Accounting and Business Management BSc

Compulsory

• Introduction to Management Enquiry

  This module introduces students to fundamentals of business and management with the focus on a number of key concepts. This includes subjects such as understanding organisational planning with a focus on the foundations of decision, organisational structure and design and managing human resources, leadership, trust, and managing communication, information and operations.

• Managing Information with Technology

  This module’s primary aim is to broaden students’ knowledge and skills in the use of IT and statistics in managing and analysing data for business to improve the quality of decision-making in a dynamic business environment.

• Organisational Behaviour

  This module introduces students to the study of organisations. It outlines key sociological and psychological perspectives used to analyse organisations and occupational groups. Students encounter core topics including organisational design, bureaucracy and contingency theory. Theory and practice are linked via seminars, case study discussions and reflections on students’ experience of organisations.

• international Business Environment

  Developing students’ understanding of the basic economic concepts and principles that apply to the international business environment with emphasis on European business, and developing analytical and conceptual skills in economic and business environment for them to be able to respond to problems associated with modern international business environment.

• Principles and Practice of Marketing

  This module focuses on developing an understanding of concepts of marketing, marketing mix principles and practices. It also aims to develop students’ awareness of skills needed and ethical issues in marketing.

• Introduction to Accounting and Financial Management

  The module introduces students to the essential concepts of accounting and financial management. As the foundation of all other accounting modules, you will study how financial information is prepared, communicated and used. You will develop skills in critically evaluating and appreciating the importance of the accounting and finance function within organisations particularly in connection with business decision making. Students will learn how to: prepare a set of essential financial statements for a business, prepare information for business planning - such as budgets, prepare information for decision making using techniques such as cost, volume, profit analysis and investment appraisal techniques.

Compulsory

• Principles and Practices of Financial Accounting

  This module extends the financial reporting component of the first year accounting module. It examines the regulatory framework of financial reporting whilst investigating the function and content of the main published financial statements of limited companies. In addition, it provides students with sufficient background to be able to prepare financial statements for complex businesses, which comply with international accounting standards. Students will learn how to: make informed comment on some controversial regulatory reporting issues, prepare published financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the regulators and specified accounting standards, analyse and interpret published financial information.

• Introduction to Business Law

  This module aims to explore the nature and scope of the law applicable to the business environment so as to provide a critical understanding of the legal framework that underpins the creation and regulation of business relationships and activities. Students will learn how to: apply legal principles and statutory legislation, to common business scenarios, evaluate the extent to which legal developments impact on and/or promote the interests of business and individuals, such as the self-employed, employers, and employees, explain the impact of consumer protection laws on business.

• Management Accounting - Decision Making

  This module aims to provide a deeper appreciation of the theoretical and practical issues associated with selected management accounting techniques, some of which were introduced in the first year. Students will learn: an appreciation of the use of accounting data and information in functions of management and the decision-making process, how to measure costs using a range of techniques in a variety of situations, how to use more advanced methods such as activity based costing, target and life cycle costing which will enable you to find out the cost of products and services in complex and competitive environments, to develop problem solving abilities and analytical skills in a range of common management accounting situations.

• Management Accounting - Planning and Control

  This module is designed to enable you to become an effective member in your organisation in planning and control; two vital activities for most organisations. For instance, you will learn: how to prepare different types of budget and the role of budgets in planning, how to use analytical techniques to control costs and help organisations identify areas for improvement, the different approaches for measuring organisational performance and how you can contribute to the design of a performance measurement system which suits the needs of your organisation, how you can contribute to strategizing through knowledge of strategic management accounting practices.

• Quantitative Methods for Business and Management

  This module enables you to become familiar with statistical techniques and concepts used in Business and Management, which are used frequently to understand real-world scenarios. As well as preparing you for the final year project, the skills developed in this module are transferable for use in everyday life. Students of this module will be introduced to the concepts of probabilities, random variables, descriptive statistics, and hypothesis testing. Strong emphasis will be given to practical applications to "real-world" issues. For example, you will learn: how to effectively present and communicate your findings using graphical methods and summary statistics, how to select appropriate statistical techniques, to answer business research questions.

