Accounting and Financial Management

Enter the heart of commercial activity by learning how to manage advanced financial information and services. This online course, offered through Study InterActive, helps you adapt to the constantly evolving fields of accounting and finance, while preparing you for success in both. You will learn how to perform key accountancy tasks in line with the professional and ethical codes of the industry. Gain the research and analytical skills you need to publish financial statements across organisations of different sizes, and cover the application of modern management accounting techniques. These include decision-making, budgeting and standard costing, business management and controlling.

Entry Requirements

UK undergraduate degree or equivalent any subject area, English levels 5.5 IELTS (5.5 in all bands)or equivalent, Relevant work experience is an asset, but no work experience is required. Students who fail to meet academic requirements can be assessed on their relevant work experience (3 years management experience minimum for mature study route). Start dates is Every 12 weeks.

Stage I

Marketing and Business Environment, Accounting and Managerial Finance, Systems and Operations Management, Research Methods.

Stage II

Strategic Management and Leadership, Corporate Reporting, Performance Management and Control, Research Methods.

Stage III

Online Dissertation and Research Methods.

Develop an awareness of the corporate governance and ethical standards that will be required of you as an accountant. Being familiar with these vital elements helps you stand out from your peers in the jobs market. On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Define governance as well as its role in the effective management of organisations and their resources.
• Evaluate the accountant’s role in risk management and internal control, including review and compliance.
• Explain the role of the accountant in identifying, assessing and mitigating risk.
• Demonstrate the application of professional values and judgement through an ethical framework (of codes, laws and regulations), in the best interests of the field and society.

The Advanced Corporate Reporting module is designed to provide you with the research and analytical skills required to prepare published financial statements. On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Discuss the professional and ethical duties of an accountant.
• Evaluate the financial reporting framework.
• Advise on and report the financial performance of entities.
• Prepare the financial statements of groups of entities in accordance with relevant accounting. Standards.
• Explain reporting issues relating to specialised entities.
• Discuss the implications of changes in accounting regulation on financial reporting.
• Appraise the financial performance and position of entities, and evaluate current developments.

This module is focused on developing the knowledge and skills you need in the application of management accounting techniques. It covers decision-making, budgeting and standard costing, business management and controlling, as well as other modern techniques. On successful completion you will be able to:

• Identify and critically analyse principles and trends in performance measurement and control.
• Determine the different budgeting techniques and critically evaluate their use in short term decision-making.
• Analyse the current approach to performance measurement and control in a selected global organisation and recommend improvements for current practices.
• Appraise the application of performance criteria in non-profit and public sector organisations.
• Examine the relative importance of the key elements in successful performance measurement and control.

Career Direction

This specialist degree prepares you for strategic level finance and accounting roles. While most graduates seek entry into professional services, there are a wide range of career prospects available within this field. These include audit and advisory work, taxation, business consulting, insurance and management accounting, among others.