Tutoring for ‘Accounting for Managers’ at Darden Business School, UVA

Accounting for Managers at Darden Business School is a two-part accounting course offered by the University of Virginia’s (UVA) accounting department. The first part of the Accounting for Managers course is usually offered in the first quarter (Q1) and is a required core accounting course for all MBA students. The second part of the Accounting for Managers course is usually offered in the third quarter (Q3) and is an elective accounting course for those MBA students wanting a deeper dive into financial accounting. This page covers the following topics:

GraduateTutor’s accounting tutors offer tutoring for Accounting for Managers as well as all of UVA other accounting courses offered by the accounting department at UVA.

Case-Based Teaching Format for Accounting for Managers (in Q1 and Q3)

Most accounting courses are primarily based on a financial or managerial accounting textbook. However, like most other courses at the Darden Business School, the Accounting department teaches the Accounting for Managers Q1 & Q3 courses using the case method. This is especially true of the Accounting for Managers Q3 elective course, in which the selection of case studies is exceptionally good. This also means that the elective course is quite challenging for those new to accounting.

Accounting for Managers Q1: Course Description

Accounting for Managers Q1 Course is unique in that it provides an overview of accounting from both the managerial accounting and financial accounting angles.

The Accounting for Managers Q1 course is an introductory course designed for non-accountants, so students are expected to have no prior experience in accounting. Accounting for Managers Q1 starts with the difference between managerial accounting and financial accounting! However, MBAs with accounting experience may find this course boring! This course is a core requirement as accounting is the language of business and the cornerstone of many business decisions. Accounting for Managers Q1 course provides students with a foundation of accounting terminology, accounting frameworks, and accounting concepts; to analyze and understand the financial statements and business performance. The stated purpose of the Accounting for Managers Q1 Course is “to help you develop a high degree of accounting information expertise to enhance your capabilities as an informed manager and decision maker”. 

Accounting for Managers Q3 Course Description

The Accounting for Managers Course in Q3 is purely a Financial Accounting course, unlike the Accounting for Managers Q1 Course, which provides an overview of accounting from both the managerial accounting and financial accounting perspectives. The Accounting for Managers Course in Q3 digs deeper into US GAAP. In fact, the Accounting for Managers Course in Q3 focuses on the Valuation and Reporting of Assets, Liabilities, and Owners’ Interests.

Case Studies Used in Accounting for Managers Q3 Course

As mentioned earlier, the case studies used in the Accounting for Managers Q3 Course are exceptionally good. For example, in the Accounting for Revenue and Assets Module, the Cavalier Computing case for Revenue recognition, the Biovail Corporation: Revenue Recognition and FOB Sales Accounting [HBS 4011-PDF-ENG] case study for Revenue recognition, Apollo Music case for Accounts receivable and bad debts, the MGM Resorts International—Accounts Receivable case for Accounts receivable and bad debts, the Paragon Electronics, Inc. case for Inventory and COGS and the Lewis Driscoll and Delta Cargo case for PP&E and depreciation where chosen.

In the module dealing with Accounting for Creditor’s & Owners’ Interests, the Daimler Taps the Chinese Panda Bond Market case was used for Long-term debt, and the Shareholders’ Equity at PepsiCo case was used for Stockholders’ equity. For the module on Investments in Other Corporations, the Potential Volatility Comes to Earnings: A Look at Berkshire Hathaway’s Equity Investments case for Investments using the fail value and equity method, and Amazon.com, Inc. Buys Whole Foods Markets case for Investments using the business combinations was chosen.  For the module covering Financial Reporting Incentives and Analysis, Impairing the Microsoft/Nokia Pairing case for Investments in other corporations using impairment accounting and the Ceres Gardening Company: Funding Growth in Organic Products [HBS 4017-PDF-ENG] case for Pro Forma Projections are used.

The Ratios Tell A Story—2021 case was used to introduce students to financial statement analysis and to round out the course. To teach the importance of ethics, the case study A Letter from Prison [HBS 110045-PDF-ENG] was used.

Accounting for Managers Q1 & Q3 Required Text book

There is only one required textbook for both Q1 and Q3 of Accounting for Managers Courses. Like this course, this text book covers managerial and financial accounting. Accounting to the faculty: “In fact, it is two books bound and sold as one by the publisher for our use.”

The required textbook for both Q1 and Q3 of Accounting for Managers Courses is Financial & Managerial Accounting for Decision Makers by Hanlon, Magee, Pfeiffer, and Dyckman (ISBN 978-1-61853-361-6). You can buy the hardcover book, new or used, from a bookstore or buy directly from the publisher, Cambridge Business Publishers, using this purchase link Financial & Managerial Accounting for Decision Makers.

This required textbook is important as it provides the Accounting for Managers Q1 and Q3 assignments.

Teaching Faculty for Accounting for Managers at Darden, UVA

The recent Accounting for Managers Q1 course was taught by Prof. Mark Haskins, the Landmark Communications Professor of Business Administration from the accounting department at the University of Virginia. The recent Accounting for Managers Q3 elective course was taught by Prof. Jim Naughton, who is an Assistant Professor of Business Administration from the accounting department at the University of Virginia. Other faculty from the accounting department at the University of Virginia also teach both these courses.

Grading in Accounting for Managers

The bulk of the grade -70% -for the Q1 Accounting for Managers Q1 & Q3 course is based on a final exam, which is open book and open notes. The remaining 30% will be based on class contributions and participation in class discussions.

How to Prepare for Accounting for Managers

In the Accounting for Managers Q1, Prof Haskins emphasis learning and encourages – in his own words, “Since this course is designed and paced for nonaccountants, I encourage you to individually prepare each case as best as you can before engaging in a learning team discussion of it.  The assignment questions are designed to provide a rough guide in that regard.  Even though it may be tempting to have a “financial-type” person on your learning team prepare the case and share his/her analysis with other members of the team, my experience points to the fact that this can be very counterproductive. Certainly, I do not want you to “spin your wheels” with your case preparation and yet, some modest wrestling with concepts and analyses can be beneficial in serving to clarify and direct your thinking to the aspects of the topic most in need of your focus during subsequent learning team and class times.  One way to perhaps think about the learning path is that for each new topic, 50% of the learning and insights will come from initial individual preparation, with another 20% from follow on learning team discussions, and the final 30% from class discussions that serve to clarify, codify, and cement important insights.  Please do not be frustrated by what you don’t know coming into a class.  Rather, be confident about what you do know and did learn on your own and be clear about (a) what you believe are the remaining concepts to be addressed to accomplish your further learning, (b) ask questions based on a good-faith effort to develop an initial understanding, and (c) listen attentively to all voices in the class discussion for those moments that create an ah ha for you.” 

Tutoring for Accounting for Managers & Other Accounting Courses at Darden Business School, UVA

While Accounting for Managers is the only required course, the accounting department at Darden, UVA offers the following elective courses:

GraduateTutor’s accounting tutors offer tutoring for all of UVA accounting courses. Please email or call us if we can provide you accounting tutoring for financial accounting or managerial accounting. Or for that matter any other quantitative course you will encounter in a b-school program.  

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