations for a two-year period. You should include a table of your calculations as an appendix to your analysis. Include all
calculations in an Excel document. Specifically discuss the following categories:
A. Accounts Receivable:
1. Use basic financial analysis to examine any horizontal changes in Starbucks’ accounts receivable balances over time.
2. Use basic financial analysis to examine any vertical changes in Starbucks’ accounts receivable balances over time.
3. Analyze how Starbucks’ methods for accounting for receivables and evaluating uncollectible receivables impact the recording process and
presentation of financial statements. In other words, what are this company’s methods for accounting for receivables and evaluating
uncollectible receivables, and how do those affect how financial information is communicated?
B. Asset Acquisition, Depreciation, and Amortization:
1. Use basic financial analysis to examine any horizontal changes in Starbucks’ fixed assets, intangible assets, depreciation, and amortization
over time.
2. Use basic financial analysis to examine any vertical changes in Starbucks’ fixed assets, intangible assets, depreciation, and amortization
over time.
3. Analyze Starbucks’ methods for fixed asset and intangible asset acquisitions as well as depreciation and amortization, including asset
categorization. How do these methods affect the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows?
C. Debt Financing
1. Use basic financial analysis to examine any horizontal changes in Starbucks’ short- and long-term debt over time.
2. Use basic financial analysis to examine any vertical changes in Starbucks’ short- and long-term debt over time.
3. Analyze Starbucks’ method of debt financing. In your analysis, you should address both current and long-term liabilities, including the
issuance of bonds.
III. Ratio Analysis: Analyze and discuss the financial performance of Starbucks using financial ratios. Include your calculations and amounts in a table in the
appendix of your paper. Be sure to show your calculation for each ratio.
A. Liquidity Ratios
1. Accurately present and calculate two liquidity ratios for Starbucks.
2. Discuss what the liquidity ratios reveal about Starbucks, including any description of benchmarks, standard measurements, or other types
of analysis used once the ratio amount is known.
B. Solvency Ratios
1. Accurately present and calculate two solvency ratios for Starbucks.
2. Discuss what the solvency ratios reveal about the company, including any description of benchmarks, standard measurements, or other
types of analysis used once the ratio amounts are known.
C. Profitability Ratios
1. Accurately present and calculate two profitability ratios for Starbucks.
2. Discuss what the profitability ratios reveal about the company, including any description of benchmarks, standard measurements, or
other types of analysis used once the ratio amounts are known.
IV. Rules of Financial Reporting: Consider the following governmental and GAAP reporting requirements for what is mandated that Starbucks include in its
financial statements:
A. Why is the reporting of control procedures required, and what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ control procedures? Justify your response.
B. Why is the reporting of segment information required, and what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ segment information? Justify your
response.
C. Why is the reporting of estimates and assumptions required, and what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ reporting of estimates and
assumptions? Justify your response.
D. Why is the reporting of investments and fair value required, and what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ investments and fair value
reporting? Justify your response.
E. Why is the reporting of leases required, and what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ lease structure? Justify your response.
V. Conclusion: Provide a concise, professional conclusion to your executive detailing the findings of your analysis. What can you learn from Starbucks’
financial statements and performance about determining the overall health of companies? Include general suggestions for financial improvements.
