P5 exam tips – June 2013 (Bpp, Kaplan, First Intuition, Becker)

Exam tips are out! Enjoy but do not rely on them.

Kaplan

Here are some suggestions of key areas which may be tested in June 2013:
• Divisional performance
• BCG matrix and link to CSFs, KPIs
• Public sector NFP – link between mission and CSFs, KPIs
• Evaluate PM system
• Evaluate format and content of a PM report
• EMA
• Building Block Model
• Risk – maximax, etc

BPP

Performance Analysis:
The examiner has indicated that his questions will require more skill in interpreting data and discussing strategies to improve performance rather than performing calculations. You may be asked to analysis performance v budgetary targets to identify underlying problems that a company needs to address. This analysis could include the use of activity-based approaches, learning curves or non-financial performance measures. Ensure you have read the article on Benchmarking published in September 2012.
‘Beyond budgeting’ is an important area that can be tested either as a discussion or a numerical question.
Performance appraisal requires effective information systems so expect to be asked to identify the key strategic, tactical and operational information requirements of a business or the implications of introducing a new system on performance management.
Risk Analysis:
Analysis of the risk of a new proposal could include numerical techniques such as expected values and probabilities but also strategic frameworks such as PEST analysis and Porter could feature here.
Strategic Performance Measures in the Private Sector:
Divisional performance measurement is another key area; ROI, RI, EVA, NPV, share price movement or even costs of quality could feature here and transfer pricing could feature as an aspect of these questions.
Reward Systems:
HR issues are new to the syllabus from June 2011 and the examiner is interested in the impact of reward systems on performance management. Ensure you have read the article published January 2013 on Reward Schemes for Employees and Management.
Alternative Views of Performance Measurement:
Questions are commonly set that require a good understanding of the balanced scorecard, the building blocks model and the performance pyramid. Questions will often require you to analyse data that has been collected using one of these models. The balanced scorecard and the buildings blocks model are due to be tested again.
Performance Hierarchy:
Linking strategic decisions to mission statements or suggesting strategic options using models such as Ansoff’s matrix or the BCG matrix lend themselves to questions containing a mixture of financial and discursive elements that could easily include a simple NPV or profit analysis.

Opentuition

Activity based costing and management, and learning curves.

Quality; non financial KPIs

Balanced score card

Expected values; BCG

Transfer pricing and general financial performance analysis

First Intuition

* Critique an existing performance management system.
* Transfer pricing.
* ROI, RI and EVA.
* Activity based principles.
* Corporate failure prediction.
* Performance management models.
* Assess performance against financial and non-financial (incl environmental) targets.

Becker

• Environmental management accounting.
• Activity based management.
• Value chain analysis.
• Balanced scorecard or Fitzgerald and Moon building blocks model.

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Source: https://www.pqaccountant.com/
https://www.kaplan-exam-tips.com/acca/

Very best of luck with your exams!
ansi