BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance Management (with Industry Placement)

What you will study

At level 4 students will take several introductory topics in management & business, finance, HRM, marketing and analytics. As student’s progress onto level 5 and 6 they will gain an understanding of management accounting, digital business, taxation, managing corporate risk, strategy and auditing as well as having an option to take an industrial placement that will significantly enhance your CV and employment prospects. A dissertation is embedded in the final part of their studies to give all our students the ability to develop their research skills.

YEAR 1 (LEVEL 4)

MODULES

• Introduction to Management & Business: This module will introduce students to some of the fundamentals of business, including organisational structure and the nature of the modern business practices. It will also provide opportunities for the student to acquire a broad understanding of management by exploring the skills and characteristics of effective managers and leaders, and techniques to successfully manage a team.
• Introduction to Business Finance & Accounting: This module aims to introduce the contemporary concepts and principles of accounting and finance so as to enhance the abilities of the students, by applying relevant management accounting, financial accounting and financial management techniques, to determine the most appropriate operational financial decisions, and analyse the effects of those decisions on a firm’s performance and financial position.
• Understanding Human Resource Management: This module provides a comprehensive understanding of the role of human resource management (HRM) in organisations. The module covers the following HRM fundamentals:
  - Types of organisation prevalent in the business world
  - The importance of human resource management and the role of HR practitioners
  - HR activities in organisations
  - Impact of technology on human resource management
• Marketing Essentials: This module is about recognising the importance of marketing’s role in driving success and delivering results. Students will learn about the different functions of marketing in the 21st century and will study how an appreciation of consumer behaviour and the marketing environment can enable effective targeting and planning. By the end of this module students will have gained an awareness of the various tools available to the modern day marketer, and be capable of recognising their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to use them both creatively and effectively in an operational context including commercial and non-profit sector organization.
• Business Communication Skills: Business Communication Skills (core) The module aim is to recognize the importance of effective integrated internal and external communications in building sustainable relationships and delivering customer value. Students will also learn how to communicate effectively in a business and academic settings understanding the fundamentals of presentation skills, written communication and professional communication.
• Business Analytics: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts and principles of analytics and the ability to apply these concepts to the systematic analysis of data within the contemporary business world.

YEAR 2 (LEVEL 5)

MODULES

• Advanced Management Accounting: This module aims to develop knowledge and skills in the application of management accounting techniques for planning, decision making, performance evaluation, and control. Students will apply and critically compare the cost classification, accumulation, and allocation approaches and techniques. Further the module will enable students to evaluate the considerations and issues in cost and management accounting system design as well as identify and prepare cost information for accounting purposes. Throughout the module students will develop critical thinking and analytical skills in the management accounting context.
• Business Taxation: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts and principles of business taxation. In particular, students will have the opportunity to learn and practice current tax policies in the U.K. and in the international setting. Embedded in the module content and assessment are the competencies required to ensure students have the skills needed to work to current tax legislation and support professional development in the future.
• Managing Corporate Risk and Crime: This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the concepts and principles of the management of corporate risk and crime and the ability to apply these concepts to the business world. Risk is an inherent part of business, and as part of this module you will explore the risk management process including the identification of organisational risk, analysis of the likely effect of those risks, design and selection of control measures and the monitoring and evaluation of these measures. You will investigate risk as it relates to finances, health and safety, corporate manslaughter, workplace theft, among others. You will also consider recent/topical business scandals, and of latest and forthcoming developments in corporate governance and responsibility.
• Business Law: This module aims to develop a critical understanding of the concepts and principles of the law as it applies to business and the ability to apply them to practical business situations. Students will learn the main principles of the law of contract and tort and statutory consumer protection and assess and apply these to realistic commercial situations. The main concepts and principles of company law and the law affecting other forms of business organisations will be explained and applied to realistic business situations and critically evaluated in terms of its relevance to commercial practices.
• Sustainable Finance: Theory & Practice: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts and principles of sustainable investment. In particular, students will have the opportunity to learn and practice sustainable investing applied to real world scenarios. Embedded in the module content and assessment are the competencies required to ensure students have the skills needed to work to current sustainable investment and support professional development.
• Security Analysis & Valuation: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts of financial securities and their valuation methods. In particular, students will be brought to the forefront of current methods of valuation techniques and their application to current market scenarios. Embedded in the module content and assessment are the competencies required to ensure students have the skills needed to work to current sustainable investment and support professional development.