Milestones
Milestone One: Horizontal and Vertical Analysis: Accounts Receivable, Fixed Assets, and Debt Financing
In Module Four, you will submit both a horizontal and vertical analysis of Starbucks’ accounts receivable, fixed assets, and debt financing. Use basic financial
analysis to examine any horizontal and any vertical changes in Starbucks’ accounts receivable, fixed assets, and debt financing balances over time. Be sure also to
discuss how Starbucks’ methods for accounting for receivables and evaluating uncollectible receivables, purchase of fixed assets, and methods of debt financing
impact the recording process and presentation of financial statements (Critical Element II). In other words, what are this company’s methods for accounting for
receivables and evaluating uncollectible receivables? What types of fixed assets are acquired, and what methods are preferred for debt financing? How do those
affect how financial information is communicated? Your analysis should be in the form of a 2–3-page paper. Include all calculations in an Excel document. This
milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Ratio Analysis
In Module Six, you will submit the Ratio Analysis portion of the final project. For this milestone, you will be analyzing the financial performance of Starbucks
using the financial ratios of liquidity, solvency, and profitability (Critical Element III). Include your calculations and amounts in a table in the appendix of your
paper. Be sure to show your calculations for each ratio. You will also discuss what each ratio and ratio category tells the user about the financial health of the
company, including stating appropriate methods for comparison such as benchmarking and trend analysis. Your analysis should be in the form of a 2–3-page
paper. Include all calculations in an Excel document. Note: To calculate the ratio amounts you may use the document Key Financial Ratios Explained and Set Up in
Excel. This Excel document may also be used for your final project. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Rules of Financial Reporting
In Module Eight, you will submit the Rules of Financial Reporting component of your financial analysis (Critical Element IV). In this milestone, you will consider
the following governmental and GAAP reporting requirements for what is mandated that Starbucks include in its financial statements: Why is the reporting of
control procedures required, and what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ control procedures? Why is the reporting of segment information required, and
what information is disclosed about Starbucks’ segment information? Why is the reporting of estimates and assumptions required, and what information is
disclosed about Starbucks’ reporting of estimates and assumptions? Why is the reporting of investments and fair value required, and what information is
disclosed about Starbucks’ investments and fair value reporting? And last: Why is the reporting of leases required, and what information is disclosed about
Starbucks’ lease structure? Justify your response to each question. This milestone should be submitted as a 2–3-page paper. This milestone is graded with the
Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Submission: Financial Analysis
In Module Ten, you will submit your 10–12-page final financial analysis. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the
final project, including the Introduction (Critical Element I), which will be a concise, professional introduction explaining the purpose of your analysis to your
executive, and the Conclusion (Critical Element V), which will be a concise, professional conclusion to your executive detailing the findings of your analysis. Your
conclusion should also answer the following question: What can you learn from Starbucks’ financial statements and performance about determining the overall
health of companies? Include general suggestions for financial improvements. Your financial analysis should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained
throughout the course. This final submission will be graded using the Final Project Rubric.
Deliverables
Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading
One Horizontal and Vertical Analysis: Accounts
Receivable, Fixed Assets and Debt Financing
Four Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric
Two Ratio Analysis Six Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three Rules of Financial Reporting Eight Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric
Final Submission: Financial Analysis Ten Graded separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your financial analysis should adhere to the following formatting requirements: 10–12 pages (not including cover page or appendix),
double-spaced, using 12-point Times New Roman font and the most current guidelines for APA formatting. Include all calculations in an Excel document.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (90%) Needs Improvement (70%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduction Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
explanation expertly balances
key detail with brevity for
corporate audience
Provides a concise introduction
explaining the purposes of
analysis for a corporate
audience
Provides an introduction
explaining the purposes of
analysis for a corporate
audience, but presentation is
not concise or is missing key
details
Does not provide an
introduction explaining the
purposes of analysis for a
corporate audience
5.5
Analysis: Accounts:
Horizontal
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how to
interpret horizontal changes in
accounts receivable balances
over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any horizontal changes
in Starbucks’ accounts
receivable balances over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any horizontal changes
in Starbucks’ accounts
receivable balances over time,
but with gaps in accuracy or
relevant detail
Does not use basic financial
analysis to examine any
horizontal changes in Starbucks’
