ACC 620 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview According to the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), a CPA in today’s environment must not only have a high level of technical competence and a sense of commitment to service, but must also have good communications and analytical skills and the ability to work well with people. Employers are looking for individuals who have the ability to analyze and evaluate complex business problems and the interpersonal skills and maturity to make decisions in a client and customer service environment. By continuing to use the company that you adopted in ACC 610, you will apply the technical competence and other skills required by today’s CPAs. Through casestudy analysis, you will develop skills such as communication, presentation, and interpersonal relations in conjunction with technical accounting knowledge. If you have transferred directly into ACC 620 and have not had the opportunity to choose a company, you will do so at this time. You will also use this company in ACC 630. Throughout ACC 620 and ACC 630, you will apply the concepts you are learning using the financial data and business scenarios of a prominent retail company. You may choose from Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Kroger, or Amazon. ACC 620: Financial Reporting II is a continuation of ACC 610. In ACC 620, your focus in the final project will be on developing skills in critical thinking and applying accounting theories and practices according to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). You will be analyzing situations and communicating results to decision makers with an emphasis on stockholders’ equity, income measurement, income taxes, pensions, leases, and statements of changes in financial positions. 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 Three, Five, and Seven. The final product will be submitted in Module Nine. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:  Analyze stockholder sections of balance sheets for how they inform stakeholders of equity positioning  Interpret income measurement for determining the accuracy of financial statements  Analyze the effect of income taxes and their impact on financial statement accounts for appropriate estimation and planning  Evaluate various pension plans for their implications on balance sheets and income statements  Differentiate between operating and capital leases for addressing their impact on balance sheets and income statements  Analyze complex financial statements for informing stakeholders in making economic decisions Prompt You will continue to work with the retail company you have chosen either in ACC 610 or at the beginning of this class. If you are transferring into SNHU’s financial reporting courses, you will choose from five retail companies (Wal-Mart, Target, Sears, Kroger, or Amazon). This company will be yours throughout the Financial Reporting Series (ACC 610, ACC 620, ACC 630). You will adopt this company to apply learning concepts in authentic scenarios. Through this assessment, you will continue building your Financial Reporting Series portfolio. Your portfolio pieces for this project will include memos, spreadsheets, and a final report. At the most recent strategic planning meeting, the board of directors of your company has voted to issue additional stock to raise capital for major expansions for the company in the next five years. The board is considering issuing a total amount of stock worth $5 million. The CEO has asked you to analyze the impact of issuing this stock on the income statement, statement of retained earnings, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. Take the most recent financial statements and prepare a set of projected financial statements based on the given assumptions. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Stockholders’ Equity A. Determine how your company got its initial financial start in terms of debt (liabilities) or equity (capital). Support your response. B. Analyze the equity section of your company’s balance sheet as compared to your company’s industry average. Rate the company’s performance against its competitors. C. Review your company’s dividend policy and its history. Based on the information, discuss the trends over the past year. II. Income Measurement/Revenue Recognition A. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) came together on a unified project to outline the accounting principles for recognizing revenue and to develop a common revenue standard for U.S. GAAP and IFRS. Research IAS-18, Revenue, and discuss how it would apply to your company. B. Review your company’s revenue over the past two years. Analyze the change in revenue (increase/decrease) and give the reasons for this change. C. Reflecting upon your company’s balance sheet, identify the unearned revenue accounts listed. How does your company handle the proper accounting treatment with regard to recognizing revenue from unearned revenue accounts? III. Income Taxes A. If Congress voted to eliminate corporate taxes, what would be the effect on your company’s income statement and balance sheet? Defend your response. B. Calculate the income tax rate for your chosen company. What effect will an increase in income of $2,000,000 have on your company? C. What are the effects on the balance sheet and income statement? Justify your response. D. How much did your company pay in foreign taxes last year? What percentage of its income is United States vs. foreign? IV. Leases A. What are the differences between operating and capital leases? B. Describe the particular leases of your company based on the liability section of your company’s balance sheet. C. What impact have the leases had on the company’s financial statements for the most recent year? D. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of leasing a building versus purchasing one. V. Pensions Address the following elements in the form of a memo to your CEO: A. From your company’s financial information, what type of pension plan does it have? Discuss the reasons why your company has chosen this particular plan. B. What was the effect of the pension plan on your company’s financial statements? Defend your response. C. Your CEO has informed you—the controller of your company—that the board of directors has made the decision to look at other options of types of retirement plans. Investigate what other alternatives would be available, and determine which would be appropriate for your particular company. VI. Statement of Changes in Financial Position A. From the perspective of an investor, determine whether or not you would invest in your chosen company based on the company’s statement of changes in financial position (SCFP). Support your opinion. B. Review the company’s SCFP for any concerns that may need to be addressed. As controller of your company, prepare a memo to your CEO, giving a summary report for possible recommendations. VII. Report for CEO At the most recent strategic planning meeting, the board of directors of your company has voted to issue additional stock to raise capital for major expansions for the company in the next five years. The board is considering $5 million. Take the most recent financial statements and prepare a set of projected financial statements based on the given assumptions. The CEO requests that you prepare a written report (including the financial statements) for her. A. Generate a projected income statement based on the given scenario. B. Analyze the impact on the income statement based on the given scenario. C. Generate a projected statement of retained earnings based on the given scenario. D. Analyze the impact on the statement of retained earnings based on the given scenario. E. Generate a projected balance sheet based on the given scenario. F. Analyze the impact on the balance sheet based on the given scenario. G. Generate a projected cash flow statement based on the given scenario. H. Analyze the impact on the cash flow statement based on the given scenario. Milestones Milestone One: Stockholders’ Equity and Revenue Recognition In Module Three, you will submit critical elements I and II for review by your instructor. It is important that you incorporate your instructor’s feedback from this milestone into your final submission. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Income Taxes and Pensions In Module Five, you will submit critical elements III and V for review by your instructor. It is important that you incorporate your instructor’s feedback from this milestone into your final submission. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Leases and Changes in Financial Position In Module Seven, you will submit critical elements IV and VI for review by your instructor. It is important that you incorporate your instructor’s feedback from this milestone into your final submission. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Submission: Financial Reporting Series Portfolio In Module Nine, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product, including critical element VII: Report for the CEO. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric. Deliverables Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading One Stockholders’ Equity and Revenue Recognition Three Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric Two Income Taxes and Pensions Five Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric Three Leases and Changes in Financial Position Seven Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric Final Submission: Financial Reporting Series Portfolio Nine Graded separately; Final Project Rubric Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your portfolio should be 6–10 pages (including spreadsheets, memos, and summary), double-spaced, with one-inch margins, 12- point Times New Roman font, and APA format. Instructor Feedback: This activity uses an integrated rubric in Blackboard. Students can view instructor feedback in the Grade Center. For more information, review these instructions. Critical Elements Exemplary Proficient Needs Improvement Not Evident Value Stockholders’ Equity: Initial Financial Start Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses concrete examples to substantiate claims (100%) Determines whether the company obtained its startup financing from debt or equity and supports response (90%) Determines whether the company obtained its startup financing from debt or equity, but does not support response (70%) Does not identify how the company obtained its startup financing (0%) 4.8 Stockholders’ Equity: Industry Average Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses concrete examples to substantiate claims (100%) Analyzes the company’s equity section as compared to the industry average and accurately rates the company’s performance against competitors (90%) Analyzes the company’s equity section as compared to the industry average, but does not accurately rate the company’s performance against competitors (70%) Does not analyze the company’s equity section (0%) 4.8 Stockholders’ Equity: Dividend Policy Meets “Proficient” criteria, and discussion is exceptionally clear and contextualized (100%) Analyzes the company’s dividend policy and its history to discuss the trends over the past year (90%) Analyzes the company’s dividend policy and its history, but does not discuss the trends over the past year (70%) Does not analyze the company’s dividend policy (0%) 4.8 Income Measurement/ Revenue Recognition: IAS-18 Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses concrete examples to substantiate claims (100%) Discusses IAS-18’s application to the company (90%) Discusses IAS-18’s application to the company, but discussion is cursory or lacks detail (70%) Does not research IAS-18 (0%) 4.8 Income Measurement/ Revenue Recognition: Revenue Meets “Proficient” criteria, and rationale is well supported with concrete evidence (100%) Analyzes the change in revenue and gives the reasons for the change (90%) Analyzes the change in revenue, but does not give the reasons for the change (70%) Does not analyze the change in revenue (0%) 4.8 Income Measurement/ Revenue Recognition: Unearned Revenue Meets “Proficient” criteria and displays a nuanced understanding of the company’s internal processes (100%) Identifies unearned revenue accounts listed as well as how the company handles the proper accounting treatment with regard to recognizing revenue from unearned revenue accounts (90%) Identifies unearned revenue accounts listed, but does not determine how the company handles the proper accounting treatment with regard to recognizing revenue from unearned revenue accounts (70%) Does not identify unearned revenue accounts listed (0%) 4.8 Income Taxes: Corporate Taxes Meets “Proficient” criteria, and defense is well supported with quantitative evidence (100%) Accurately describes the effect on the company’s income statement and balance sheet if Congress voted to eliminate corporate taxes, and defends response (90%) Describes the effect on the company’s income statement and balance sheet if Congress voted to eliminate corporate taxes, but does not defend response, description contains inaccuracies, or defense is illogical (70%) Does not describe the effect on the company’s income statement and balance sheet (0%) 4.8 Income Taxes: Increase in Income Meets “Proficient” criteria, and determination is well supported with quantitative evidence (100%) Accurately calculates the income tax rate for the company and determines the effect an increase in income would have on the company (90%) Calculates the income tax rate for the company and determines the effect an increase in income would have on the company, but calculation or determination contains inaccuracies (70%) Does not calculate the income tax rate for the company (0%) 4.8 Income Taxes: Effects Meets “Proficient” criteria, and justification is well supported with quantitative evidence (100%) Accurately determines the effects on the balance sheet and income statement and justifies response (90%) Determines the effects on the balance sheet and income statement, but determination contains inaccuracies, does not justify determination, or justification is illogical (70%) Does not determine the effects on the balance sheet and income statement (0%) 4.8 Income Taxes: Foreign Taxes Accurately determines how much the company paid in foreign taxes last year and what percentage of its income was United States versus foreign (100%) Determines how much the company paid in foreign taxes last year and what percentage of its income was United States versus foreign, but determination contains inaccuracies (70%) Does not determine how much the company paid in foreign taxes last year (0%) 4.8 Leases: Operating and Capital Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description is exceptionally clear and contextualized (100%) Comprehensively describes the differences between operating and capital leases (90%) Describes the differences between operating and capital leases, but description is cursory or lacks detail (70%) Does not describe the differences between operating and capital leases (0%) 4.8 Leases: Particular Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description is exceptionally clear and contextualized (100%) Describes the particular leases of the company based on the liability section of the company’s balance sheet (90%) Describes the particular leases of the company, but does not base description on the liability section of the company’s balance sheet (70%) Does not describe the particular leases of the company (0%) 4.8 Leases: Impact Meets “Proficient” criteria, and defense is well supported with concrete examples (100%) Comprehensively discusses the impact the leases had on the company’s financial statements for the most recent year (90%) Discusses the impact the leases had on the company’s financial statements for the most recent year, but discussion is cursory or lacks detail (70%) Does not discuss the impact the leases had on the company’s financial statements (0%) 4.8 Leases: Building Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses concrete examples to illustrate claims (100%) Comprehensively discusses the advantages and disadvantages of leasing a building versus purchasing one (90%) Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of leasing a building versus purchasing one, but discussion is cursory or lacks detail (70%) Does not discuss the advantages and disadvantages of leasing a