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This papers aim is broken down into several main Learning Materials
capabilities which divide the syllabus and study
guide into discrete sections. ACCA's Approved Content Programme is the
programme through which ACCA approves
Relational diagram of the main capabilities learning materials from high quality content
providers designed to support study towards ACCAs
This diagram illustrates the flows and links between qualifications.
the main capabilities (sections) of the syllabus and
should be used as an aid to planning teaching and ACCA has three Approved Content Providers, Becker
learning in a structured way. Professional Education,
BPP Learning Media and Kaplan Publishing.
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ACCA 2017-2018 All rights reserved.
For information about ACCA's progresses through each module and level. This
Approved Content Providers please go to reflects that at each stage of study there will be a
ACCA's Content Provider Directory. requirement to broaden, as well as deepen
capabilities. It is also possible that occasionally
The Directory also lists materials by other some higher level capabilities may be assessed at
publishers, these materials have not been quality lower levels.
assured by ACCA but may be helpful if used in
conjunction with approved learning materials or for LEARNING HOURS AND EDUCATION
variant exams where no approved content is RECOGNITION
available. You will also find details of Additional
Reading suggested by the examining teams and this The ACCA qualification does not prescribe or
may be a useful supplement to approved learning recommend any particular number of learning hours
materials. for examinations because study and learning
patterns and styles vary greatly between people and
ACCA's Content Provider Directory can be found organisations. This also recognises the wide
here diversity of personal, professional and educational
H http://www.accaglobal.com/uk/en/student/acca- circumstances in which ACCA students find
qual-student-journey/study-revision/learning- themselves.
providers/alp-content.html
As a member of the International Federation of
Relevant articles are also published in Student Accountants, ACCA seeks to enhance the education
Accountant and available on the ACCA website. recognition of its qualification on both national and
international education frameworks, and with
INTELLECTUAL LEVELS educational authorities and partners globally. In
doing so, ACCA aims to ensure that its qualifications
The syllabus is designed to progressively broaden are recognized and valued by governments,
and deepen the knowledge, skills and professional regulatory authorities and employers across all
values demonstrated by the student on their way sectors. To this end, ACCA qualifications are
through the qualification. currently recognized on the education frameworks in
several countries. Please refer to your national
The specific capabilities within the detailed education framework regulator for further
syllabuses and study guides are assessed at one of information.
three intellectual or cognitive levels:
Each syllabus contains between 23 and 35 main
Level 1: Knowledge and comprehension subject area headings depending on the nature of
Level 2: Application and analysis the subject and how these areas have been broken
Level 3: Synthesis and evaluation down.
Very broadly, these intellectual levels relate to the GUIDE TO EXAM STRUCTURE
three cognitive levels at which the Knowledge
module, the Skills module and the Professional level The structure of examinations varies within and
are assessed. between modules and levels.
Each subject area in the detailed study guide The Fundamentals level examinations contain
included in this document is given a 1, 2, or 100% compulsory questions to encourage
3 superscript, denoting intellectual level, marked at candidates to study across the breadth of each
the end of each relevant line. This gives an syllabus.
indication of the intellectual depth at which an area
could be assessed within the examination. However, The Knowledge module is assessed by equivalent
while level 1 broadly equates with the Knowledge two-hour paper based and computer based
module, level 2 equates to the Skills module and examinations.
level 3 to the Professional level, some lower level
skills can continue to be assessed as the student
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The Corporate and Business Law (F4) Options papers will offer a choice of two from three
paper is a two- hour objective test examination questions, with each question attracting 20 marks.
which is also available as a computer based exams
for English and Global variants, as well as paper All Professional level exams contain four
based for all variants. professional marks.
The skills module examinations F5-F9 contain a mix The pass mark for all ACCA Qualification
of objectives and longer type questions with a examination papers is 50%.
duration of three hours for 100 marks.* These are
available as computer-based and paper-based GUIDE TO EXAMINATION ASSESSMENT
exams. In the computer-based exams there may be
instances where we have extra content for the ACCA reserves the right to examine anything
purposes of ongoing quality assurance and security. contained within the study guide at any examination
session. This includes knowledge, techniques,
* For paper-based exams there is an extra 15 principles, theories, and concepts as specified.
minutes to reflect the manual effort required.
For the financial accounting, audit and assurance,
The Professional level papers are all of three hours law and tax papers except where indicated
15 minutes duration and, all contain two otherwise, ACCA will publish examinable
sections. Section A is compulsory, but there will be documents once a year to indicate exactly
some choice offered in Section B. what regulations and legislation could potentially be
assessed within identified examination sessions..