accounts receivable balances
over time
3.5
Analysis: Accounts:
Vertical
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how to
interpret vertical changes in
accounts receivable balances
over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any vertical changes in
Starbucks’ accounts receivable
balances over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any vertical changes in
Starbucks’ accounts receivable
balances over time, but with
gaps in accuracy or relevant
detail
Does not use basic financial
analysis to examine any vertical
changes in Starbucks’ accounts
receivable balances over time
3.5
Analysis: Accounts:
Methods
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how financial
methods impact the recording
process and presentation of
financial statements
Analyzes how Starbucks’
methods for accounting for
receivables and evaluating
uncollectible receivables impact
the recording process and
financial statement
presentation
Analyzes how Starbucks’
methods for accounting for
receivables and evaluating
uncollectible receivables impact
the recording process and
financial statement
presentation, but with gaps in
logic or detail
Does not analyze how
Starbucks’ methods for
accounting for receivables and
evaluating uncollectible
receivables impact the
recording process and financial
statement presentation
4
Analysis: Asset:
Horizontal
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how to
interpret horizontal changes in
fixed assets, intangible assets,
depreciation, and amortization
over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any horizontal changes
in Starbucks’ fixed assets,
intangible assets, depreciation,
and amortization over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any horizontal changes
in Starbucks’ fixed assets,
intangible assets, depreciation,
and amortization over time, but
with gaps in accuracy or
relevant detail
Does not use basic financial
analysis to examine any
horizontal changes in Starbucks’
fixed assets, intangible assets,
depreciation, and amortization
over time
3.5
Analysis: Asset:
Vertical
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how to
interpret vertical changes in
fixed assets, intangible assets,
depreciation, and amortization
over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any vertical changes in
Starbucks’ fixed assets,
intangible assets, depreciation,
and amortization over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any vertical changes in
Starbucks’ fixed assets,
intangible assets, depreciation,
and amortization over time, but
with gaps in accuracy or
relevant detail
Does not use basic financial
analysis to examine any vertical
changes in Starbucks’ fixed
assets, intangible assets,
depreciation, and amortization
over time
3.5
Analysis: Asset:
Methods
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how financial
methods impact the balance
sheet, income statement, and
statement of cash flows
Analyzes Starbucks’ methods for
fixed asset and intangible asset
acquisitions as well as
depreciation and amortization
for how they affect the balance
sheet, income statement, and
statement of cash flows
Analyzes Starbucks’ methods for
fixed asset and intangible asset
acquisitions as well as
depreciation and amortization
for how they affect the balance
sheet, income statement, and
statement of cash flows, but
with gaps in logic or detail
Does not analyze Starbucks’
methods for fixed asset and
intangible asset acquisitions as
well as depreciation and
amortization for how they affect
the balance sheet, income
statement, and statement of
cash flows
4
Analysis: Debt:
Horizontal
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how to
interpret horizontal changes in
short- and long-term debt over
time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any horizontal changes
in Starbucks’ short- and longterm debt over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any horizontal changes
in Starbucks’ short- and longterm debt over time, but with
gaps in accuracy or relevant
detail
Does not use basic financial
analysis to examine any
horizontal changes in Starbucks’
short- and long-term debt over
time
3.5
Analysis: Debt:
Vertical
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how to
interpret vertical changes in
short- and long-term debt over
time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any vertical changes in
Starbucks’ short- and long-term
debt over time
Uses basic financial analysis to
examine any vertical changes in
Starbucks’ short- and long-term
debt over time, but with gaps in
accuracy or relevant detail
Does not use basic financial
analysis to examine any vertical
changes in Starbucks’ short- and
long-term debt over time
3.5
Analysis: Debt:
Method
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how financial
methods impact financial
statements
Analyzes Starbucks’ method of
debt financing, addressing
current and long-term liabilities
and the issuance of bonds
Analyzes Starbucks’ method of
debt financing, addressing
current and long-term liabilities
and the issuance of bonds, but
with gaps in logic or detail
Does not analyze Starbucks’
method of debt financing,
addressing current and longterm liabilities and the issuance
of bonds
4
Ratio: Liquidity:
Calculate
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of ratio
techniques used for financial
analysis
Accurately presents and
calculates two liquidity ratios
for Starbucks
Presents and calculates two
liquidity ratios for Starbucks,
but with gaps in accuracy, or
chosen ratios are not
appropriate
Does not present and calculate
two liquidity ratios for Starbucks
3.5
Ratio: Liquidity:
Discuss
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of what is
revealed about the financial
condition of companies through
key ratios
Comprehensively discusses
what liquidity ratios reveal
about Starbucks
Discusses what liquidity ratios
reveal about Starbucks, but with
gaps in logic or detail
Does not discuss what liquidity
ratios reveal about Starbucks
4
Ratio: Solvency:
Calculate
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of ratio