building versus purchasing one (0%) 4.8 Pensions: Pension Plan Meets “Proficient” criteria and shows a nuanced understanding of the company’s decisionmaking rationale (100%) Discusses the type of pension plan the company has and the reasons why the company has chosen that plan (90%) Discusses the type of pension plan the company has, but does not discuss the reasons why the company chose that plan (70%) Does not identify the type of pension plan the company has (0%) 4.8 Pensions: Effect Meets “Proficient” criteria, and defense is well supported with concrete examples (100%) Accurately determines the effect of the pension plan on the company’s financial statements and defends response (90%) Determines the effect of the pension plan on the company’s financial statements, but determination lacks accuracy, does not defend determination, or defense is weak or illogical (70%) Does not determine the effect of the pension plan on the company’s financial statements (0%) 4.8 Pensions: Other Options Meets “Proficient” criteria and is well supported with concrete examples (100%) Evaluates other types of retirement plans available and determines which would be appropriate for the company (90%) Evaluates other types of retirement plans available, but does not determine which would be appropriate for the company (70%) Does not evaluate other types of retirement plans available (0%) 4.8 Statement of Changes in Financial Position: Invest Meets “Proficient” criteria, and opinion is well supported with concrete examples (100%) Determines whether or not to invest in the company based on the SCFP and supports opinion (90%) Determines whether or not to invest in the company based on the SCFP, but does not support opinion, or support for opinion is weak or illogical (70%) Does not determine whether or not to invest in the company (0%) 1.6 Statement of Changes in Financial Position: Recommendations Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendations are well supported and logical (100%) Composes a memo to the CEO making recommendations that would effectively resolve any concerns identified in the SCFP (90%) Composes a memo to the CEO making recommendations to address concerns identified in the SCFP, but recommendations would not effectively resolve concerns (70%) Does not compose a memo to the CEO (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Projected Income Statement Generates a projected income statement based on the given scenario (100%) Generates a projected income statement, but does not use the given scenario (70%) Does not generate a projected income statement (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Impact on the Income Statement Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples from the projected statement (100%) Analyzes the impact on the income statement based on the given scenario (90%) Analyzes the impact on the income statement, but does not base analysis on the given scenario (70%) Does not analyze the impact on the income statement (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Projected Statement of Retained Earnings Generates a projected statement of retained earnings based on the given scenario (100%) Generates a projected statement of retained earnings, but does not use the given scenario (70%) Does not generate a projected statement of retained earnings (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Impact on the Statement of Retained Earnings Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples from the projected statement (100%) Analyzes the impact on the statement of retained earnings based on the given scenario (90%) Analyzes the impact on the statement of retained earnings, but does not base analysis on the given scenario (70%) Does not analyze the impact on the statement of retained earnings (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Projected Balance Sheet Generates a projected balance sheet based on the given scenario (100%) Generates a projected balance sheet, but does not use the given scenario (70%) Does not generate a projected balance sheet (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Impact on the Balance Sheet Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples from the projected statement (100%) Analyzes the impact on the balance sheet based on the given scenario (90%) Analyzes the impact on the balance sheet, but does not base analysis on the given scenario (70%) Does not analyze the impact on the balance sheet (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Projected Cash Flow Statement Generates a projected cash flow statement based on the given scenario (100%) Generates a projected cash flow statement, but does not use the given scenario (70%) Does not generate a projected cash flow statement (0%) 1.6 Report for CEO: Impact on the Cash Flow Statement Meets “Proficient” criteria and cites specific, relevant examples from the projected statement (100%) Analyzes the impact on the cash flow statement based on the given scenario (90%) Analyzes the impact on the cash flow statement, but does not base analysis on the given scenario (70%) Does not analyze the impact on the cash flow statement (0%) 1.6 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 (100%) Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization (90%) Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas (70%) Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that prevent understanding of ideas (0%) 2.4 Total 100%

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