Accounting and Finance

In year 1, Students will take a total of 8 Core Modules (135 credits) and 1 Elective Module (15 credits).

Core modules:

• Introductory financial accounting

  This module focuses on the interpretation and use of financial accounting information as part of the effective operation of a business. Moreover it looks at the principles that underlie financial accounting, the application of these principles in recording transactions and the preparation of financial statements.

• Introduction to finance

  This will offer a thorough grounding in finance concepts.  You will understand how to interpret financial information and commentaries, and be able to consider how to take account of finance in decisions which you may need to make. You will also have a sound basis for any further finance modules which you may take within your course.

• Introduction to business law

  This module gives you an understanding of the legal framework within which business decisions take place. It covers the following areas, among others: Overview of the English Legal System, Contract Law, Negligence, Business Ventures, Employment and Intellectual Property Law.

• Financial institutions

  The aim of this module is to provide you with knowledge of the workings of financial institutions, markets, products, services, customers, corporate governance, the accounting profession, their regulation and ethics.

• Professional skills

  This unique practical module is led by experienced business practitioners and focuses on developing your individual business skills, through a series of discussions and practical exercises. By attending this module you will enhance your networking and reflective practice abilities, team working, project planning and research skills, analytical, business writing and team working skills.

• Microeconomics

  The aim of this module is to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to the main ideas in microeconomics, to enable you to start analysing specific markets and firms using a critical perspective.

• Introduction to statistics

  This module provides you with an underpinning and understanding of numerical techniques used in the business world to aid decision making. It presents the fundamentals of probability & statistics, and explores more advanced techniques such as data analysis, interrelations between variables, and forecasting.

• Introductory management accounting

  The aim of this module is to introduce you to the principles that underlie management accounting, to the application of these principles in preparing management accounting information, and to the use of management accounting information in the effective management of a business. Topics covered will include, among others: budgeting, costing for pricing and for decision making, investment appraisal.

• Macroeconomics

  The aim of this course is to give you a comprehensive introduction to the main ideas in macroeconomics, and to you to start analysing issues relating to the economy as a whole, including monetary and fiscal policy, with a critical perspective.

Elective modules

• Introduction to Management

• Introduction to Visual Basic

In year 2, Students will take a total of 8 Core Modules (120 credits) and 2 Elective Module (30 credits).

Core modules:

• Assurance

  Assurance is one of the foundation blocks of the accounting profession and one of the knowledge modules of the ACA qualification offered by the ICAEW. This module provides you with an understanding of the assurance process and fundamental principles of ethics, and an ability to contribute to the assessment of internal controls and gathering of evidence on an assurance engagement.

• Corporate Law

  This module provides you with an understanding of company law and the main legal implications arising from the corporate structure. Alternative forms of business structures, such as unlimited partnerships and limited liability partnerships, will be outlined. You will be able to understand the role of shareholders and directors, and the main implications of insolvency laws. Both the impact of criminal law on businesses and how the law affects the role and work of the professional accountant will be examined.

• Financial Econometrics

  This module introduces you to the fundamental concepts of econometrics and its usefulness in analysing financial data. It is designed to give you an understanding of why econometrics is necessary, to provide you with a working ability of basic econometric tools and to illustrate their application in finance. This module introduces you to econometric tools for empirical modelling, accustoms you to applying these tools to estimation, statistical inference, and forecasting in financial markets and enables you to develop the necessary skills to critically interpret the results of econometric analyses.

• Intermediate Financial Accounting 1

  Recognition of accounting issues and understanding of accounting judgements implicit in financial reporting, are key to the development of a rounded understanding of business management. Building on the introductory financial accounting syllabus, this module will enable you to develop a wider breadth of accounting knowledge and the ability to understand accounting information in the context of recognised accounting standards and prevailing legal requirements.

• Management Accounting

  The module will enable you to select and apply appropriate management accounting techniques for decision making, planning, control and performance evaluation purposes. The usefulness of these techniques to modern business environments is critically examined. Emphasis is also placed on interpreting management accounting outputs as well as evaluating managerial implications of management accounting techniques.

