Overview
UCAS Code NN34
The BSc (Hons) in Finance and Accounting for Financial Services prepares you for a finance and accounting related role in the financial services industry whilst also giving you the credentials you need to pursue a career in other sectors. Students who successfully complete the programme will be able to claim maximum exemptions against professional accounting qualifications from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
In the first year you will gain a thorough grounding in both the workings of the financial services sector and the fundamental principles of accounting and finance. This will include the development of an appreciation of economic theory and the operation of financial markets along with an introduction to how quantitative methods are used to measure financial performance and the essential concepts of risk.
The second year allows you to develop a more detailed understanding of core accounting and financial principles such as taxation, management and financial accounting and business law whilst also gaining an appreciation of the commercial environment in which financial services organisations operate.
In the third year you will explore and become familiar with the ways and means by which finance and accounting impacts the strategic management of organisations. Subjects such as financial reporting and corporate risk management are examined in detail along with the high-level principles of corporate governance. You will also be able to explore core course themes further via the final year project.
Professional bodies
The BSc (Hons) in Finance and Accounting for Financial Services programme awarded by the ifs School of Finance has been accredited for maximum exemptions by the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) - the global body for professional accountants. Graduates of the programme will be able to claim exemptions from the papers of ACCA’s Fundamentals level examinations depending on the modules taken.
Exemption accreditation by the largest, fastest growing international accounting body provides you with an accelerated route to ACCA membership on completion of your academic studies. Full details of the exemptions available from the ACCA qualification and the Foundations in Accountancy suite of awards can be found on the ACCA’s online exemption enquiry database.
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Programme structure
The BSc (Hons) in Finance and Accounting for Financial Services is studied via a series of core and compulsory modules, giving you essential understanding of the industry as a whole and the ability to tailor your learning to subjects of interest and your career aspirations.
Each module is taught through a variety of lectures and tutorials by our lecturers. Throughout the programme, senior industry practitioners will give guest lectures and seminars and provide insight on the latest developments in the industry.
First-year modules
- Financial Markets and Risk (core)
- Fundamentals of Leadership and Management (compulsory)
- Assessing Financial Performance (compulsory)
- Economics (compulsory)
- Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Finance and Investment (compulsory)
Second-year modules
- Financial Services: The Commercial Environment (core)
- Corporate and Business Law (compulsory)
- Performace Management (compulsory)
- Taxation (compulsory)
Third-year modules
- Auditing, Governance and Risk (compulsory)
- Final Year Project (compulsory)
- Financial Reporting and Analysis (compulsory)
- Financial Management (compulsory)
Assessment
Our qualifications are assessed in a variety of different ways that are appropriate to the subject and learning outcomes within the programme to assess knowledge and understanding. A range of assessment tools will be used including written and multiple-choice examinations; coursework in the form of written assessments, reports and projects, case studies and business proposals; and, in the final year, dissertation. In addition, formative assessment occurs throughout the course of study set by the individual lecturers and can take a variety of forms including written tasks, peer and small group discussion, and presentations.
Modules
Year 1
Financial Markets and Risk (30 credits)
The module provides an overview of the monetary and financial system and its functions and looks at the importance of financial institutions, markets and instruments within this system. Included within this are the processes of financial intermediation and disintermediation. Rather than focusing on categories of institutions, this unit concentrates on the reasons why individual financial institutions choose their particular business model.
Fundamentals of Leadership and Management (30 credits)
This module focuses on the principles of management in terms of the management of people, systems and self. It also identifies the importance of management skills in the strategic context, personal skills for the delivery of quality customer service, the impact of ICT and the increasing importance of ethical issues.
Assessing Financial Performance (30 credits)
This module focuses on financial performance information and performance indicators within a corporate (or business) environment. Topics such as the balanced scorecard, analysis and evaluation of financial statements, budgetary processes and operational performance targets are covered.
Economics (15 credits)
This module introduces students to the broad economic concepts within macro and micro economics including: supply and demand; allocation of resources; trade; markets; market failure; government policy; national income; unemployment; inflation; economic growth; macroeconomic models; spending and taxation; money; interest rates; and macroeconomic control of the economy.
Introduction to Quantitative Methods for Finance and Investment (15 credits)
This module provides students with an understanding of the quantitative methods for finance and investment. This includes the ability to formulate problems into quantitative models, in order to aid the successful resolution of the problem. Students will learn how to apply statistical methods to analyse past data and infer future trends. Using output from mathematical and statistical models, students will learn to analyse, interpret and derive potential outcomes from quantitative information.
Year 2
Financial Services: The Commercial Environment (30 credits)
This module is concerned with the external environment in which financial services organisations operate. The module maintains a focus on the economic environment, financial markets and institutions, competition, regulation and other ethical and social considerations that can impact on an organisation’s management and marketing strategies.
