Accounting and Finance

Every organisation needs accurate financial information in order to survive and to make decisions about future growth. Our Accounting and Finance Integrated Master's course will equip you with the knowledge that you need to secure senior positions in the accounting and finance industries.

Accredited by key professional bodies, such as ACCA and CIMA, on this course you will gain practical experience of industry-standard methods taught by experienced staff, professional bodies and industry specialists. Once you graduate you'll also be exempt from some exams, ensuring you leave BNU as a 'work-ready' graduate. 

Why study this subject?

If you really enjoy controlling and managing the figures, then Accounting and Finance is the perfect career path for you. Every organisation needs accurate financial and business information in order to survive and to make decisions about future growth.

This programme will benefit those aspiring to be accountants or working in the world of finance. It includes skills that build on investment and commercial banking, insurance, consultancy and financial markets.

Why study at Buckinghamshire New University?

Demand for qualified specialists in accounting and finance has always exceeded supply. The integrated master's programme will help you develop a wide range of skills that are easily transferrable, such as: critical thinking, analytical problem solving, working in teams, researching, synthesising and communicating information.

On completion of this course you'll be well-equipped to progress to the next stage in your career within a business function or continue your studies to specialise your career, for example as a chartered accountant.

At BNU we want you to get the most out of your time with us. Studying a course with a professional accreditation gives you the opportunity to get workplace experience, learn about new developments in the industry and apply for membership with the accrediting body.

The following professional bodies currently accredit this degree:

• ACCA – Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
• ICAEW – Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
• CIMA – Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
• IFA - Institute of Financial Accountants.

Thanks to our links with professional bodies, we have direct access to industry experts who help to shape our courses. You will graduate safe in the knowledge that you have the skills and accreditations employers want.

We work closely with the professional bodies and regional employers to ensure you benefit from a range of opportunities to help enhance your career prospectus, such as: networking sessions and seminars delivered by professional bodies and events run by regional employers such as:

• Santander
• Sky
• JP Morgan
• CAA
• Equitable Life
• and many more.

As a Placement Plus University, you'll be exposed to a variety of challenges, all designed to help you learn and apply relevant knowledge, concepts and skills, whilst developing those key competencies and characteristics needed to be successful in both education and employment.

You will also benefit from a variety of visiting lecturers, guest speakers from professional bodies, live briefs, work-relevant projects and external visits.

What facilities can I use?

We've invested in a range of state-of-the-art facilities across our campuses to support your learning.

Our library is the perfect place to find the resources you need and a quiet place to study, filled with four floors of books, journals, computer suites and study rooms. Or, if you'd rather work off campus, e-Journals and resources are only a few clicks away using our Virtual Learning Environment.

What will I study?

Throughout the course you'll learn about financial and management accounting and the business and regulatory environment in which businesses operate. You'll also learn about financial management and the role of the financial markets and key financial institutions.

To ensure that you are work ready and commercially aware, all modules have been developed to provide you with up-to-date and relevant knowledge of accounting, finance and research methods.

As you progress, you'll be given the opportunity to become more effective and creative when solving problems, as well as analysing scenarios with a view to being able to advise individuals.

During the second and later years of the course, there will be more flexible learning opportunities that will enable you to specialise in particular subject areas, as well as allowing you to tailor your course to a specific career aim or professional body.

A major part of this course involves developing relevant practical skills to prepare you for employment. For example, you'll learn how to:

• use accounting software such as Sage Line 50 to create accounting records and prepare financial statements from records of prime entry;
• produce a variety of accounting documents including reports and letters;
• compare and contrast manual and computerised accounting methods.

You will also gain crucial skills that are highly valuable to employers – analytical and critical thinking, creative approaches to problem solving, numeracy and confidence in interpreting and applying business data, and the ability to allocate resources and undertake projects.

How will I be taught and assessed?

Our lecturers have extensive industry and academic experience. They'll help you mix theory with practice, informing your teaching with their knowledge.

We attract many guest speakers, including former students who share their business acumen. You'll have the chance to be guided through real briefs, watching the accounts of a real business evolve and shift. We always make sure that you'll always know about the latest trends in the world of business.

With small classes, you'll get the chance to interact with peers and lecturers to develop your skills. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate on projects and live briefs with students from other business management degree programmes, gaining the practical and transferable skills you need for your career.

We believe in hands-on experiences to build your confidence for the next step in your career. You'll work with real businesses who want your advice, and you'll learn from your own research. Our students have been involved in getting start-ups off the ground and consulting with major companies.

Throughout your studies you'll hear stories from people working in businesses of all sizes. This gives you the chance to learn about various job functions and different corporate cultures, and ultimately, your regular exposure to industry helps make you employable from the moment you graduate.

We'll also encourage your soft skills such as teamwork, problem solving and creative thinking. Your CV will look good no matter how the job market changes during your studies.

Professional accreditations and exemptions

At BNU, we will help you work towards your ACCA or CIMA professional qualification.

After graduating, you'll be able to apply for exemption from all nine ACCA papers at the fundamental level. You'll only have to pass four papers at the professional level to become ACCA affiliates. You also need three years' experience if you want to join the ACCA. We can help you find that experience during your studies if you wish.

The nine ACCA papers that BNU graduates on the Accounting and Finance degree are exempt from are:

• F1 - Accountant in Business
• F2 - Management Accounting
• F3 - Financial Accounting
• F4 - Corporate and Business Law
• F5 - Performance Management
• F6 - UK Taxation
• F7 - Financial Reporting
• F8 - Audit and Assurance Services
• F9 - Financial Management.

ACCA is the largest and fastest growing professional accountancy body in the world, so this will help bolster your career prospects. We also have CIMA exemptions; as CIMA is the world's leading professional body of management accountants, this can also help enhance your employability.  

Transcripts must be provided by students to confirm the award of membership/exemptions.

Placements Plus

BNU is a Placements Plus university. So, whatever degree you do, you can be sure there'll be plenty of industry-relevant opportunities on offer, to help you get into your chosen field.

We'll also prepare you for work beforehand, with special skills for work training, further boosting your CV, and building skills employers will value. In recognition of the value we place on these skills we have incorporated this experience into your study time.

Placements Plus is all about helping you get some valuable experience under your belt while you're a student, to increase your choices later, and help you get the graduate-level job you want.

What are my career prospects?

Throughout your time with us we'll support you on the route to your chosen career. We'll help you to develop crucial skills, encouraging you to become enterprising, employable and good leaders. We also help you find employment after graduation. Have a look at our Careers and Employability pages to find out more.

Most accounting and finance graduates choose employment that allows you to undertake further study in order to gain a full professional qualification for a career in accounting and/or finance.

Many students will go on to study for professional accountancy qualifications offered by bodies, such as:

• ICAEW
• ACCA
• CIMA
• IFA.

This course is designed to help you apply for registration with the professional bodies in accounting and finance. Your degree should also enable you to gain a number of exemptions from their examination requirements.

You could also use your degree, and the more general business and personal skills you'll have developed, as a foundation for a career in general management in a wide range of organisations.

Did you know?

We are one of the top 10 UK universities mostly likely to produce graduates who go on to own or manage a business (Capital on Tap, 2021), find out more about this excellent news.