SOLUS is Queen’s Student On-Line University System. You’ll have access to a SOLUS account once you become a Queen’s student. You’ll use SOLUS to register for courses, add and drop courses, update your contact information, view financial and academic information, and pay your tuition.
Finance & Accounting for HR Professionals
EMPR 280/3.0
This course introduces the basic principles of accounting and finance that are relevant to employment relations specialists. Topics will include: financial accounting fundamentals; the four main financial accounting reports; financial ratios; management accounting concepts applicable to employment relations specialists such as budgeting for salaries, employee benefits and pensions; types of employee benefits and pensions; the present value of money concept and its applicability to financial planning.
Learning Outcomes
After completing EMPR 280, students will be able to:
- Discuss sufficient accounting and financial theory for effective participation and influence within the senior management team of an organization.
- Communicate and collaborate effectively with the professional Financial Managers of an organization.
- Differentiate between financial accounting and management accounting and apply these two different types of accounting correctly to the financial management of an organization.
- Record financial events and utilize this data to generate the four main statements within financial accounting.
- Develop complex employee compensation budgets inclusive of wages, employee benefits, and pensions.
- Analyze financial statements using common financial ratios.
- Explain the Present Value of money concept and demonstrate why it is essential for long-term financial planning and pension calculations.
Description
This course is part of the Queen’s Undergraduate Certificate in Employment Relations. The Certificate focuses on core elements of the field of work and employee-management relations, while taking account of social science perspectives from economics, law, management, and history. The Certificate provides a broad foundation in the field of employment relations, including the areas of labour/employment law, labour-management relations, conflict management and negotiations, human resources management, and labour policy. Taken together, these courses and the resulting Certificate form the basis for a recognized university credential that will support students who are seeking entry level jobs in labour relations and human resources management after leaving Queen’s.
Please note: This course is typically offered in the summer term
TOPICS
- Module 1: What is accounting?
- Module 2: The income statement report.
- Module 3: The balance sheet report.
- Module 4: Accounting in the non-profit sectior.
- Module 5: The cash flow report and cash budgeting.
- Module 6: Budgeting methodologies.
- Module 7: Detailed budgeting techniques for salary costs.
- Module 8: Detailed budgeting techniques for employee benefit costs.
- Module 9: Employee pensions and their financial cost.
- Module 10: Financial statement analysis and common terms/ratios.
- Module 11: The time value of money and the commuted value of pensions.
- Module 12: Review and refresher.
Terms
Summer 22: May-July
Course Dates:
May 9 - July 29, 2022
Exam Dates:
August 2 - 10, 2022
Evaluation
15% - Online Quizzes (x3)
15% - Discussions (x3)
25% - Case Studies (x2)
20% - Final Project*
30% - Proctored Final Exam
**Evaluation Subject to Change**
*Students will complete a peer evaluation activity at the end of the final project, which provides a layer of accountability for group work, rating themselves and their peers on criteria related to effective teamwork. The mark that students receive for the group submission is contingent upon receiving a satisfactory evaluation of their contribution to the project. Specifically, if a student receives a poor peer evaluation (i.e., less than 50%), marks on the submission may be deducted, up to 50% of the mark granted.
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONLY ONLINE COURSES WILL HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO WRITE THEIR EXAMS:
- You may choose to write your exam(s) online using Examity proctoring services where you will be charged the additional $100 exam fee; or
- You may choose to write your exam(s) in-person on Queen's campus in Kingston where you will NOT be charged the additional $100 exam fee.
LOCATION AND TIMING OF FINAL EXAMINATIONS
Once the exam schedule has been finalized the exam date will be posted on your SOLUS account. The exam dates for each Term are listed on the Faculty of Arts and Science webpage under "Important Dates." Student exam schedules for the Fall Term are posted via SOLUS immediately prior to the Thanksgiving holiday; for the Winter Term they are posted on the Friday before Reading Week, and for the Summer Term they are individually noted on the Arts and Science Online syllabi. Students should delay finalizing any travel plans until after the examination schedule has been posted. Exams will not be moved or deferred to accommodate employment, travel/holiday plans or flight reservations.
Instructor
Greg Farrington (gf31@queensu.ca)
Textbooks and Materials
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
The following materials are available from the Queen's Campus Bookstore.
