MSc/PgDip/PgCert Accounting and Finance

MSc/PgDip/PgCert

Accounting and Finance The ability to understand and control the finances of a business are essential to an organisation’s success; good accountancy skills and financial management experience are highly sought after and provide the basis for a rewarding career.

Designed for graduates looking to start work, professionals aspiring to develop their career or those preparing to study for the exams of the professional bodies, this Accounting and Finance postgraduate degree is highly practical and future facing. The Master’s programme covers a variety of operational and functional concepts and practices as well as the technology that supports them. You will also look closely at how these aspects integrate with the management of global organisations.

The programme is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the course tracks the CIMA syllabus. When you successfully complete the course, you will gain exemptions from 11 CIMA exams (leaving 4 to complete after graduation). The programme is also accredited by EFMD, the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of business programmes. These accreditations are your assurance of the quality of the course.

You will study at Salford Business School, on the Peel Park campus, close to Manchester city centre.

Manchester is a vibrant financial centre and, with financial headquarters nearby, you will have plenty of opportunities for industry engagement and networking.

Accredited by EFMD, the leading international system of quality assessment, improvement and accreditation of business programmes. This accreditation is your assurance of the quality of the course.

Six good reasons to choose Salford Business School: Look at the real accounting and finance problems faced by business

Benefit from exemptions from 11 CIMA professional exams

Study in a vibrant financial centre with excellent opportunities for industry engagement and networking

Practice your learning on the Finance Dissertation

Study in an ethical environment and discuss the consquences of unethical behaviour

Beautiful campus just minutes from Manchester city centre

Course Content The course is delivered across two semesters of 15 weeks each, with semester 3 dedicated to your Dissertation.

In semesters 1 and 2, you will have 11 hours of teaching each week. This is made up of eight hours in class for your main modules plus two hours for Research Skills and one hour of Supporting Student Success. During this period, you will also undertake independent study in your own time with online support through the University’s virtual learning environment, Blackboard.

The Finance dissertation module accounts for the final third of your degree. You will be allocated a supervisor who will mentor you through the dissertation as you develop your career-enhancing skills.

Modules FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING AND REPORTING

Teaching:

This module will develop your knowledge and technical skills of financial reporting to new levels. You will get the skills needed to confidently voice the language of business and clarify reports to a wide variety of stakeholders. You will learn to make strategic business reporting decisions within the corporate environment; to test concepts, theories, principles; and crucially to apply this knowledge to real life scenarios.

/ Interactive lectures and seminars

You will be studying in an ethical environment so will apply your professional judgment and ethical principles to ethical dilemmas and discuss the consequences of unethical behaviour. You will be encouraged to draw upon and share their diverse cultural and managerial experiences.

/ Small group learning sets will be used as the basis for problem-based learning scenarios designed to include case studies, class-based activities, research articles and web-based materials / Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles Assessments: 25% Data analysis project 75% Individual project work presentation

CORPORATE FINANCE

Teaching:

The primary goal of this module is to provide an integrated overview of the most important issues in corporate finance from the point of view of a manager of a non-financial corporation in today’s competitive environment. It provides a starting point for a successful career in finance.

/ Interactive lectures and seminars

During your studies, you will examine a range of topics including corporate organisation and governance; risk and return; corporate restructuring; and mergers and acquisitions. Your learning will be based on corporate financial management strategies in an international world.

/ Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

You will be encouraged to draw upon and share your own cultural and managerial experiences.

75% Exam

/ Small group learning sets will be used as the basis for problem-based learning scenarios designed to include case studies, class-based activities, research articles and web-based materials

Assessments: 25% Group case study report

FINANCE DISSERTATION

Assessments:

This module supports your work on the research project which completes your degree. Under the supervision of a subject specialist, you will complete independent research into a topic of your choice.

100% Research proposal 85% 13,000 word dissertation

To prepare you with the qualitative and quantitative analysis skills you will need for your research project, you will also attend a research skills class for two hours per week throughout Semesters 1 and 2. This module takes a hands on approach and is practically oriented.

