Accounting And Finance MSc

A masters programme, designed for those who are currently non-specialists in the field but wish to gain a robust understanding for the fundamentals of accountancy and business finance, so learn the practical skills needed for graduate roles in the financial sector. 

The programme aims to develop and advanced understanding of the field so you are able to think critically, beyond the traditional role of a finance professional to how these skills can be effectively applied in a dynamic business environment which requires a finance professional with a digital mindset and is sustainability conscious. 

With a strong demand for accounting and financial skills in the job market, our MSc Accounting and Finance will set you up for a rewarding career. The programme will bring you up to speed with the fundamentals of accountancy and business finance, and develop an advanced understanding of the practical skills needed for graduate roles in the financial sector.

You’ll get the opportunity to engage with a Business Project or Dissertation. This is a substantial piece of work designed to provide you with the opportunity to analyse a business problem and practically apply the knowledge and skills developed during the course.

With a strong demand for accounting and financial skills in the job market, our MSc Accounting and Finance can set you up for a rewarding career.

On this stimulating and varied course, you’ll learn about the practical and strategic application of financial and management accounting information, business finance, as well as how corporations report on and engage with sustainability issues.

This course is a fantastic step towards becoming a qualified accountant. It is accredited by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), giving exemption form the whole of the Applied Knowledge level (three papers) and a further paper in the Applied Skills level of ACCA.

Significant accreditation is also given by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, where you entry level will be the Management Case study which means you are entitled to Eleven exemptions from the Certificate, Operational and Management levels of CIMA.

The degree is recognised by the professional accounting bodies and has been developed to ensure that it is relevant to the changing world of business and that students are prepared to enter the job market with skills that are needed for a successful career.

How Will My Skills Develop? 

As well as financial accounting concepts, case studies and theories, you’ll also develop key skills in management accounting to help you construct and interpret financial statements, critically assess tools and use real-world data in core modules such as sustainability accounting and accountability.

All of this means you’ll become highly skilled at providing information to business leaders, improving commercial decision-making and business performance.

You'll study The Aston Global Advantage module which focuses on professional development and employability, helping you to apply the skills that you will gain throughout the year.

This is our professional development programme and an integrated module that runs throughout your MSc course at Aston Business School. The programme will equip you with transferable skills and relevant experiences for the workplace, giving you a competitive edge in the job market, or for when starting a business. Flexible and personalised, this programme can be tailored to your career aspirations, development needs, or existing professional experience. Whatever career path you wish to follow, this programme lets you take control of your future. 

You’ll also have the opportunity to study abroad with one of our international partners, undertake an internship placement in the UK or overseas or get involved in a global business challenge simulation.

How Will This Course Help My Career? 

You’ll be taught by our exceptional teaching staff. They have a range of experience and expertise, with qualified accountants who have worked for prestigious global companies as well as leading academics who are at the forefront of research in the field of accounting and finance. 

This means you will benefit from various perspectives and insights that will help you develop a solid understanding of accounting and financial theories and practice.

We use an innovative and engaging range of teaching methods. Lectures, tutorials, group work and case studies will introduce you to the latest thinking in this field and give you the opportunity to critically consider its application in real-life business situations. 

This is enhanced by leading industry experts delivering guest lectures. These opportunities will enable you to learn about current practices and challenges in accounting and business finance.

Our courses offer a range of opportunities to gain practical experience through things such as, consultancy projects and entrepreneurial opportunities. 

Modules:

