Accounting and Finance

BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance

Key Features of the BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance

• Designed to prepare students for a career in the accounting & finance function in business
• Covers a wide range of disciplines such as auditing, taxation, financial accounting, management accounting and finance
• Successful completion of this degree gives substantial exemptions from the professional accountancy examinations such as ACCA, ACA, CIMA and CPA
• Currently, the BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance degree will grant  the maximum 9 exemptions from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) examinations.

The BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance degree programme is designed to prepare students for a career in the accounting and finance function in business. It features a blend of specialised accounting and finance subjects together with general business subjects.

It aims to develop an awareness of the international relationships between finance and other business disciplines, to develop a critical and methodical approach to problem solving and decision making in a financial context and to develop the ability to interpret and communicate financial and other information.

It covers a wide range of essential accounting and financial disciplines such as auditing, taxation, financial accounting, management accounting and finance, and also provides options for additional study in areas such as business policy and law. Successful completion of this degree gives substantial exemptions from professional accountancy examinations such as ACCA, ACA, CIMA and CPA.

Aims & Objectives

On graduation from this programme students should have the ability to:

• Display an excellent understanding of the theory and techniques used by professional accountants and financial managers
• Practice the analytical skills, theoretical knowledge and management techniques required in a wide variety of accounting and business related careers
• Apply financial models and techniques to business decision-making problems at both operational and strategic environment level
• Display and use transferable skills in a variety of business contexts
• Show awareness of the challenges and contemporary issues emerging in the world of accounting and finance
• Proceed in a highly competent manner to further postgraduate or professional studies in the areas of accounting and finance.

Programme Structure

Level 1 is a foundation level, which is common to the BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance, BA (Hons) Financial Services and BA (Hons) Business Management (Accounting) degree programmes. The foundation level provides knowledge in the primary business disciplines, as well as developing the broad cognitive skills of students.

Level 2 builds on the foundation year by providing a more detailed and specialised accounting and finance focus to develop students' knowledge, competence and skills in their chosen specialist business area. Modules at this level also seek to provide initial development of the analytical and critical faculties of students thus providing the necessary underpinning for Level 3 studies.

Level 3 further advances student knowledge in technical accounting and finance areas and seeks to further develop their analytical and critical faculties. At this level modules have a focus on managerial issues and seek to develop judgmental and problem-solving abilities to prepare students for the rigours of professional examinations and/or commercial life. An emphasis is given to current and emerging issues and their likely impact on the future development and direction of the accounting profession.

Assessment

Student assessment will be based on a combination of continuous assessment and end of year examinations. Continuous assessment will include essay writing, case studies, presentations, literature reviews and projects, and students will be required to work individually as well as in groups. End of year examinations are typically held in late April/early May. Level 1 subjects may also include an in-class assessment usually held in December.

Career Opportunities

Graduates from this programme often use it as a fast track to professional accountancy qualifications, availing of their entitlement to exceptional exemptions from ACCA, CIMA, ACA and CPA. Former students from this programme are employed worldwide in a range of business, accounting and finance positions. They work in tax, audit and general accounting firms as well as multinational bluechip companies and small and medium-sized enterprises across a range of industry sectors.

Programme Content

This course comprises of 3 levels.  Students should complete this course in 4 years part-time.  Students attend lectures 2 evenings per week on average.

Note: Students should select 1 elective at level 2 & 3