MODULES (OPTIONAL, CHOOSE TWO FROM): CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ETHICS

Teaching:

The global financial crisis that started in 2007 increased the urgency of the search for a better ethical framework and governance for business. An increase in the range, significance and impact of corporate social and environmental initiatives in recent years suggests the growing materiality of a more ethically informed approach. There are increasing indications of large corporations taking their ethics and corporate governance responsibilities more seriously, and of these issues becoming more critical in the business agenda.

/ Lectures to communicate key knowledge of corporate governance concepts

This module will thus give you the opportunity to explore issues in corporate governance and ethics and the important role of the board of directors in improving governance and in embedding a more ethical approach in organisations.

Assessments:

/ Seminars to explore and apply this knowledge to real corporate governance contexts. / Case studies, practical exercises, ethics vignettes and guest speakers and/ or study visits / Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles

100% Individual essay

FINTECH

Teaching:

This module looks at the latest developments in the area of Financial Technology. It starts by discussing the nature of blockchains and the innovation in financial services that are likely to take place in the coming years. It then examines the importance of modern cryptography and explores cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoins and how they are mined. This module makes use of real-world examples of how FinTech is already having an impact on the way the financial services are affected. Finally, it looks at examples of how different countries have reacted to the use of cryptocurrencies through government press releases.

/ Interactive lectures and seminars

BANKING AND FINANCIAL REGULATION

Teaching:

Banks play a major part in funding companies and by extension in economic development. Their increasing importance has led to regulation on an international level that affects all banking operations both large and small throughout the world. These major developments over the last 20 years make banking a fundamental part of understanding finance and the nature of the regulatory regime. You will have the opportunity to evaluate the performance of a bank as well as to analyse loan data and assess loan products. This allows you to appreciate the problems of lending, issues that are fundamental to all businesses.

/ Interactive lectures and seminars

You will look at the macro banking environment, study bank regulation and analysis, consider how bank management helps you to manage risk and learn about current issues in banking such as money laundering and internet banking.

/ Small group learning sets will be used as the basis for problem-based learning scenarios designed to include case studies, class-based activities, research articles and web-based materials / Guided personal study supported by associated reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles Assessments: 100% Data analysis report

/ Student activities and discussions / Guided personal study supported by additional reading list, lecture notes and relevant research articles Assessments: 100% Group report based on a case study

Entry requirements: A minimum 2:2 degree or equivalent or successful completion of the Graduate Certificate International Management programme. A wide range of professional qualifications are also accepted. We welcome applications from students who may not have formal/traditional entry criteria but who have relevant experience or the ability to pursue the course successfully. Please contact us for information on our Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process All of our courses are taught and assessed in English, so as an applicant you must meet our minimum English language entry requirements. An IELTS score of 6 (no element below 5.5) is proof of this however we accept a range of equivalent qualifications.

We also offer several English language courses which help you gain entry onto our degrees. For more information go to salford.ac.uk/international/english-language-requirements

Career prospects: This is an advanced degree in corporate finance and can lead you to a wide range of career opportunities and roles, such as finance director, new business development manager, treasury manager, financial controller, financial planning manager, stock market financial analyst, funds portfolio manager, and global hedge fund manager. It also provides a thorough preparation for academic research in finance and corporate finance.

Start dates: September Duration: MSc (one year full-time, two years part-time) PgDip (eight months full-time or two years part-time) PgCert (four months full-time or one year part-time) The MSc is the only route available for international students. If you are a high-achieving international student, you may be eligible for one of our scholarships.

Find out more at salford.ac.uk/international/scholarships WANT TO KNOW MORE? Visit salford.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/accounting-and-finance STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS? Contact us: By email (UK applicants): enquiries@salford.ac.uk By email (international applicants): international@salford.ac.uk @salfordbusinessschool

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