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

Advanced Financial Reporting

This module focuses on the preparation of financial statements for UK limited companies, the critical assessment of published accounts, with an understanding of the UK regulatory framework. Students will also be exposed to the need and sources of regulation, the purpose of accounting standards and worldwide use of IFRS.

The aims of this module are as follows:
1) You will understand the regulatory framework for corporate reporting.
2) You will understand the need for International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
3) You will understand the application of the relevant regulatory framework and accounting standards.
4) You will be able to prepare financial statements for UK limited companies in a format suitable for publication;
5) You will be able to conduct a critical assessment of company performance.

6) The module also aims to help students in the development of the following skills:
. academic writing;
. researching
. analysis and presentation of financial data;
. communication, including oral presentations;
. interpersonal, including effective team working;
. self-assessment and reflection.

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

The FE6P04A Dissertation module, in conjunction with FE6P04S Dissertation, enables you to complete a research-focused dissertation on a chosen topic or issue appropriate to the subject area of your undergraduate degree.

In this module, you will focus on developing your research topic, conducting a comprehensive literature review, designing appropriate methodologies, and planning your research.

You will be required to reflect critically on your research questions, theoretical concepts or hypotheses, prior literature, ethical considerations, and research methodologies in an independent and disciplined manner. The module aims to develop your analytical, critical thinking, referencing, and time management skills, supporting you to independently undertake and report on your research project.

You will additionally be required to consider how your personal development and career plans

Dissertation

The FE6P04S Dissertation module, in conjunction with FE6P04A Dissertation, enables you to complete a research-focused dissertation on a chosen topic relevant to the subject area of your undergraduate degree.

In this module, you will focus on collecting and analysing data, interpreting your findings, and drawing conclusions based on your empirical research.

You will be required to reflect critically on your data collection process, analytical techniques, research findings, and their implications in an independent approach. The module aims to develop your analytical, critical thinking, data interpretation, and academic writing skills, supporting you to independently complete and report on your dissertation.

You will additionally be required to consider how your personal development and career plans.

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 Engineering

The aims of this module are to provide students with the use of a wide range and in-depth knowledge of the major exchange-traded and over-the-counter traded financial instruments to construct financial products and manage financial risk.
The module discusses the characteristics, pricing and valuation, terminologies and application of financial innovation to create the structured products in derivative markets.

Students will further develop an understanding of the use of the financial instruments as investment vehicles, hedging tools, arbitrage mechanisms, and speculative instruments. Students will further develop skills for data collection and analysis utilising software systems such as Bloomberg and spreadsheets.
A blended teaching and learning approach includes the use of websites, videos, guest talks from industry and support for employability enhancing classroom activities.
Bloomberg may be used to deliver teaching sessions.

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 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.