ACC 423 Complete Course

Week 1

Individual Owners Equity Paper

Resources: Intermediate Accounting and Electronic Reserve Readings

Prepare a 700- to 1,050-word response to the following questions:

Why is it important to keep paid-in capital separate from earned capital?

As an investor, is paid-in capital or earned capital more important? Explain why.

As an investor, are basic or diluted earnings per share more important? Explain why.

Format your paper consistent with APA guidelines.

Discussion Questions

Why do companies offer stock options? Should stock option compensation be included as an expense when calculating an organizations net income? Explain why or why not. If so, how should the amount of expense be calculated?

What are some similarities and differences between common stock and preferred stock? As a shareholder, would you want preferred or common stock? Explain why. As a corporation, would you rather issue preferred or common stock? Explain why.

What is the purpose of a stock split? What are some benefits of a stock split for a company? What are some benefits for an investor? What is the effect to the market value of the stock?

What are the differences between basic and diluted earnings per share? What are the differences between the numerator and the denominator in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculations? As an investor, do you evaluate a company as a potential investment using basic or diluted earnings per share? Explain why.

Week 2

Individual Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 15: Exercises E15-13 & E15-18

Ch. 16: Exercise E16-20

Learning Team Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 15: Problem P15-1

Ch. 16: Problems P16-6 & P16-7 and Concepts for Analysis CA16-4

Discussion Questions

What are the differences between traditional and derivative instruments? Why do companies use derivative instruments? Are derivatives a good investment? Explain why or why not.

Why do companies make investments in other companies? What are the differences between debt and equity investments? What would influence a company to choose equity or debt as an investment?

How do the various classifications of investments affect financial statements? What is the rationale behind the different accounting methods for the various investment classifications? Which is more important when determining the accounting method for securities, influence, or ownership? Explain why.

Read one of the articles on the electronic readings. Summarize the main points of the article and discuss how this relates to this weeks reading topics. (Dont forget to cite your article.)

Week 3

Individual Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 17: Questions 1 & 26 and Exercises E17-1, E17-7, & E17-12

Learning Team Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 17: Problems P17-1 & P17-9

Discussion Questions

Why are there differences between taxable and financial income? What are some examples of permanent and temporary differences? Why do these differences exist? How do they affect the financial statements?

How are deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities derived? How do they relate to the difference between tax expense and taxes payable? How could an organization have a tax receivable? Why is the tax expense reported on the income statement comprised of current and deferred tax?

How are the tax benefits of net operating losses (NOL) disclosed on financial statements? Which is more beneficial to an organization, an NOL carryforward or an NOL carryback? Explain why. When would a company decide to forego a carryback?

Read one of the articles on the electronic readings. Summarize the main points of the article and discuss how this relates to this weeks reading topics. (Dont forget to cite your article.)

Week 4

Individual Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 19: Exercises E19-3, E19-6, E19-7, & E19-9

Learning Team Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 19: Problems P19-2 & P19-7

Discussion Questions

What are the differences and similarities between a defined contribution plan and a defined benefit plan? As an employee, would you rather have a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan? Why? As an employer, would you rather offer a defined contribution plan or a defined benefit plan? Why?

What are the components of pension expense? How is the interest rate determined? Why are prior service costs amortized? How do the components of pension expense differ among the various types of contribution and benefit plans?

Read one of the articles from the selected readings (or you may choose a current article relevant to this week's topic). How does the article relate to this weeks topics? What are your thoughts? (Don't forget to identify the article you read.)

Under the Read Me First material of Week 4, it states: Congress is considering making defined benefit programs more attractive, including the creation of defined benefit 401(k)" plans, which would have many of the advantages employees like in 401(k) plans, such as pre-tax employee contributions and matches, but it would pay a guaranteed lifetime benefit. What are your thoughts on this type of plan?

Week 5

Individual Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 20: Question 2 & 10 and Exercise E20-7

Ch. 22: Exercise E22-19

Learning Team Assignments From the Text

Resource: Intermediate Accounting

Prepare written responses to the following assignments from the text:

Ch. 20: Problem P20-8

Ch. 22: Problem P22-3

Learning Team Problem Presentation

Collaborate as a team to provide written responses to a facilitator-assigned problem.

Prepare a 5- to 10-minute oral presentation accompanied by a 7- to 9-slide Microsoft PowerPoint presentation illustrating your teams solution to the assigned problem.

Note. Each week, the facilitator assigns one Learning Team a problem to present that the team must complete during the succeeding Learning Team Meeting.

Discussion Questions

Why do accountants make errors? What types of errors may occur? Why is it necessary to correct them? What are the ramifications of not correcting errors?

What are some examples of counterbalancing errors? What are some examples of no counterbalancing errors? What are the differences between counterbalancing and no counterbalancing errors? How are each handled? Does it matter if the books are closed? Why or why not?

Read one of the articles from the selected readings (or you may choose a current article relevant to this week's topic). How does the article relate to this weeks topics? What are your thoughts? (Don't forget to identify the article you read.)

What is a change in accounting principle? How do you determine if a change in principle should be reported retroactively, currently, or prospectively? How do these changes affect the financial statements? What experience do you have with change in accounting principle in your organization or an organization you are familiar with?