ACCA has removed the restriction relating to reading
and planning time, so that while the time For paper based examinations regulation issued or
considered necessary to complete these exams legislation passed on or before 31st August annually,
remains at 3 hours, candidates may use the will be examinable from 1st September of the
additional 15 minutes as they choose. ACCA following year to 31st August t of the year after that.
encourages students to take time to read questions Please refer to the examinable documents for the
carefully and to plan answers but once the exam paper (where relevant) for further information.
time has started, there are no additional restrictions
as to when candidates may start writing in their
Regulation issued or legislation passed in
answer books.
accordance with the above dates may be
examinable even if the effective date is in the future.
Time should be taken to ensure that all the
information and exam requirements are properly The term issued or passed relates to when
read and understood. regulation or legislation has been formally approved.
The Essentials module papers all have a Section A The term effective relates to when regulation or
containing a major case study question with all legislation must be applied to an entity transactions
requirements totalling 50 marks relating to this and business practices.
case. Section B gives students a choice of two from
three 25 mark questions. The study guide offers more detailed guidance on
the depth and level at which the examinable
Section A of both the P4 and P5 Options papers documents will be examined. The study guide
contain one 50 mark compulsory question, and should therefore be read in conjunction with the
Section B will offer a choice of two from three examinable documents list.
questions each worth 25 marks each.
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Syllabus
MAIN CAPABILITIES
GRE (P1) AFM (P4) CR (P2) On successful completion of this paper, candidates
should be able to:
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RATIONALE
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DETAILED SYLLABUS E Treasury and advanced risk management
techniques
A Role of senior financial adviser in the
multinational organisation 1. The role of the treasury function in
multinationals
1. The role and responsibility of senior financial
executive/advisor 2. The use of financial derivatives to hedge
against forex risk
2. Financial strategy formulation
3. The use of financial derivatives to hedge
3. Ethical and governance issues against interest rate risk
1. Financial reconstruction
2. Business re-organisation
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APPROACH TO EXAMINING THE SYLLABUS
Examination Structure
Section A:
Section B:
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Study Guide f) Develop a framework for risk management,
comparing and contrasting risk mitigation,
hedging and diversification strategies.[3]
A ROLE OF THE SENIOR FINANCIAL ADVISER
IN THE MULTINATIONAL ORGANISATION g) Establish capital investment monitoring and
risk management systems.[3]
1. The role and responsibility of senior financial
executive/advisor h) Advise on the impact of behavioural finance on
financial strategies / securities prices and why
a) Develop strategies for the achievement of the they may not follow the conventional financial
organisational goals in line with its agreed theories. [3]
policy framework. [3]
3. Ethical and governance issues
b) Recommend strategies for the management of
the financial resources of the organisation such a) Assess the ethical dimension within business
that they are utilised in an efficient, effective issues and decisions and advise on best
and transparent way. [3] practice in the financial management of the
organisation.[3]
c) Advise the board of directors or management of
the organisation in setting the financial goals of b) Demonstrate an understanding of the
the business and in its financial policy interconnectedness of the ethics of good
development with particular reference to: [3] business practice between all of the functional
i) Investment selection and capital resource areas of the organisation.[2]
allocation
ii) Minimising the cost of capital c) Recommend, within specified problem
iii) Distribution and retention policy domains, appropriate strategies for the
iv) Communicating financial policy and resolution of stakeholder conflict and advise on
corporate goals to internal and external alternative approaches that may be adopted. [3]
stakeholders
v) Financial planning and control d) Recommend an ethical framework for the
vi) The management of risk. development of an organisations financial
policies and a system for the assessment of its
2. Financial strategy formulation ethical impact upon the financial management
of the organisation.[3]
a) Assess organisational performance using
methods such as ratios and trends [3] e) Explore the areas within the ethical framework
of the organisation which may be undermined
b) Recommend the optimum capital mix and by agency effects and/or stakeholder conflicts
structure within a specified business context and establish strategies for dealing with
and capital asset structure.[3] them.[3]
c) Recommend appropriate distribution and f) Establish an ethical financial policy for the
retention policy.[3] financial management of the organisation
which is grounded in good governance, the
d) Explain the theoretical and practical rationale highest standards of probity and is fully aligned
for the management of risk. [3] with the ethical principles of the Association. [3]
e) Assess the organisations exposure to business g) Assess the impact on sustainability and
and financial risk including operational, environmental issues arising from alternative
reputational, political, economic, regulatory organisational business and financial decisions.