• Accounting Information Systems

  This module explains the role of modern information technology in financial and management accounting and the impact of computerised accounting systems on large and small businesses. You will study how the appropriate use of accounting software can manage the typical accounting processes of business organisations. Students will learn how to: write a report explaining current issues in accounting information technology for business users, use accounting software to record, classify, communicate and analyse financial information.

• Preparing for Placement and a Graduate Career

  This module aims to prepare students commencing a career after graduation and/or a placement. It will give guidance on effective job hunting, and processes used by employers as well preparation for the assessment of the placement learning through self-directed learning and the use of career development tools to support reflection on personal development.

Compulsory

• Strategic Financial Management

  This module is designed to add some corporate finance flavour to your accounting degree and to shape your understanding of key concepts in investment management. For students on accredited Business School degree courses successful completion of this module gives you exemptions from a number related papers of the professional bodies exams such as ACCA and ICAEW (this does not apply to students taking this module from other departments such as Mathematics). You will learn: how to evaluate investment opportunities using different methods, which can be very valuable for organisations to ensure the effective employment of scarce resources, how to compare the various dividend policies adopted by firms, how to value potential takeover targets and the mechanisms of merger & acquisitions, how to evaluate portfolio risk and returns.

• Auditing and Assurance

  Many of the previous modules, such as Management Accounting or Financial Accounting, focus on learning the rules, techniques needed to prepare and analyse financial information. Studying Auditing & Assurance is much more conceptual in nature, as you learn to evaluate the systems and processes that produce that information. By studying this module, you will understand how auditors assess risks associated with financial statements, gather evidence and report their findings. You will also learn about Fraud and Forensics Accounting and other interesting areas of the profession of Auditing. Successful completion of this module gives you exemptions from a number related papers of the professional bodies exams such as ACCA, AIA and ICAEW. You will learn: to apply the fundamental principles of ethics to professional behaviour, the auditors role in the Corporate Governance of business, how to evaluate information systems and assess the risk of error or fraud, how to gather sufficient, appropriate evidence to offer assurance on company statements.

Optional

• Taxation

  In today’s world, taxation is an important factor for both the individual and business in the investment decision process. Governments around the world develop policies to raise tax from individual and businesses with a view to grow the economy. In this module, we will examine the main areas of the UK tax system - Income Tax, Corporation Tax, Capital Gains Tax and VAT - from an individual and business perspective. Furthermore, the module provides an understanding of the economic, social, environmental and ethical considerations and challenges in designing of the UK tax system. Although the module is based on the UK tax system, the module deals with problems around taxation of individual and businesses that face all tax systems. Successful completion of this module also gives you exemptions from a number related papers of the professional bodies exams such as ACCA, AIA and ICAEW. After studying the module you will develop: an understanding of Government role in developing policies related to taxation, an appreciation of economic, legal, ethical, environmental and accounting aspects of Taxation, a practical and updated knowledge on areas of taxation, which is important for individuals and business, analytic and problem solving abilities to address tax-planning issues for individual and business, technical expertise for the production of tax computations leading to preparation of tax return for both individuals and business.

• Strategic Management

  This module aims to enable students to appreciate the many, wide ranging issues and challenges that confront strategic managers, introduce concepts, topics and methodological approaches relevant to the analysis of the strategic position of the organisation and the development and implementation of strategies in complex uncertain environments, including a consideration of major operational implications, and to develop skills of strategic thinking, analysis and argument.

• Corporate Reporting

  This module aims to enable students to appreciate the many, wide ranging issues and challenges that confront strategic managers, introduce concepts, topics and methodological approaches relevant to the analysis of the strategic position of the organisation and the development and implementation of strategies in complex uncertain environments, including a consideration of major operational implications, and to develop skills of strategic thinking, analysis and argument.

• Issues and Controversies in Accounting

  Having learnt various topics in accounting and business management so far, this module is your opportunity to put what you have learnt into action by researching any contemporaneous topic of your interest in the areas of accounting and business management. While this will give you an opportunity to investigate your chosen topic, the module is particularly designed to enable you to develop not only research-related skills (e.g. research question(s) formulation, hypothesis development, literature review, data collection, etc.), but also valuable industry-relevant skills including critical thinking, presentation, report writing and time management skills. Such skills are highly appreciated by employers and should enhance your employability prospects.