BSc (Hons)Accountancy and Finance

Core modules

Business and Corporate Law

To succeed as an accountant or financial professional, a solid understanding of corporate law is essential. This module will help you develop a professional grasp of the legal principles relevant to business and finance. You'll explore the key areas of business and corporate law, including the law of obligations, employment law, the formation and structure of business organisations, legal frameworks for company financing, corporate regulation and governance, and insolvency law.

Business Systems, Functions and Data

This module introduces you to the fundamental building blocks of modern business organisations, equipping you with the knowledge and analytical foundations needed for you studies in accounting, finance, and forensic accounting. You'll explore how businesses are structured, how their core functions operate, and, critically, how data and information systems underpin effective organisational decision-making. Practical work with digital tools such as spreadsheets and databases will provide a grounding in how data is captured and used in real business settings.

Financial Accounting

This module provides you with essential foundational knowledge and practical skills in financial accounting theory and practice. You'll be introduced to fundamental concepts and techniques for recording, processing, and reporting business transactions to external stakeholders, developing critical competencies in double-entry bookkeeping, ledger management, trial balance preparation, and financial statement construction.

Management Accounting

This module introduces you to the role of management accounting in supporting planning, control, and performance evaluation within organisations. It lays the foundation for key techniques such as costing, budgeting, and variance analysis - essential tools that help managers make informed operational decisions.

Core modules

Financial Reporting

This module provides you with a structured understanding of financial reporting principles and practices, focusing on the preparation, presentation, and interpretation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). You'll explore the conceptual framework of accounting, the regulatory environment, and the role of financial reporting in supporting transparency, accountability, and decision-making. You'll also explore the evolving role of technology - including AI - in automating reporting processes, enhancing data accuracy, and supporting real-time financial analysis.

Taxation

Taxation is a cornerstone of financial decision-making and compliance in both practice and industry. In this module you'll be introduced to the fundamental principles of the UK tax system, equipping you with the knowledge and skills to compute taxes, navigate regulations, and advise on compliance. By exploring real-world tax scenarios and regulatory frameworks, you'll understand how taxes impact individuals and businesses, fostering the ability to apply ethical and practical solutions in professional contexts.

Performance Management and Data Analytics

This module will develop your understanding of how performance management frameworks integrate with modern data analytics techniques to support strategic decision-making in organisations. You'll gain the ability to critically evaluate traditional and contemporary performance measurement systems, including the Balanced Scorecard, KPIs, and benchmarking, while simultaneously building practical competence in data analytics tools and techniques relevant to management accounting. The module bridges the gap between theoretical performance management concepts and their real-world application through data-driven insights, preparing students to analyse, visualise, and interpret organisational performance data.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation

In this module you'll delve into the specialised field of forensic accounting, gaining the theoretical knowledge and practical skill sets required to identify, investigate, and prevent financial malpractice. You'll develop a critical understanding of the multi-faceted nature of economic crime, ranging from individual behavioural drivers, to sophisticated corporate and digital schemes. You'll evaluate the intersection of accounting, law, and investigative psychology, fostering the analytical rigor necessary to serve as an expert adviser in legal and regulatory contexts.

Financial Technology and Innovation

In this module you'll gain a comprehensive foundation in the digital transformation of financial services, enabling syou to critically evaluate the interplay between traditional financial frameworks and emerging technological innovations. You'll be able to analyse and understand the structural shifts in global financial markets and the evolving roles of various financial intermediaries. You'll also explore the broader implications of financial innovation on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and systemic stability, ensuring you can navigate the ethical and strategic challenges of the modern financial landscape.

Core modules

Finance and Investment

This module will provide you with a thorough understanding of corporate finance principles, funding strategies, and investment decision-making processes. It will prepare you to critically engage with the financial challenges faced by businesses in raising capital and managing financial resources effectively and will equip you with the conceptual insight and applied analytical skills needed to interpret financial information, assess financial choices and contribute to effective financial decision‑making in organisations.

Audit and Assurance

This module will equip you with the professional tools and ethical foundation to plan, perform, and report on audits with integrity and sound judgement. You'll engage with real-world case studies and apply core auditing principles - such as risk assessment, evidence gathering, and professional scepticism - aligned with industry standards. A key feature of this module is the integration of AI as a transformative tool in modern auditing. By bridging theory with industry practice, this module prepares you for graduate employment or further professional qualification. You’ll develop the confidence to navigate complex audit environments and contribute meaningfully to the evolving landscape of financial assurance.

Corporate Governance and Sustainability

This module equips you with the critical frameworks and analytical tools needed to evaluate how organisations govern themselves and discharge their responsibilities towards people, planet, and profit. Drawing on established and emerging corporate governance frameworks, including the UK Corporate Governance Code, international standards, and voluntary reporting regimes, you will develop a sophisticated understanding of how governance structures shape organisational behaviour and long-term value creation. You'll also examine the roles and responsibilities of boards, audit committees, and other governance bodies, as well as the incentive structures and accountability mechanisms that underpin effective corporate oversight.

Optional modules

Please note: Not all optional modules are guaranteed to run each year.

AI Innovation Lab

You will be guided to gain practical experience of AI tools and to develop innovative solutions through AI tools, emphasizing problem-solving, creativity, and ethics. Prepare for future-focused careers by mastering AI integration across industries, fostering technical expertise, and strategic thinking in real-world contexts.

Financial Risk Management

This module is essential if you want to work in financial risk management, treasury, banking regulation, risk advisory, or roles within asset management and insurance. It gives you practical, career-focused insight into how financial institutions identify, measure, and manage the full spectrum of financial risks they face in today's complex markets. You will learn the tools, techniques, and strategic thinking used by risk professionals in real-world financial institutions - skills that are highly valued by employers across banking, asset management, insurance, and regulatory bodies.

Real World Skills in Action: Mastery Unleashed

This module enhances management and leadership skills, supports professional growth, and provides valuable work experience. By utilising your part-time job, you can balance work and study effectively, adding real value to your CV.