YEAR 3 (INDUSTRY PLACEMENT)

• Industry Placement (Core): The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the workplace, specifically related to the student’s specialism, via first-hand experience. This module allows students to undertake a sustained period, embedded with a host employer, to work on one or more defined projects or goals. The student will be expected to find and secure a suitable placement opportunity in collaboration with NWBS. The Industry Placement will typically take place during the normal academic year, over the two normal university semesters. However, where necessary, it may start earlier and finish earlier where required by industry. As such its duration should normally be in the region of 40 weeks dependent on working hours.

YEAR 4 (LEVEL 6)

MODULES

• Advanced Financial Management: This module aims to introduce the contemporary financial management concepts and principles so as to enhance the abilities of the students to determine the most appropriate operational financial decisions, and analyse the effects of those decisions on a firm’s performance and financial position. The module also aims to help students to understand the appropriateness, the advantages / shortcomings of various financial management techniques and tools and use them accordingly to maximize value.
• Audit and Assurance: This module aims to develop knowledge and understandings of the audit process and its application in the context of the professional regulatory framework. In particular, students will learn to assess the nature, purpose and scope of assurance engagements, including external and internal audits within the regulatory and ethical framework. Audit risk, control risk and their potential consequences will be identified and evaluated as will internal controls and information systems to determine an appropriate audit approach. Students will also learn to determine an appropriate Audit plan for an entity ensuring that it meets the objectives of audit engagements and the application of International Audit Standards.
• Strategic Management: This module presents a systematic approach to the study of strategic management, building upon an array of ideas and theories ranging from industrial organization theory to institutional economics. This unit outlines the fundamentals of strategic management and gives students an introduction in this important area of business management. Students will gain an awareness of the issues involved and the techniques that managers adopt. The tools and techniques will help students understand how organisations achieve sustainable competitive advantage.
• Financial Reporting & Analysis: This module aims to develop a critical and practical understanding of the concepts of financial reporting and analysing financial statements. In particular, students will be brought to understand and master current financial accounting practices employed throughout the industry. Embedded in the module content and assessment are the competencies required to ensure students have the skills needed to work to current sustainable investment and support professional development.
• Dissertation: The aim of the dissertation module is for students to demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills gained during the undergraduate programme of study in all programme routes in an independent, self-motivated, enquiring and problem-solving manner. This serves to extend, underpin and enhance learning through the identification of a business/management problem in either business, accounting & finance, HTEM, HRM, Marketing and any other business related area which requires theoretical research, structured data collection, subsequent analysis leading to conclusions and recommendations.

The information listed in this section is an overview of the academic content of the programme that will take the form of either core or option modules. Modules are designated as core or option in accordance with professional body requirements and internal academic framework review, so may be subject to change.

Entry requirements & applying

The academic requirements for the course are 96-112 UCAS tariff points at GCE A-level or equivalent, from a minimum of two A levels and GCSE Mathematics and English/Welsh (First Language) at Grade C/4 or equivalent. Appropriate AS-Level and Level 3 Key Skills qualifications will also be taken into account.

Teaching & Assessment

Students are assessed in a variety of ways over the course of their undergraduate studies. The balance between the different forms of assessment is determined by the different aims and learning outcomes of the core and option modules. Assessment methods include academic essays, presentations, reports, simulation exercises and examinations.  

Teaching and learning

Wrexham University is committed to supporting our students to maximise their academic potential.

We offer workshops and support sessions in areas such as academic writing, effective note-making and preparing for assignments. Students can book appointments with academic skills tutors dedicated to helping deal with the practicalities of university work. Our student support section has more information on the help available.

In terms of particular needs, the University’s Inclusion Services can provide appropriate guidance and support should any students require reasonable adjustments to be made because of a recognised prevailing disability, medical condition, or specific learning difference.

Career prospects

Students who study BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance Management will go on to work in fields such as, but not limited to:  

• Accounting
• Auditing
• Banking
• Wealth Management
• Financial Analyst

Graduates have gone to work at; PWC, Deloitte, Bank of America, Lloyds, and a variety of other Accounting and Finance firms.

Students who complete this degree can go on to study a Master of Business Administration (MBA) or MSc International Business and Finance Management. Students can also go on to study one of our online postgraduate degrees at the North Wales Management School.

Our Careers & Employability service is there to help you make decisions and plan the next steps towards a bright future. From finding work or further study to working out your interests, skills and aspirations, they can provide you with the expert information, advice and guidance you need.

Fees & funding

You do not have to pay your tuition fees upfront.

The fees you pay and the support available will depend on a number of different factors. Full information can be found on our fees & finance pages. You will also find information about what your fees include in the fee FAQs.

All fees are subject to any changes in government policy, view our undergraduate fees.

Programme specification

You can see the full programme specification here.

Accommodation

If you’re looking for a place to stay while you study then take a look at our accommodation pages to get more information on your options, including our on-campus halls of residence Wrexham Village.