Business and Accounting

30 credits

This module is designed to provide you with an introduction to financial accounting. The purpose and importance of financial accounting will be explained and you will learn how to produce financial statements from the original source documents through the recording of transactions to the final production of a profit and loss account and balance sheet for a non-complex business.  The module will also explicate the subjective nature of financial accounting with its need for professional judgement and you will be introduced to the concepts and principles that underlie financial accounting and reporting. You will also gain practical experience of inputting data into Sage accounting software and using spreadsheets to prepare financial information.

30 credits

This module introduces students to management accounting and develops their knowledge and understanding of management accounting techniques to support management in planning, controlling and monitoring performance in a variety of business contexts.

30 credits

This module introduces Accounting and Finance students to theories and practices of business organisations. The internal structures and relations of businesses are covered as along with their interactions with the external economic, legal, social and technological environments. Explanations are offered of how the organisation of businesses is shaped by the behaviour of individuals, groups and organisations, and by the external influences of markets, industries and the macroeconomic environment. Special attention is given to considerations of businesses ethics and values. In the module students engage in activities that enable them to develop their academic and other relevant skills, which can be applied throughout their time at university and taken into their future work and organisations.

30 credits

This module is an introduction to the mutually dependent business topics of mathematics and information technology. It provides motivation for the use of these topics in business problem solving, and emphasises their need for one another. These days one would not use mathematics to solve a business problem without the aid of information technology, and equally importantly one cannot efficiently or effectively use information technology without mathematics. The module will be delivered using a problem-centric approach. The students will be required to design and create models using information technology to solve business-related problems.

30 credits

This module builds on the first-year module BA4203 Management Accounting and is designed to give undergraduate accounting students an advanced course exploring the provision and use of accounting information in management decision-making. Students will be involved in an active learning approach and will be expected to reflect on the purpose and uses of management accounting information, evaluate case study scenarios, discuss theoretical accounting concepts and utilise a range of practical techniques to solve advanced management accounting related issues.

30 credits

The contemporary business environment is characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, which calls for a balanced and flexible way of managing project work. Hence awareness and confident application of various methodologies and approaches fitting specific project and organisational context are essential for project management specialists today. The module introduces several popular project and product delivery frameworks, such as classic, PRINCE2, Agile, and Scrum. The ultimate goal is to provide balanced coverage of popular methodologies and enable project management specialists to choose the one that best fits their project/organisational profile in every situation.

30 credits

This module is designed to provide students on general business courses with a broad understanding of the nature of the marketing function and of what marketers do. Whilst underpinned by marketing theory, the module focuses on the practical application of marketing in organisations, its relationship with other business functions, and the impact that marketing can have on an organisation. The module is delivered using a combination of lectures, in-class exercises, case studies and guest speakers. Students are expected to prepare work outside the classroom prior to participation at the scheduled sessions.

30 credits

Students studying this module will develop an understanding of the operational, practical and theoretical issues in auditing. Students will develop an awareness of the audit process, its limitations and the influence of regulation on audits. In order to balance theory with practice, the module will cover relevant international standards on auditing and relevant statutes such as the Companies Acts, Fraud Act, Money Laundering Act and Bribery Act. Case law, in so far as it affects auditing practices, will also be discussed. Ethics, corporate governance, environmental and social issues, fair values and information technology will also form part of the course curriculum.

30 credits

This module is designed to provide students with a general understanding of the English legal system and a more advanced understanding of the principal areas of law that may be encountered in business or professional practice and which are of concern to accounting and finance professionals, focussing on civil and criminal consequences for professionals. Furthermore, it is designed to provide students with an understanding of the formation and constitution of business organisations, company law and insolvency law.

The module commences with a focus on sources of law and the court system in England and Wales, before considering the areas of contract, agency and tort law, which underline business transactions. This module will then examine the criminal laws relevant to accountants or business in practice, including fraud, bribery and anti-money laundering. It then provides an overview of the formation and constitution of business organisations, including partnerships and companies, before considering various aspects of company law such as the formation, administration and the regulation of companies.

The module will look at the role of shareholders and directors and the financing of companies, Insolvency law will also be considered, looking at the different insolvency proceedings, such as liquidation and administration and considering the implications of insolvency.

30 credits

This module provides you with the opportunity to engage in developing a business plan for starting up a new venture or launching an innovative product/service. You will find out what it takes develop a business plan from idea generation, feasibility analysis, marketing strategy, business model development to making financial analysis for a business plan. Students will thus learn about the different aspects of entrepreneurship and business planning. 