techniques used for financial
analysis
Accurately presents and
calculates two solvency ratios
for Starbucks
Presents and calculates two
solvency ratios for Starbucks,
but with gaps in accuracy, or
chosen ratios are not
appropriate
Does not present and calculate
two solvency ratios for
Starbucks
3.5
Ratio: Solvency:
Discuss
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of what is
revealed about the financial
condition of companies through
key ratios
Comprehensively discusses
what solvency ratios reveal
about Starbucks
Discusses what solvency ratios
reveal about Starbucks, but with
gaps in logic or detail
Does not discuss what solvency
ratios reveal about Starbucks
4
Ratio: Profitability:
Calculate
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of ratio
techniques used for financial
analysis
Accurately presents and
calculates two profitability
ratios for Starbucks
Presents and calculates two
profitability ratios for Starbucks,
but with gaps in accuracy, or
chosen ratios are not
appropriate
Does not present and calculate
two profitability ratios for
Starbucks
3.5
Ratio: Profitability:
Discuss
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of what is
revealed about the financial
condition of companies through
key ratios
Comprehensively discusses
what profitability ratios reveal
about Starbucks
Discusses what profitability
ratios reveal about Starbucks,
but with gaps in logic or detail
Does not discuss what
profitability ratios reveal about
Starbucks
4
Rules: Control
Procedures
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
justification demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
importance of rules and
regulations in accounting to
financial reporting
Determines why reporting of
control procedures is required
and what information is
disclosed, justifying response
Determines why reporting of
control procedures is required
and what information is
disclosed, justifying response,
but determination contains
inaccuracies or justification is
lacking in logic or key details
Does not determine why
reporting of control procedures
is required and what
information is disclosed,
justifying response
6
Rules: Segment
Information
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
justification demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
importance of rules and
regulations in accounting to
financial reporting
Determines why reporting of
segment information is required
and what information is
disclosed, justifying response
Determines why reporting of
segment information is required
and what information is
disclosed, justifying response,
but determination contains
inaccuracies or justification is
lacking in logic or key details
Does not determine why
reporting of segment
information is required and
what information is disclosed,
justifying response
6
Rules: Estimates Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
justification demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
importance of rules and
regulations in accounting to
financial reporting
Determines why reporting of
estimates and assumptions is
required and what information
is disclosed, justifying response
Determines why reporting of
estimates and assumptions is
required and what information
is disclosed, justifying response,
but determination contains
inaccuracies or justification is
lacking in logic or key details
Does not determine why
reporting of estimates and
assumptions is required and
what information is disclosed,
justifying response
6
Rules: Investments
and Fair Value
Meets “Proficient” criteria, and
justification demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
importance of rules and
regulations in accounting to
financial reporting
Determines why reporting of
investments and fair value is
required and what information
is disclosed, justifying response
Determines why reporting of
investments and fair value is
required and what information
is disclosed, justifying response,
but determination contains
inaccuracies or justification is
lacking in logic or key details
Does not determine why
reporting of investments and
fair value is required and what
information is disclosed,
justifying response
6
Rules: Leases Meets “Proficient” criteria and
justification demonstrates a
nuanced understanding of the
importance of rules and
regulations in accounting to
financial reporting
Determines why reporting of
leases is required and what
information is disclosed,
justifying response
Determines why reporting of
leases is required and what
information is disclosed,
justifying response, but
determination contains
inaccuracies or justification is
lacking in logic or key details
Does not determine why
reporting of leases is required
and what information is
disclosed, justifying response
6
Conclusion Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates a nuanced
understanding of how financial
analysis leads to determinations
of the overall financial health of
companies
Provides a concise, professional
conclusion detailing what can
be learned from Starbucks’
financial statements and
performance based on financial
analysis
Provides a conclusion detailing
what can be learned from
Starbucks’ financial statements
and performance based on
financial analysis, but is lacking
key details or is not concise or
professional
Does not provide a conclusion
detailing what can be learned
from Starbucks’ financial
statements and performance
based on financial analysis
4
Articulation of
Response
Submission is free of errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, and
organization and is presented in
a professional and easy-to-read
format
Submission has no major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
Submission has major errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that negatively impact
readability and articulation of
main ideas
Submission has critical errors
related to citations, grammar,
spelling, syntax, or organization
that prevent understanding of
ideas
5
Total 100%

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