Internal Accounting Metrics - (F) - Q3

Participation Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites, but basic knowledge of financial and management accounting is assumed.

Course Content

Internal accounting metrics are the backbone of how firms translate strategy into action. For future finance professionals, understanding how these measures are designed, used, and sometimes misused is critical for making sound decisions, evaluating performance, and maximizing firm value. This elective takes a contemporary, research-based perspective on how internal metrics work inside firms, why they matter for employees and managers alike, and what challenges and opportunities they create in today’s business environment. Students will develop the analytical skills to critically assess performance measures, understand their impact on behavior and outcomes, and engage confidently with performance measurement systems that shape corporate success. In a world where firms’ internal numbers often appear as a black box to outsiders, this elective equips you to open that black box, and gain the edge every finance professional needs. This elective is particularly useful for students interested in the internal finance and controlling function.

Intended Learning Outcomes and Competencies

Students will learn to analyze and evaluate systems that measure and report internal accounting metrics. They will also understand their impact on employee and manager behavior and firm performance, and they will apply this knowledge to improve decision-making and value creation in finance-, controlling-, and consulting-related roles. Students will also gain familiarity with emerging practices in sustainability measurement and reporting, as well as the recent impacts of AI. 

Form of Examination