15 credits

Global Operations is designed to develop students' ability to analyse different business opportunities and risks when a firm's operation goes beyond the domestic market. Students will also comprehend the practical knowledge and expertise required in a variety of operational circumstances that an international company can be faced with. This module will help students develop an integrative framework of facilitating global operations which deal with organisational structure, location decisions, international procurement and production strategies, international transport, and global supply chain risk management. The module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and tutorials.

15 credits

This module is designed to equip students with an advanced set of analytical data modelling tools, including optimisation, prediction and simulation, to effectively manage and support business decision-making. The module extends students' skill sets developed in the first year to include problem analysis, model building, application, and evaluation, to reflect the technical skills required in the workplace. Teaching will be via a mixture of lectures and tutorials based around lab sessions and make use of online software, materials and assessment.

15 credits

This module introduces the principles of rapid app development, equipping students with the knowledge, skills and technologies required to quickly develop a typical information architecture solution that works using low or no code technologies. Students will gain experience in designing and implementing prototype solution using one of the most popular no-code environments, Mendix. The sessions will be interactive and include a mix of teacher-led learning, problem-solving, and student-led learning.

15 credits

The aim of this module is to give students a foundation in the uses of data analytics for business. It aims at a critical understanding of issues regarding the collection of data and the correct application of statistical techniques in a business context. The module introduces students to analytical tools and including inferential data analysis to support business decision-making. The module builds upon the skills gained during the first year and develops students' abilities for problem articulation, analysis, and evaluation. Students will develop and extend their technical skills to reflect those required in the workplace and will also develop an appreciation of the quality of data, the meaning of findings and the limitations of model building. This will enable students to make decisions on a more informed basis. Teaching will be via a mixture of lectures and tutorials based around lab sessions and make use of online software, materials and assessment.

15 credits

This module is designed to provide students with a general understanding of the English legal system and a more advanced understanding of the principal areas of law that may be encountered in business or professional practice and which are of concern to accounting and finance professionals, focussing on civil and criminal consequences for these professionals. The module commences with a focus on sources of law and the court system in England and Wales, before considering the areas of contract, agency and tort law, which underline business transactions. This module will then examine unethical and criminal behaviour relevant to accountants or business in practice, including ethical behaviour, fraud, bribery and anti-money laundering.

15 credits

This module is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of the field of investment. The main topics covered include: the UK stock market, stock valuation, investment strategies for equities, financial derivatives, portfolio diversification, optimal portfolio construction and financial risk management. Students will use the dedicated Bloomberg dealing room and software packages to access real-time financial data. Teaching consists of traditional lectures, and also lab sessions where hands-on practical exercises are provided. The module is assessed via the Bloomberg Market Concept (BMC) certificate and two coursework where students are required to construct and manage financial solutions for a specific period.

30 credits

This module considers how organisations can grow and compete successfully. Students will develop an understanding of the environment and industry in which organisations operate, and an appreciation of how organisations use internal resources and competences for competitive advantage. The module examines the role of stakeholders and culture in an organisation, and the options an organisation has for its growth and development.

30 credits

This module focuses on the financial reporting requirements of corporate entities, both large and small and builds on concepts already studied in the first-year module, Financial Accounting for Business. This module explains the key elements of the conceptual and regulatory frameworks that guide financial reporting and also how to conduct an appraisal of financial statements of corporate entities. The importance of ethics and corporate governance will also be covered.

30 credits

Students studying this module will develop an understanding of the operational, practical and theoretical issues in personal and business taxation. They will develop skills of analysis and interpretation of information and communication of recommendations in a professional manner appropriate to the intended audience, eg. clients and HMRC.

15 credits

This module enables students to participate in a computerised marketing game which simulates a real marketing environment. Working in teams, students will have the opportunity to make and analyse marketing decisions and learn from any mistakes in a risk-free environment. Students will identify and use relevant marketing theories and apply them to information provided by the simulation game, allowing them to make marketing decisions within specified time periods. The game provides the opportunity for students to integrate tactics with longer-term strategic decision making, since their decisions will be made over 8-to-10 periods game, which forces them to manage short-term profitability as well as long-term marketing objectives.

Teams experience the implications of their marketing decisions in a way that is close to real-life. From an employability perspective, the experience of working in teams to achieve common objectives will assist in improving students' leadership skills, as well as making decisions under pressure, resilience, and analytical skills.

15 credits

This module is designed to equip students with an advanced set of analytical data modelling tools, including optimisation, prediction and simulation, to effectively manage and support business decision-making. The module extends students' skill sets developed in the first year to include problem analysis, model building, application, and evaluation, to reflect the technical skills required in the workplace. Teaching will be via a mixture of lectures and tutorials based around lab sessions and make use of online software, materials and ass