Microsoft Corporation SEC 10-K Report Analysis

SEC 10-K Report Instructions ACCT-321 10-K Project Instructions ACCT 321 SEC 10-K Report Project and Data Analytics Dashboard UMGC's accounting department curriculum requires an SEC 10-K Report Project in multiple courses from introductory to advanced-level courses, including: • ACCT 220: Principles of Accounting I / ACCT 221: Principles of Accounting II • ACCT 310: Intermediate Accounting I / ACCT 311: Intermediate Accounting II • ACCT 321: Cost Accounting • ACCT 422: Auditing • ACCT 424: Advanced Accounting / ACCT 425: International Accounting The UMGC Principles of Accounting I & II courses introduced you to specific components of an SEC 10-K Report as bases for fundamental financial ratio analyses and interpretation of results for a selected corporation. In the more advanced accounting courses, including Intermediate Accounting I & II and Advanced Accounting, you may analyze financial statements, schedules, and notes to gain a more in-depth understanding of a corporation through its SEC 10-K filing. The SEC 10-K project focuses on cost accounting and developing an analytic data dashboard in Cost Accounting and Data Analytics. These will be based on information found in the financial statements, annual reports, and disclosures of the SEC 10-K filing of a manufacturing corporation. Using knowledge learned in introductory accounting courses, you will: (1) review the SEC 10-K Report of a manufacturing corporation; (2) review their annual reports for the prior two years and the current year; (3) use data analytic methodologies, present financial performance for the current fiscal year and the two prior years. ACCT 321: Cost Accounting SEC 10-K Project Requirements The UMGC Principles of Accounting I & II courses introduced you to specific components of an SEC 10-K Report as bases for fundamental financial ratio analyses and interpretation of results for a selected corporation. In the more advanced accounting courses, including Intermediate Accounting I & II and Advanced Accounting, you may analyze financial statements, schedules, and notes to gain a more in-depth understanding of a corporation through its SEC 10-K filing. The SEC 10-K project focuses on cost accounting and developing an analytic data dashboard in Cost Accounting and Data Analytics. These will be based on information found in the financial statements, annual reports, and disclosures of the SEC 10-K filing of a manufacturing corporation. Using knowledge learned in introductory accounting courses, you will: (1) review the SEC 10-K Report of a manufacturing corporation; (2) review their annual reports for the prior two years and the current year; (3) use data analytic methodologies, present financial performance for the current fiscal year and the two prior years. ACCT 321: Cost Accounting SEC 10-K Project Requirements Assessments: Assessments will include a Word document report, a PowerPoint presentation based on the Word document, and the Data Analytics Dashboard. Discussions Week 1-6: IMPORTANT NOTE: You must include the name of your corporation in the SUBJECT line EVERY TIME you post information about your Corporation in ANY Discussion. You must also post the DIRECT LINK and page number(s) at the end of your input to enable quick access to verify the information about your corporation. Week 1 Discussion: Choosing a corporation You will select a publicly traded U.S. corporation and ask for approval from the Professor during Week 1. The corporation must: 1) produce and sell goods 2) have an SEC 10-K Report for the current or most recent prior year The corporation may NOT: 1) be the same corporation you studied for SEC projects in previous classes 2) be the same corporation a classmate selected for this course Accessing the SEC 10-K filings: Visit the company website, look for Investor Relations (or about us, corporate information, etc.), and select Financial SEC Annual filing for the most recent year. Drop-down menus usually appear. Often you will find the PDF version here, plus the Excel version. Step 1) Find your corporation's ticker symbol using a search engine like Google. Type the following into the search window: "Company name Ticker Symbol." For example, "Ford Ticker Symbol." Step 2) Go to Step 3) On the "Edgar Search Results" page, scroll down the list of "Filings" to locate the "10-K" and click "Documents." Step 4) On the "Filing Detail" page, locate 10-K in the Description column and click the hyperlink (red font) under the column labeled "Document." This website is the DIRECT LINK to the Corporation's SEC 10-K report. Bookmark this SEC 10-K Website address for future reference. Printing the SEC 10-K document is not recommended as it may be over 100 pages. You will need to download the two prior and current year annual reports. Annual reports usually are shorter. Reading an SEC 10-K Report: The following link will access the SEC's document: How to Read an SEC 10-K Report. Weeks 2 through 5 Discussions: Each week, a discussion topic related to the SEC 10-K project will be posted. Use the Weeks 1-6 Discussions postings strategically to prepare your Word document report, Excel spreadsheet, and PowerPoint presentation drafts. Use the Excel spreadsheet to support computations and schedules for vertical and horizontal analysis of key financial performance indicators. It would be best to always show changes from the base year as percentages, so the spreadsheet can be a helpful tool to support your Discussion postings over Weeks 2-5. Focus exclusively on cost accounting-related information and ratios in your spreadsheet. Week 6 Discussion Peer Review: Step 1) Post your DRAFT PowerPoint in the Peer Review Discussions area. Provide DIRECT LINKS to your Corporation's SEC 10-K, including a page for any information cited in your posting. Step 2) Download at least one of your classmates' PowerPoint files and thoroughly check all information. Provide specific constructive feedback to your classmate(s). NOTE: Cursory feedback such as excellent job and looks good will reduce your grade for the Week 6 Peer Review Discussion. Step 3) Use your review of your classmates' postings and your classmate's feedback for your reports to improve your drafts. Week 7: Guidance for submission of the Word 10-K report and PowerPoint files in the Assignments folder The grading rubric in the syllabus will be used to grade the deliverables for the project. Take care to avoid academic dishonesty. Create, read, and edit your work. Explain the analyses in your reports using your own words. If you use direct quotes or paraphrased content, provide links and parenthetical references for your sources. Copying information from the Web and pasting it into LEO is plagiarism. Plagiarism is cheating. Reports, spreadsheets, presentations, and discussion postings must comply with UMGC's academic honesty policies. 1. Microsoft Word 10-K Report: • Estimated length: five to seven (5-7) pages • 1-inch margins top & bottom; 1 to 1.25 inches on left & right sides • Line spacing: single spacing with double spacing between paragraphs • Font size: 12 CPI • Font style: Times New Roman • Save the file with YOUR NAME in the file name. • Example: YourNameSEC 2. Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation: • Prepare your slides to make a formal presentation to the senior management team of your manufacturing corporation. Be creative and present an overview and meaningful cost accounting information to support decision-making by corporate executives and other key personnel internally at your manufacturing corporation. Use your judgment to select the cost accounting-related highlights for your presentation. You may wish to add audio or provide speaker notes for your presentation. Save the file with YOUR NAME in the file name. Example: YourNameSEC • Upload the SEC 10-K Report in Word and the PowerPoint under the appropriate tabs in the Week 7 Assignment folder. 3. The Data Analytics Report: Using the software as directed by the professor, you need to use the data analytics software to prepare a dashboard demonstrating financial performance over the three years (two prior years and the current SEC report year). At a minimum, your dashboard should include the following: • Sales by region and product • Production expenses by region and product • Investments in Plant Property and Equipment • Raw materials inventory used by the product • Net income by product