In this course, we discuss fundamental issues of advanced management accounting and control in an international context. Based on the knowledge of the courses AMC1 and AMC 2 we identify important tools of management accounting which are widely used in corporate practice all over the world. We focus on topics especially important for decentralized large international firms like transfer pricing and performance measurement & incentives and intensify knowledge about basic processes like budgeting and variance analysis. In this context we also address the increasing importance of non-financial information and its usage in management accounting. The course is based on an international textbook to allow for discussing all related topics in English.

Students develop a solid understanding of the advanced concept of management accounting and control in an international context. They gain insight into the questions of how and when management accounting tools may be helpful for controlling the firm. They develop skills to see the (increasing) need for management accounting tools in large decentralized companies and learn to judge the costs and benefits of the usage of different management accounting tools. Additionally, they know about the importance of considering non-financial information in management accounting.

80 %

Students are required to prepare for the lectures by reading the related chapters in the textbook, the course is based on. After a short quiz at the beginning of the lecture, which tests the knowledge acquired at home, theory and practical implications are disused in the lecture. Problem sets and exercises are used to illustrate and deepen the issues. Students are actively involved in developing solutions during the lecture. By means of home exercises they recap the course’s content. 

Assessment is based on:

Quizzes (in the beginning of course sessions):

5 Quizzes á 6 %

Home exercises

6 Exercises á 5%

Written-end of seminar exam (last session of the course):

40 %

In order to pass the course, students are required to achieve more than 50 % of the total reachable points.

This course is a PI course with 80% attendance. Students who are not present in the first unit will be deregistered and the place will be given to some other student from the waiting list.

Basic knowledge of Cost Accounting and Management Accounting (AMC 1, AMC 2).

mariana.sailer@wu.ac.at