• Financial Markets

  The module builds on the Introduction to finance module from Year 1, and applies finance to the pricing of assets in financial markets with the aim of examining how bond and equity prices are determined.

• Principles of Taxation

  Principles of Taxation is one of the foundation blocks of the accounting profession and one of the knowledge level modules of the ACA qualification offered by the ICAEW. By the end of this module, you should be able to understand the general objectives of tax and calculate income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, corporation tax and VAT in straightforward scenarios.

• Intermediate Financial Accounting 2

  By completing this module, you should become competent in addressing accounting issues related to Business Combinations and have a solid understanding of the concepts and application of various intermediate financial accounting areas - including intangible assets, financial instruments, provisions and contingent assets/liabilities, deferred taxation - in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Elective Modules

• Asset Management

• Company Valuation

• Derivatives Trading & Hedging

• Financial Analysis

• Financial Economics

• Mentoring and Coaching for leadership

• Portfolio Theory and Investment Valuation

• Risk Analysis and Modelling

• Micro-Placements*

*please note, you must apply in your first year. Micro-placement information.

In year 3, Students will take a total of 7 Core Modules (120 credits) and 2 Elective Module (30 credits).

Core modules:

• Corporate finance

  The Corporate Advisory and Financial Services Industry requires graduates with a critical understanding and knowledge of modern corporate finance at an advanced level. As such, this module presents the fundamentals of valuation, investment, financing, and dividend policies, and exposes you to popular strategic and financial decisions, while developing self-learning and analytical skills to evaluate complex corporate finance problems.

• Corporate restructuring

  This course examines several types of corporate reorganizations: mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, spin-offs, and divestitures, as well as reorganizations in financial distress situations through private workouts and bankruptcy. Particular emphasis is placed on linking conceptual tools and institutional environments to real business decisions.

• Strategy for business

  This module discusses the goal and elements of business strategy - the strategy of firms within a given industry. It seeks to answer two broad questions. First, why is a business strategy important? Second, what are the key issues involved in formulating and implementing a business strategy? The module will provide you with a range of analytical tools that will enable you to analyse and evaluate business strategy questions.

• Audit and assurance

  This module will equip you to develop knowledge and understanding of the process of carrying out the assurance engagement and its application in the context of the professional regulatory framework. It will also help you to explain the nature of internal audit and describe its role as part of overall performance and its relationship with external audit. In addition, it will explore the evaluation of information systems, internal controls, audit evidence, audit planning and the audit report. By the end of this module, you should understand critical aspects of managing an assurance engagement (including audit engagements): accepting, planning, managing, concluding and reporting.

• Advanced financial accounting: theory and practice

  This is an advanced financial accounting module that builds on the introductory and intermediate financial accounting modules completed earlier in the degree. The aim of this advanced module is threefold: (i)to explore key theoretical financial reporting concepts, (ii) to examine the application of financial reporting issues in more depth and (iii) to inform about recent developments and major debates in financial accounting. This module will help you develop your independent critical thinking on financial reporting issues and increase your awareness to related ethical issues.

• Taxation

  This module builds on the work done on Principles of taxation in your second year of studies. This module aims to focus on the knowledge and skills relating to the UK tax system as applicable to individuals, companies, partnerships and groups of companies. By the end of this module, you should be able to prepare tax computations and provide tax advice to individuals, partnerships and companies in straightforward scenarios.

• Final-year project (structured)

  The dissertation is a vital and substantial part of the final year of your degree. It will serve as a basis of discussion with prospective employers and as principal evidence of mastery of the chosen discipline. The dissertation aims to provide a link between the various subjects studied in your degree, while encouraging the production of independent research.  It also aims to develop your critical nature; your ability to select appropriate methods of investigation and capacity to produce sound conclusions based on your research findings.

Elective Modules

• Advanced Financial Economics

• Asset-Liability Management

• Bank Strategy & Management

• Business Forecasting

• Corporate Social Responsibility

• Emerging Markets

• Equity Investment Management

• Financial Forecasting

• Fixed Income Portfolio Management

• International Financial Management

• Statistical Reasoning, Communication & Ethics

• Technical Analysis

• Micro-Placements**

**please note, you must apply in your second year. Micro-placement information.