Accountancy BSc (Hons)

Course overview

Accountants with the skills to monitor the flow of money for a business while being able to spot and protect against potential challenges, are highly sought after. Global uncertainty and the challenges of the economic climate, mean that skills in this field could be more important than ever before.

The January start for this course is condensed in Year 1. Please see the ‘How you’ll learn’ section below for more details.

Why you should study this course

By studying this course you will have the opportunity to:

• prepare for professional qualifications - Our degree is closely aligned to the syllabi of professional accountancy bodies¹ including the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).
• develop practical skills in our Bloomberg Trading Floor⁴ - Develop your skills on our Trading Floor, featuring contemporary dual screen Bloomberg terminals.
• put your skills to the test - Prepare and analyse financial statements, as well as studying the impact of finance on real businesses through case studies of a diverse range of organisations.
• access our sigma Maths and Stats Support Centre⁴ - Access maths and statistics support through drop-in sessions with experienced staff.
• benefit from real-world exposure - Prepare for a future career in accountancy by applying for a work placement². Past students have undertaken placements at PwC, Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover and the NHS.

If you choose to start this course in January you will study exactly the same course but over a slightly shorter timescale in Year 1. This is ideal if you missed the September start, want to transfer from a different university or course or just need a bit more time to prepare for life at university.

Careers and opportunities

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• explore and evaluate the complex and dynamic global business environment in which accounting operates including detailed analysis of the legal and ethical frameworks applicable to accounting and business, and awareness of interdependencies between the regulatory, legal, ethical and economic frameworks.
• identify, extract and interpret data from a variety of financial and other numerical sources using appropriate analysis techniques and an appreciation of statistical concepts.
• record and summarise transactions and other global economic events; prepare financial statements in compliance with relevant regulatory requirements; and demonstrate awareness of the contexts in which accounting data and information is processed and used, by different stakeholder groups.
• critically evaluate different theories of taxation, describe the principal types, rules and requirements of UK taxation and prepare computations of the income tax liability for employees, sole traders, partnerships and corporations.
• critically evaluate a range of contemporary theories, models and concepts in accounting, and synthesise these to devise optimal strategies for entities.
• apply critical, analytical and problem-solving skills, including critical analysis and evaluation of data, drawing reasoned conclusions to formulate effective strategies for individuals or organisations.
• use digital information and communications technology for the acquisition, analysis and communication of information.
• effectively communicate and present quantitative and qualitative information, analysis and findings in a form appropriate to the intended audience.
• evidence effective critical self-reflection, ethical awareness, intercultural awareness and well-developed interpersonal skills including numeracy, collaborative problem-solving and effective time management.

Upon completion, you should have the confidence to give sound financial advice and make effective financial decisions. You should be well-placed to pursue a wide variety of potential future careers options in areas such as:

• accounting
• finance
• management
• banking
• personal and Corporate Finance
• business
• education in private, public and third sector organisations.

In addition, this course could set you on the path towards a professional qualification as a Chartered Accountant.