- The primary course textbook is: Accounting for Non-financial Managers: John Parkinson with Charles Draimin, Fifth Fourth Edition, Captus Press Inc., 2021 (ISBM # 978-1-55322-411-2). This textbook is required and may be ordered from the Queen’s bookstore in either print format or ebook format. The ebook format is a rental and access will only be available for the course term.
Other materials to be made available in onQ.
Time Commitment
Students can expect to spend approximately 10 hours a week (120 hours per term) in study, listening and online activity for this course.
Course Resources
About SOLUS
About OnQ
onQ is Queen's online learning platform. You'll log into onQ to access your course. All materials related to your course—notes, readings, videos, recordings, discussion forums, assignments, quizzes, groupwork, tutorials, and help—will be on the onQ site.
About Credit Units
Queen’s courses are weighted in credit units. A typical one-term course is worth 3.0 units, and a typical two-term course is worth 6.0 units. You combine these units to create your degree. A general (three-year) BA or BSc requires a total of 90 credit units.
Computer Requirements
To take an online course, you’ll need a high speed internet connection as well as a microphone and speakers to be able to watch videos, hear sounds, and participate in interactive online activities. A webcam is recommended but not necessary.
System Requirements:
Computer Specifications
- Windows 8.1 or newer
- OSX 10.13 (High Sierra) or newer
- Dual Core 2 GHz processor
- 4 GB RAM
- Soundcard
- USB Headset
- Webcam
Supported Browsers
- Chrome (preferred - latest version)
- Firefox (latest version)
- Safari is not recommended as it causes several known issues in onQ
- Edge is not recommended as it causes several known issues in onQ
Internet Connection
- Wired high speed access: Cable or better
- Wifi is not recommended
Java
- Latest version
Media Player
- Flash (latest version)
Adobe Reader
- Latest Version
Dates/Deadlines
The deadlines for new applications to Queen’s Arts and Science Online courses are in our Upcoming Application Dates section.
Grading Scheme
The information below is intended for undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts and Science. Academic Regulations in other Faculties may differ.
| Letter Grade | Grade Point |
| A+ | 4.30 |
| A | 4.00 |
| A- | 3.70 |
| B+ | 3.30 |
| B | 3.00 |
| B- | 2.70 |
| C+ | 2.30 |
| C | 2.00 |
| C- | 1.70 |
| D+ | 1.30 |
| D | 1.00 |
| D- | 0.70 |
| F | 0.00 |
GPA Calculators
Have your SOLUS grade report handy and then follow the link to the Arts and Science GPA calculators.
How does this affect my academics?
See the GPA and Academic Standing page.
Follow the link above for an explanation of how the GPA system affects such things as the Dean’s Honour List, requirements to graduate, and academic progression.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Grading Scheme
Please follow this link to the FAQ's
Tuition Fees
Tuition fees vary depending when you start, your year, faculty, and program. Fees for Summer Term 2018 first-year Distance Career Arts & Science Domestic students are as follows: for a 3.0-unit course, $685.90; for a 6.0-unit course, $1371.80 See also Tuition and Fees.
Campus Bookstore
All textbooks can be purchased at Queen’s Campus Bookstore.
Non-Queen’s Students
All Queen’s Arts and Science Online courses are open to students at other universities. Before applying as a visiting student, request a Letter of Permission from your home university that states that you have permission to take the course and apply it to your degree. See also Apply.
Academic Integrity
Please see Queen’s policy statement on academic integrity for information on how to complete an online course honestly.
Delivery Mode:
Online
Prerequisites:
Level 2 or above
Exclusions:
COMM 111/3.0; COMM 211/3.0; COMM 112/3.0; COMM 212/3.0
Testimonials:
I really enjoyed my experience learning about finance and accounting, and as an aspring HR professional, I look forward to applying my knowledge in the future. I thought the course was designed very well in that each assignment served a clear purpose and help set us up for the next assignment.
Initially I was very worried because I didn't know much about finance, but this course broke down barriers for me in a positive way. I'm very thankful that I took this class and Greg is an excellent instructor. I've told many of my friends to take this class if they need an elective or just want to try something new because it is definitely worth it!
ApplySummer 2022 Applications are open now.
CommunityThe full Queen's experience! See how we work hard to support and connect students.
Events
Summer 2022 (July Start) Orientation Student Webinar
E-Newsletter
Keep up to date with our most recent student e-newsletter, What's Up ASO.
