Accounting involves the recording, reporting and communication of financial information about a business to help managers, investors and other stakeholders make appropriate decisions. Finance is the process where investment, financing and dividend decisions are made to achieve the key strategic objective of maximising the wealth of a company's shareholders. On this course, you explore both accounting and finance and the links between them together with other relevant business modules. There is a strong focus on employability throughout the course to prepare you for your future career. As well as developing technical accounting and finance skills, you enhance vital numerical, decision-making and communication skills to understand and explain financial information. You learn using case studies that enable you to apply your learning to real-world situations. In your first year you learn the main principles of accounting and finance. We familiarise you with the business environment that companies work in through the use of business games, including those developed by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW). We also provide you with opportunities to develop vital IT and numerical skills. The second year deepens your understanding of the role and scope of accounting and finance, while allowing you to study other related areas. You have the opportunity to specialise in areas including law and operations to reflect your career aims and objectives, and to maximise your professional accountancy body exemptions. In your final year you broaden your accounting and finance knowledge, but also develop the skills to interpret and communicate financial information.

Typical jobs include • management accountant • financial accountant • financial manager • financial risk manager • business manager • audit manager • tax specialist. Past graduates have found employment with a wide range of organisations including • Asda • BAE Systems • Barber Harrison Platt • BOC • DLA Piper • KPMG • Mazars • National Health Service • Network Rail • Phillips 66 • PwC • Siemens • Virgin Media • Vodafone • Warner Music Group. We have a team of specialist recruitment advisers and run a range of accounting and finance specific careers and recruitment events. Our graduates are well-equipped for a range of careers. We have an excellent employment record with 88% of accounting graduates securing jobs or going onto further study within six months of graduation (unistats.directgov.co.uk). You graduate with exemptions from key professional accountancy bodies. This enables you to progress to the higher level of these professional qualifications and gain professional recognition more quickly.