• Core modules
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• This module covers a range of financial accounting concepts and provides a challenging and interesting introduction to the theory and practice of financial accounting. The module is designed to help you construct and interpret financial statements and to develop a theoretical and analytical grasp on financial accounting issues.
• Management Accounting
• Using a range of case studies this module will look at traditional and innovative ways of measuring and managing costs and recent developments in performance planning, measurement and management. Key techniques in cost and management accounting as well as context appropriate practices will be taught.
• Contemporary Issues in Financial Reporting
• This module aims to equip students with more advanced and knowledge of financial reporting in the global business environment.
• By considering the more current or contemporary issues in financial reporting, the module is designed to inspire critical evaluation of the concepts underlying and effectiveness of financial reporting regulations and accepted practice applied within published financial statements of international organisations. The module will challenge you to derive and communicate meaning to make or influence economic decisions.
• Strategic Management Accounting
• Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) is a controversial subject and as such is treated practically and theoretically to reflect the state of the art.  Critical assessment of SMA concepts and tools is undertaken in the light of the latest research and using practical contexts to allow you to appreciate the potential pitfalls of this high level concept.
• Business Finance
• This module teaches you the key principles and challenges of financial management decisions.  Develop an understanding of the characteristics influencing factors and the advantages and disadvantages of different forms of financing.  You'll also apply mathematical techniques to support a range of business decisions such as the valuation of shares and the evaluation of investment opportunities.
• Financial Analysis
• This module will focus on providing you with the knowledge, understanding and skills to analyse published financial statements. It will develop your ability to critically assess the current stock market valuation of major public companies and make impartial financial recommendations.
• Research Design, Practice and Ethics 
• The module introduces students to various concepts and viewpoints on social science and business research - particularly in accounting and finance. These concepts and perspectives relate to so-called ontological, epistemological, and methodological choices that need to be made during the research process and in every research project. These choices infuse, for instance, what may count as an appropriate research question and methods of data collection and analysis, and they pertain equally to qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods studies. The module examines the implications of the choices that researchers (can) viably make, considering the kinds of conclusions that can be drawn from different types of evidence produced by different research project designs. Discussions about valuation techniques, research quality, publishing research accounts, and knowledge synthesis through policy or practice are also facilitated.
• Ethics in Academic Practice
• This module provides an introduction to the Academic Offence framework. By completing the resources you will understand the key principles underpinning the submission of academic assignments. These principles can then be applied to the rest of the modules studied at the university.
• The Aston Global Advantage
• The Aston Global Advantage is our professional development programme that runs throughout all MSc programmes at Aston Business School. Focusing on professional development and employability, this integrated module gives you the opportunity to identify, develop and apply the key transferrable skills you will gain throughout the year. 
• Business Project or Dissertation 
• The business project/dissertation is a chance for you to carry out an original piece of work applying material that you have learnt in the taught element of your degree. Specific requirements will be explained relating to different degree programmes but in summary you must demonstrate both theoretical and practical knowledge of your chosen area of specialism.
• Optional modules
• Note: Availability of any optional modules will be subject to staff availability and a minimum number of students who express an interest in studying the optional modules.
• Current Issues in Global Audit and Assurance
• This module attends to complex issues in auditing and assurance in a global context. Such issues are discussed and evaluated in relation to a wider range of theoretical and regulatory standpoint. In doing so you are equipped and contribute to advanced understanding and critique of the role of auditing and assurance in an ever changing global platform.
• Data Mining and Web Analytics
• We explore data mining techniques and their use in business decision making. You will learn how to uncover patterns and trends hidden in data.
• International Business
• This module will give you the basic and fundamental knowledge of international business theories and concepts. It will cover selected topics from a wide spectrum of activities in the international business environment. It will also develop your skills in applying the theories into practice through experiential learning, such as case study, analysis and class discussions.
• Corporate Governance, Regulation and Compliance
• This module has an interdisciplinary focus, and its main objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the UK corporate governance framework. The influence of the UK framework in other countries is considered and comparisons with the frameworks in other jurisdictions is also made.
• International Business Strategy
• This module aims to broaden your understanding of the international strategic options available to organisations. The theoretical approach to strategic decision-making is examined in an international context following onto application of strategic concepts and tools to make appropriate strategy recommendations.
• International Business Finance
• This module considers the concepts and techniques related to the key decision making areas of financial management, focusing on investment appraisal and financing decision making. The concept of risk underpins financial management and it will be explicitly examined within the topic of foreign exchange risk and its mitigation.
• Sustainability Accounting and Accountability
• This module examines a range of theories and practical methods that underpin sustainability accounting and accountability studies and applications. We go beyond the traditional accounting model to explore and challenge new ways of thinking, using real-world data. This allows you to acquire conceptual and practical experiences within the growing field of sustainability accounting and accountability.

Entry Requirements:

• If you have already specialised in accounting and finance or a related subject at undergraduate level, visit our MSc International Accounting and Finance course page.
• One of the following:
• A UK honours degree, minimum Lower Second Class (2:2)
• Equivalent overseas degree recognised by Aston University
• Subject specific requirements:
• Applicants must also provide evidence of Mathematics - C/4 or above at GCSE (or equivalent). Please be aware if you have already specialised in Accounting and Finance or a related subject, we will consider your application instead for our MSc International Accounting and Finance programme.  
• As well as:
• Two professional references – at least one must be from an academic referee
• An official academic transcript of your university grades to date
• A completed application form