and fiscal risk.[3] [3]
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organisations stakeholders, from an integrated 5. Strategic business and financial planning for
reporting and governance perspective [2] multinationals
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B ADVANCED INVESTMENT APPRAISAL ii) Discuss the underlying assumptions,
structure, application and limitations of the
1. Discounted cash flow techniques BSOP model.
a) Evaluate the potential value added to an b) Evaluate embedded real options within a
organisation arising from a specified capital project, classifying them into one of the real
investment project or portfolio using the net option archetypes.[3]
present value (NPV) model.[3]
Project modelling should include explicit c) Assess, calculate and advise on the value of
treatment and discussion of: options to delay, expand, redeploy and
i) Inflation and specific price variation withdraw using the BSOP model.[3]
ii) Taxation including tax allowable
depreciation and tax exhaustion 3. Impact of financing on investment decisions
iii) Single period and multi-period capital and adjusted present values
rationing. Multi-period capital rationing to
include the formulation of programming a) Identify and assess the appropriateness of the
methods and the interpretation of their range of sources of finance available to an
output organisation including equity, debt, hybrids,
iv) Probability analysis and sensitivity analysis lease finance, venture capital, business angel
when adjusting for risk and uncertainty in finance, private equity, asset securitisation and
investment appraisal sale and Islamic finance. Including assessment
v) Risk adjusted discount rates on the financial position, financial risk and the
vi) Project duration as a measure of risk. value of an organisation.[3]
b) Outline the application of Monte Carlo b) Discuss the role of, and developments in,
simulation to investment appraisal.[2] Islamic financing as a growing source of
Candidates will not be expected to undertake finance for organisations; explaining the
simulations in an examination context but will rationale for its use, and identifying its benefits
be expected to demonstrate an understanding and deficiencies.[2]
of:
i) The significance of the simulation output c) Calculate the cost of capital of an organisation,
and the assessment of the likelihood of including the cost of equity and cost of debt,
project success based on the range of equity and debt sources
ii) The measurement and interpretation of of finance. Discuss the appropriateness of
project value at risk. using the cost of capital to establish project
and organisational value, and discuss its
c) Establish the potential economic return (using relationship to such value.[3]
internal rate of return (IRR) and modified
internal rate of return) and advise on a d) Calculate and evaluate project specific cost of
projects return margin. Discuss the relative equity and cost of capital, including their
merits of NPV and IRR.[3] impact on the overall cost of capital of an
organisation. Demonstrate detailed knowledge
2. Application of option pricing theory in of business and financial risk, the capital asset
investment decisions pricing model and the relationship between
equity and asset betas.[3]
a) Apply the Black-Scholes Option Pricing (BSOP)
model to financial product valuation and to e) Assess an organisations debt exposure to
asset valuation:[3] interest rate changes using the simple
i) Determine and discuss, using published Macaulay duration and modified duration
data, the five principal drivers of option methods. [3]
value (value of the underlying, exercise
price, time to expiry, volatility and the risk- f) Discuss the benefits and limitations of duration
free rate) including the impact of convexity. [3]
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discuss the implications of the model for a
g) Assess the organisations exposure to credit change in the value of equity.[2]
risk, including: [3]
i) Explain the role of, and the risk assessment e) Explain the role of BSOP model in the
models used by the principal rating assessment of default risk, the value of debt
agencies and its potential recoverability. [2]
ii) Estimate the likely credit spread over risk
free 5. International investment and financing
iii) Estimate the organisations current cost of decisions
debt capital using the appropriate term
structure of interest rates and the credit a) Assess the impact upon the value of a project
spread. of alternative exchange rate assumptions.[3]
h) Assess the impact of financing and capital b) Forecast project or organisation free cash flows
structure upon the organisation with respect in any specified currency and determine the
to:[3] projects net present value or organisation
i) Modigliani and Miller propositions, before value under differing exchange rate, fiscal and
and after tax transaction cost assumptions.[2]
ii) Static trade-off theory
iii) Pecking order propositions c) Evaluate the significance of exchange controls
iv) Agency effects. for a given investment decision and strategies
for dealing with restricted remittance.[3]
i) Apply the adjusted present value technique to
the appraisal of investment decisions that d) Assess the impact of a project upon an
entail significant alterations in the financial organisations exposure to translation,
structure of the organisation, including their transaction and economic risk.[3]
fiscal and transactions cost implications.[3]
e) Assess and advise on the costs and benefits of
j) Assess the impact of a significant capital alternative sources of finance available within
investment project upon the reported financial the international equity and bond markets.[3]
position and performance of the organisation
taking into account alternative financing C ACQUISITIONS AND MERGERS
strategies.[3]
1. Acquisitions and mergers versus other growth
4. Valuation and the use of free cash flows strategies
a) Apply asset based, income based and cash a) Discuss the arguments for and against the use
flow based models to value equity. Apply of acquisitions and mergers as a method of
appropriate models, including term structure of corporate expansion.[2]
interest rates, the yield curve and credit
spreads, to value corporate debt.[3] b) Evaluate the corporate and competitive nature
of a given acquisition proposal.[3]
b) Forecast an organisations free cash flow and
its free cash flow to equity (pre and post c) Advise upon the criteria for choosing an
capital reinvestment).[3] appropriate target for acquisition.[3]
c) Advise on the value of an organisation using its d) Compare the various explanations for the high
free cash flow and free cash flow to equity failure rate of acquisitions in enhancing
under alternative horizon and growth shareholder value.[3]
assumptions.[3]
e) Evaluate, from a given context, the potential for
d) Explain the use of the BSOP model to estimate synergy separately classified as:[3]
the value of equity of an organisation and i) Revenue synergy
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ii) Cost synergy 4. Financing acquisitions and mergers
iii) Financial synergy.