Corporate and Business Law (30 credits)
This module develops knowledge and skills in the understanding of the general legal framework and of specific legal areas relating to companies. Students will consider employment law; forms of business trading, the legal aspects of capital and financing, company administration including the functions of company bodies and roles, the options facing companies in distress (liquidation and administration) as well as corporate governance requirements in respect of money laundering and insider dealing.
Performance Management (30 credits)
This module builds on year one to cover in more detail the theoretical and practical applications of management accounting methods namely, cost management, budgetary control, financial decision-making and resource management.
Taxation (30 credits)
This module provides students with an introduction to the general principles of taxation, the objectives of tax systems, types and structures of tax. Students will learn how to compute tax liabilities and apply techniques to support tax planning. Students will also consider aspects of tax law and compliance as well as taxation of individuals, businesses and of wealth.
Year 3
Auditing, Governance and Risk (30 credits)
This module introduces students to key concepts, theories and issues in relation to corporate governance; accountability and risk assessment. Students will consider regulatory factors impacting on corporate governance, board structures, the role and relationship of accounting in corporate governance and aspects of corporate social responsibility. The module also looks at the nature and purpose of both external and internal audit, including the audit framework, regulation, the role of the auditor (professional ethics) and audit in practice.
Final Year Project (30 credits)
This module will enable students to undertake and complete a piece of independent work which involves the collection, interpretation, analysis and presentation of information and data. It will provide the opportunity to present key findings within an evaluative and balanced argument. It will enable the development of a critical approach to undertaking and using research methodology and the interpretation of the outcomes.
Financial Reporting and Analysis (30 credits)
This module provides students with the knowledge to prepare and interpret, using calculations, financial reports for external users of financial statements. The module covers fundamental financial reporting from the perspective of financial services organisations. The underpinning conceptual framework is that of ‘decision usefulness’; i.e that the primary purpose of accounting and financial reporting is that of providing useful economic related information to the stakeholders of the enterprise. The legal and regulatory frameworks within which such information is produced are reviewed, as are the strengths and limitations of published financial statements. From this basis, you will learn how to undertake full financial analyses of business and other organisations.
Financial Management (30 credits)
Students on this module will develop a critical understanding of the role and purpose of corporate financial management and the knowledge and skills required of a financial manager. Students will consider, among other things, corporate investment and financial decisions and will learn how companies source, use and manage finance. Students will learn how to evaluate alternative sources and costs of business finance, undertake investment appraisal, explain and calculate the cost of capital and apply risk management techniques in business.
Entry criteria
A tariff, normally of 270-300 UCAS points to include at least one subject qualification at A2 level or the International Baccalaureate (30 points) or equivalent; this can include up to 120 points gained from the ifs CeFS and DipFS qualifications.
Offers vary depending on the relevance of subjects studied at AS/A2 level, or equivalent.
All students are required to hold:
- GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade B (or equivalent) and
- GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 6.0 or above with no element below 5.5.
All students are required to join the ifs School of Finance as a student member when they enrol on an ifs Professional Higher Education programme.
Applicants for a full-time BSc (Hons) programme may be interviewed and will be required to submit a piece of written work (personal statement) as part of their UCAS application to enable an assessment to be made of their suitability for the programme.
If you hold the AAT Level 3 and/or Level 4 Diploma or the ACCA ‘Fundamentals’ papers F1-F6 (or part thereof), you may be eligible for entry/exemption to ifs undergraduate programmes. For further details, please contact the Student Services and Admissions Office on +44 (0) 1227 829499 or email us.
Mature applicants
We are happy to consider applications from mature students.
Mature students who do not meet the entry requirements will be required to submit a CV supported by a 500 to 600 word statement indicating why they have chosen to undertake the programme and how it will support their career plans. If invited to progress, an interview may be held and a numeracy and deductive reasoning assessment may need to be passed.
All students are required to hold:
- GCSE Mathematics at minimum grade B (or equivalent) and
- GCSE English Language at minimum grade C (or equivalent) or an IELTS score of 6.0 or above with no element below 5.5
International students
For more information, please visit our International students page or visit UCAS to apply.
Application and fees
All applications must be made through UCAS:
BSc (Hons) in Finance and Accounting for Financial Services UCAS Code NN34
For more information on how to apply, visit www.ucas.com/students/apply.
Fees
Home/EU tuition fees for 2013/14 are £6,000 per annum. International student fees are listed on the International student page.
For more information on fees and sources of funding please visit our Fees & Funding page.
Careers
Graduates of this course are likely to go on to careers in a number of areas of finance and accounting including financial and management accounting; business planning, corporate finance and risk management. The programme has been accredited for maximum exemptions against the ACCA ‘Fundamentals’ papers and as such it provides a progression route to becoming a Chartered Accountant.