Accounting and Finance BSc (Hons) with foundation year

This module offers a comprehensive introduction to the fundamental principles of finance, encompassing both personal and corporate finance. Delve into essential concepts, such as income, debt, savings and investments from a personal finance perspective. This module covers the components of the financial system and their role in the saving-investment process.

Gain an understanding of investment basics by examining financial risk and return. This module navigates the UK financial regulatory framework, emphasising the roles of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) in overseeing financial services and ensuring financial stability. It also discusses general regulation of the banking system with a focus on bank management practices.

Learn about the time value of money, including discounting and compounding techniques, to determine present and future values. From a corporate finance perspective, this module explores the fundamental objectives of a business and covers three primary business decisions: raising finance, investing finance and distributing finance. You should learn the methods of raising long-term finance by businesses and the valuation models used to estimate the value of shares and bonds. You should also develop the skills to analyse major investment decisions using various project appraisal techniques. Finally, you would learn key financial theories relating to the payment of dividends.

Compulsory

This module focuses on the main principles governing the recording of business transactions and the presentation of financial information for external reporting globally. Learn about the systems and techniques businesses use to produce financial statements. This module also covers the core concepts that underpin these statements. Furthermore, it aims to introduce the main financial statements produced by different business organisations and explain what these indicate about business performance.

Compulsory

This module focuses on the nature and behaviour of costs. It introduces various approaches to the treatment of overheads and the different costing and decision-making techniques available to the management accountant. This module introduces you to a range of management accounting techniques, including, but not limited to, budgeting, measurement and analysis of variances, contribution analysis and throughput accounting.

Compulsory

This module aims to develop your ability to apply appropriate mathematical and statistical techniques to financial and economic problems. You should learn a range of academic skills to support your learning and future career options. You will build on your existing mathematical knowledge while developing a better understanding and application of other mathematical and statistical techniques relevant to accounting and finance.

The module content aims to develop and improve your skills in time management, academic research, writing and digital literacy in spreadsheets and statistical packages.

Compulsory

Gain the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to identify and deal with legal and ethical issues likely to be encountered in business. This includes an understanding of how the law and ethical frameworks operate, and the ability to apply the law and the frameworks to real-life scenarios. This module aims to cover the legal system, the law of contract, tort law (including professional negligence), business formation (including types of business: sole trader, partnership, limited company; funding and liability), the nature and function of various types of company structures and the rights and obligations of shareholders and directors.

This module also covers the fundamentals of business ethics and sustainable decision-making and the various dilemmas that individuals and organisations might face. You will consider the impact of business ethics and sustainability concepts within corporations, including decision-making, governance and corporate social responsibility within a global economy. This module will draw on local and global case study material and relevant academic literature drawn from a variety of business disciplines.

Compulsory

The Financial Reporting module focuses primarily on the preparation of published financial statements by public limited companies. Develop the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and apply International Financial Reporting Standards and accounting theory in the preparation of published financial statements of entities, including a simple group structure. Develop the skills necessary to critically analyse and interpret financial statements and become aware of limitations in published accounting information. Throughout the module, you will apply theories and concepts to real-world examples, replicating scenarios that accountants regularly face.

Compulsory

Explore the role of information systems in modern accounting (financial and management). Examine the support of Accounting Information Systems (AIS) within financial reporting, internal control, risk management and strategic decision-making. Gain hands-on experience with database management, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems (for example, SAP), small and medium enterprise accounting systems (for example, SAGE) and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain and cloud computing.

The module also emphasises cybersecurity, regulatory compliance and ethical considerations in AIS. Through a combination of theoretical frameworks and practical case studies, you should develop the skills necessary to design, evaluate and optimise AIS sustainable solutions in a business environment within industries.

Compulsory

Develop the knowledge and skills expected of a finance manager. Module content will focus on investment, financing and working capital decisions. You will critically evaluate financial objectives, risk management strategies and capital market operations. You should develop an understanding of the trade-off between risk and return and the valuation of financial assets. This module emphasises business financing decisions, investment appraisal techniques and working capital management to ensure effective financial decision-making. You should also learn to apply numerical and analytical skills within a framework that promotes sustainability, social responsibility and ethical financial practices.

Compulsory

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved placement undertaken during your programme. A placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module² provides you with an opportunity to reflect upon and gain experience for an approved international study/work placement undertaken during your programme. A work/study placement should usually be at least 26 weeks or equivalent; however, each placement will be considered on its own merits, having regard to the ability to achieve the learning outcomes.

Optional

This module is your chance to apply the knowledge and insights learnt on the course. It aims to develop you into an independent and ethical researcher. You will conduct a research project related to your course to evidence your intellectual, technical and analytical skills. You will receive personalised support and guidance from a supervisor and benefit from critical discussions and cross-fertilisation in group supervision sessions.

Compulsory

This module builds on the Principles of Management Accounting module covered in your first year. It introduces more complex techniques that can be used to facilitate organisational performance management and enhance the decision-making process. You should develop the knowledge and skills necessary to select appropriate management accounting techniques and apply these to business situations. Learn the limitations of techniques employed, appreciate the role of risk and uncertainty and consider the influence of behaviours that can undermine entity performance.

Compulsory

This module examines how portfolios are structured, monitored and managed, considering the impact of global financial markets, macroeconomic factors and international financial flows on investment strategies. Develop a strong understanding of portfolio optimisation techniques, risk-return trade-offs and performance evaluation methods.

Explore key international finance management topics such as exchange rate determination, balance of payments, global capital flows and financial risk management, assessing their implications for asset valuation and investment performance.

Compulsory

Choose one from the following three optional modules:

• Business Strategy – 30 credits
  

  While the core purpose of business strategy has always been to help organisations succeed in dynamic and complex environments, contemporary strategy has evolved in its tools and approaches to better address today's heightened pace of change and uncertainty. To be competitive, businesses must be more flexible, including the ability to shift from one dominant strategy to another.

  This module aims to provide you with an understanding of strategic leadership and management, strategic analysis and strategic decision-making within organisations. It also appraises what is required for high performance in an uncertain environment.

• Investment Analysis – 30 credits
  This module focuses on the bond and equity markets. You will be introduced to discounted cash flow-related bond pricing techniques along with bond portfolio management and the associated risk immunisation methodologies. Concerning equity valuation, you will compare discounted cash flow methods with fundamental valuation approaches, including value investing and growth investing. Market timing is also explored through the application of technical analysis. You should gain a thorough understanding of identifying, assessing and mitigating various business risks. Module content also covers operational, financial, reputational and credit risks, emphasising effective strategies and tools for risk management.
  
  

• Audit and Internal Control – 30 credits
  Get an understanding of the fundamentals of audit and assurance practices in relation to regulatory framework. Learn about the role of auditors, the principles and limits of audit and assurance, and how to assess internal controls and apply audit procedures for detecting material misstatements or fraud in financial statements. You will consider the professional values of auditing and how you can apply them to specific cases. This module will require you to demonstrate critical thinking skills and develop reasoned arguments by applying concepts and frameworks to case studies.

Availability of optional modules may vary depending on student demand.

Optional