a) Compare the various sources of financing
f) Evaluate the use of the reverse takeover as a available for a proposed cash-based
method of acquisition and as a way of acquisition. [3]
obtaining a stock market listing:[3]
b) Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of
2. Valuation for acquisitions and mergers a financial offer for a given acquisition proposal
using pure or mixed mode financing and
a) Discuss the problem of overvaluation.[2] recommend the most appropriate offer to be
made.[3]
b) Estimate the potential near-term and
continuing growth levels of a corporations c) Assess the impact of a given financial offer on
earnings using both internal and external the reported financial position and performance
measures.[3] of the acquirer.[3]
c) Discuss, assess and advise on the value D CORPORATE RECONSTRUCTION AND RE-
created from an acquisition or merger of both ORGANISATION
quoted and unquoted entities using models
such as:[3] 1. Financial reconstruction
i) Book value-plus models
ii) Market based models a) Assess an organisational situation and
iii) Cash flow models, including free cash determine whether a financial reconstruction is
flows. an appropriate strategy for a given business
Taking into account the changes in the risk situation.[3]
profile and risk exposure of the acquirer and
the target entities b) Assess the likely response of the capital market
and/or individual suppliers of capital to any
d) Apply appropriate methods, such as: risk- reconstruction scheme and the impact their
adjusted cost of capital, adjusted net present response is likely to have upon the value of the
values and changing price-earnings multipliers organisation.[3]
resulting from the acquisition or merger, to the
valuation process where appropriate.[3] 2. Business re-organisation
3. Regulatory framework and processes b) Evaluate the likely financial and other benefits
of unbundling.[3]
a) Demonstrate an understanding of the principal
factors influencing the development of the c) Advise on the financial issues relating to a
regulatory framework for mergers and management buy-out and buy-in.[3]
acquisitions globally and, in particular, be able
to compare and contrast the shareholder versus E TREASURY AND ADVANCED RISK
the stakeholder models of regulation.[2] MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES
b) Identify the main regulatory issues which are 1. The role of the treasury function in
likely to arise in the context of a given offer and multinationals
i) assess whether the offer is likely to be in
the shareholders best interests a) Discuss the role of the treasury management
ii) advise the directors of a target entity on function within:[3]
the most appropriate defence if a specific i) The short term management of the
offer is to be treated as hostile.[3] organisations financial resources
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ii) The longer term maximisation of corporate iv) Currency swaps
value v) FOREX swaps
iii) The management of risk exposure. vi) Currency options.
b) Discuss the operations of the derivatives c) Advise on the use of bilateral and multilateral
market, including:[3] netting and matching as tools for minimising
i) The relative advantages and disadvantages FOREX transactions costs and the management
of exchange traded versus OTC agreements of market barriers to the free movement of
ii) Key features, such as standard contracts, capital and other remittances.[3]
tick sizes, margin requirements and margin
trading 3. The use of financial derivatives to hedge
iii) The source of basis risk and how it can be against interest rate risk
minimised.
iv) Risks such as delta, gamma, vega, rho and a) Evaluate, for a given hedging requirement,
theta, and how these can be managed. which of the following is the most appropriate
given the nature of the underlying position and
2. The use of financial derivatives to hedge the risk exposure:[3]
against forex risk i) Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs)
ii) Interest rate futures
a) Assess the impact on an organisation to iii) Interest rate swaps
exposure in translation, transaction and iv) Interest rate options.
economic risks and how these can be
managed. [3]
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SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO P4
There are changes to the syllabus to reflect the latest business and educational developments affecting this
paper. These are summarised in the table below.
ACCA periodically reviews its qualification syllabuses so that they fully meet the needs of stakeholders such as
employers, students, regulatory and advisory bodies and learning providers.
Amendments /additions
There have been no amendments to the P4 study guide from the 2016 2017 study guide.
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