ADVANCED FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING (M)

RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT

Topic: Operating Segment Disclosures: Crown Resorts Limited

Word Length

The Assessment Task

Background Scenario

Assume that you are currently working in the accounting department as a senior accountant for a multinational firm offering investment advisory services. The chief financial officer, Mr Steve Swanson asked you to form a group of four accountants including yourself to review the operating segment disclosures in Crown Resorts Limited’s annual reports from 2016 to 2020 and prepare a report for the security analyst team in the investment research department. Mr Steve Swanson requested that the report should include the analysis and evaluation on the performance of each Crown Resorts Limited’s operating segment. In particular, it was advised that the report should address how each operating segment has contributed to the financial performance and financial position of Crown Resorts Limited over the period from 2016 – 2020.

Part A – Report on Operating Segments (85 marks)

Your report can take any appropriate professional format but it should address the following matters:

(a)  In your own words, describe the operating segments of Crown Resorts Limited. (5 marks)

(b)  Explain how Crown Resorts Limited would have identified its specific operating segments. (5 marks)

(c)  Apply the tests for quantitative thresholds as prescribed under AASB 8 in identifying reportable segments for the period 2016 – 2020 and discuss any factors you had to consider. (25 marks)

(d)  Evaluate the performance of Crown Resorts Ltd’s operating segments over the 2016 to 2020 period. As part of your evaluation you should identify the strongest and weakest performing operating segments. (20 marks)

(e)  Discuss the financial performance of Crown Resorts Ltd over the period from 2016 – 2020 and how each operating segment has contributed to the financial performance (and the financial position, if applicable) of Crown Resorts Amatil Ltd over the period from 2016 – 2020 (20 marks).

(f)  Ensure that your report is professionally written and presented and that its contents are appropriate for readers who are the security analysts working for the investment research department in your firm. The report should exhibit evidence of wide research about the topic and be free from typographical and grammatical errors. Remember that tools that check spelling and grammar are readily available on Word and should be used prior to submitting your report. (10 marks)

Part B – Group Activities (15 marks)

Teams in the workplace achieve successful outcomes when they:

• Clearly define each team member’s roles and responsibilities;
• Communicate regularly;
• Plan and set clear overall objectives;
• Specify key milestones and setting realistic dates on which they are to be achieved;
• Regularly monitor team performance against milestones and take prompt corrective

  action if necessary;

• Promote a positive team culture and resolve in a respectful manner differences in

  opinion; and

• Thoroughly document team processes and progress.

  Consequently, in this part of the assignment you are required to document your group members’ participation and project processes. Three forms of documentation are required – a Record of Group Meetings, a Log of Group Communications and Minutes of Meetings. Templates for a record of group meetings and group communications are provided in this assignment document but you can set out the documentation in any form of your choosing provided it includes the information listed on these templates.

  Required:

• Minutes of meetings must be recorded for each formal video/face-to-face meeting and be submitted as part of the assignment. Templates of meeting minutes can be found from various online sources. The minutes of meetings should contain sufficient detail of each meeting so that the reader can understand the purpose of the meeting, who the meeting participants were, what was discussed and what activities were undertaken during the meeting etc. The Record of Group Meetings and Log of Group Communications should also be attached to your submitted assignment.
• You should retain copies of all group communications but do NOT provide copies of e-mails, etc., with your assignment.
• Each group member is required to sign all three forms of documentation to be submitted. Electronic signatures are accepted.