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

Advanced Management Accounting

This module focuses on the strategic aspects of management accounting. It will explore and critically evaluate a number of management accounting techniques encountered in levels 4 (Management Accounting Fundamentals or its equivalent) and level 5 (Management Accounting or its equivalent). 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

Module aims:

1. To provide an understanding of the concept of audit and assurance incorporating the functions of audit in context to corporate governance which includes the ethics and professional conduct knowledge. This further includes internal and external audit review and reporting functions in context of the regulatory frameworks and professional and ethical dimensions of audit practice,

2. To critically appraise and evaluate the audit process which demonstrate how the auditors understands, regulate, obtain and accept the audit engagements consisting 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. To develop advanced skills in forming judgements and opinions whilst exercising an appropriate degree of professional judgement and 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 identification and communication process to control risk and the potential consequences to make effective recommendations. The description of the scope, role and the function of internal audit is also included.

4. Understanding the application of the international Standards on Auditing (ISAs) and the ability to distinguish between external and internal audit. This includes full evaluation of the internal controls using the appropriate audit software, test data and the data analytics tool; further identifying, describing the work and the evidence obtained by the auditors.

5. The demonstration of employability and technological skills. Explanation of the subsequent events, going concern principle that can inform the auditors about the conclusion of their audit work providing true reflection of the auditor’s report, presentation, written representations and the final review and report.

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 sessions.

Financial Management

The module is designed to develop students’ knowledge and critical understanding of the use of financial management. It will also explore the theoretical models, analytical methods and practical aspects of corporate investment and financial decisions making in a competitive business environment and a dynamic capital market.

The principal aims of this module are to:

1. Apply knowledge, understanding and skills learnt at levels 4 and 5 to appreciate the wider picture - essentially taking a strategic standpoint and thereby providing an appropriate foundation for higher studies;
2. Evaluate financial and non-financial evidence including arguments and assumptions in order to reach objective conclusions;
3. Display the accountant’s need to remain innovative and play a pivotal part in the management of change in organisations, which is increasingly becoming a corporate requirement;
4. Develop students’ skills, in particular, those relating to the analysis and presentation of data; critical thinking, writing and problem-solving.
5. To determine the interconnections between investment decisions, financing decisions and distribution decisions in the form of dividends.

The module also aims to help students in the development of the following skills:

. analysis and presentation of data;
. critical thinking, writing and problem-solving;
. study skills such as critical reflection, time management and self-awareness.

Financial and Economic Modelling

The module develops the students’ understanding of financial and economic modelling using the foundations of econometrics and financial data analysis introduced within the teaching at earlier levels. It provides an in-depth understanding of a wide variety of financial and economic models and their implications by using statistical and econometric software such as EViews. The knowledge and skills embedded within the module are designed to assist students in their efforts to design, undertake and evaluate empirical studies within the field of banking, 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.