Accounting and Financial Services (Top-up)BA (Hons)

Advanced Management Accounting

This module focuses on the strategic aspects on management accounting. It will explore and critically evaluate a number of management accounting techniques encountered in levels 4 (Management Accounting Fundamentals) and level 5 (Management Accounting). In addition, it will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the theoretical models, analytical methods and practical issues of a number of techniques used by managers in planning, performance evaluation and long-term decision making in an ever-changing business environment. The module will also take a view on the role of management accountants in both profit seeking and not-for-profit organisations in the globalised world where businesses operate.

This Accounting module is very relevant for students who intend to follow a career in Management Accounting after their studies.

The module aims to develop students’ skills in the following areas:

- Apply the skills learnt in Levels 4 and 5 in a strategic context that provides a sound foundation for higher studies.
- Develop practical management accounting skills that are transferable into employment; work situations.
- Develop students’ knowledge and critical understanding of the theoretical models, analytical methods and practical aspects of decision making in management accounting in competitive business environments.
- Evaluate financial and non-financial evidence including arguments and assumptions in order to reach objective conclusions.

Audit and Assurance Services

Through the study of this module, you will learn and apply the main concepts and techniques of assurance services, which both aim at critically evaluating assertions made by reporting firms to their stakeholders. The module will also expose you to a sound understanding of the audit process and the regulatory and ethical landscape within which external audits take place. In addition, the role of the independent external auditor in assessing the internal controls of business entities will be explored, emphasising the importance of that role in the robustness of the audit process. Important areas will include the critical evaluation of the procedures for audit planning, risk assessment, gathering and evaluating audit evidence, and the issuance of the appropriate audit report.

The Module aims to:

1. Provide an understanding of the concept of audit and assurance engagements incorporating the functions of audit, within the context to corporate governance, codes of ethics and professional conduct knowledge, including internal and external audit review and reporting functions.

2. Critically appraise and evaluate the audit process which demonstrate how the auditors understand and address the audit engagements, consisting of the entity and its environment, appropriate techniques and judgments in relation to the performance and reporting of financial statement (including the risk of material misstatement – arising from fraud or other externalities or internalities) while performing audit and assurance services.

3. Develop advanced skills in forming judgements and opinions whilst exercising an appropriate degree of professional scepticism in audit and assurance engagements. This includes the description and evaluation of the internal controls, processes, techniques, audit tests, further incorporating IT systems in identification and communication process to control risk and the potential consequences of making effective recommendations. The description of the scope, role and the function of internal audit is also included.

4. Understand the application of updated versions of international standards on auditing, Corporate Governance Codes, and other guides relevant to the audit and assurance profession; clarify the differences between an external and an internal audit.

5. Demonstrate employability and technological skills, identifying the techniques employed by auditors to collect sufficient evidence that can inform auditors’ opinion about entities’ reported assertions, and being able to decide on the type of the audit report that is appropriate to the auditor’s opinion.

Dissertation

This module aims to enable students to complete a research focused dissertation on a chosen topic or issue appropriate to their undergraduate degree. Students are required to reflect on relevant research questions, theoretical concepts/hypotheses, prior literature, ethical approaches, research methodologies and data analyses in an independent and disciplined manner. Students are expected to develop an in-depth understanding of their chosen research topics, research methods/approaches and the ability to appropriately seek out data samples required for research in a selected topic. The module aims to develop analytical, critical thinking, referencing and time management skills in independently undertaking and reporting on a research project.

Financial Instruments

This module aims to provide students with a knowledge of the trading of the major exchange-traded and over-the-counter traded financial products and develop an understanding of their use as investment vehicles, hedging tools, engineered products, arbitrage mechanisms, and speculative instruments.

The module discusses the characteristics, pricing and valuation of the fundamental instruments, terminologies and contract specifications for the trading of those financial instruments in both cash markets and derivative markets. The module evaluates the relationship between cash instruments and financial instruments, identifies the risk exposure on investments and explores the use of financial derivatives for risk hedging.
Students will also develop skills for data collection and analysis which may include the use of Bloomberg and MS Excel spreadsheets.

A blended teaching and learning approach includes the use of websites, videos, guest talks from industry and support for employability enhancing classroom activities.

The financial market Lab Bloomberg may be used to deliver teaching seminar sessions.

Financial Management

The purpose of the module is to develop students' critical thinking and knowledge of financial management. It will also examine theoretical frameworks, analytical techniques, and real-world applications of corporate investment and financial decision-making in a dynamic capital market and competitive business environment and to prepare students for employability.

The principal aims of this module are as follows:
1. You will learn an integrated understanding of corporate finance theory and contemporary practice, including valuation, M&A, takeovers, and venture capital.
2. You will develop the technical modelling and analytical skills expected of graduate analysts incorporate development, investment-banking, private-equity and FP&A roles.
3. You will acquire the ethical norms, professional conduct, and communication styles that propel early career success and employability.
4. You will be prepared to analyse finances with honesty, precision, and openness.

Financial and Economic Modelling

The module develops students’ understanding of financial and economic modelling using foundational econometrics and financial data analysis skills introduced at earlier levels. It provides an in-depth exploration of diverse financial and economic models, leveraging both traditional econometric software such as EViews and programming languages such as Python. Students gain comprehensive exposure to classical financial theories including the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), Arbitrage Pricing Theory (APT), and the Fama-French model, alongside main economic models such as consumption, production and investment functions, and growth models, and their practical empirical applications in finance, and economics.

International Banking

The module aims to provide an in-depth understanding of theoretical and applied issues in relation to the activities of international banks. The module focuses on main theories of banking and provides an overview of the crucial operations in the context of international banking. It also seeks to provide students with a critical awareness of different approaches of assessing bank risk and performance and how they are used in practice by shareholders, investors and financial and banking experts.