You can have a head start in the process of becoming a qualified accountant, thanks to the exemptions provided by this course towards the exams of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Accountancy has long been a popular destination for graduates because of its excellent career prospects. The average starting salary for graduates with degrees in accounting and finance is above the national average. Half of the Chief Executives of Britain’s top 100 companies in 2013 had a background in accountancy or financial management background (source: Robert Half FTSE 100 CEO Tracker). The quality of teaching at Sunderland Business School has also gained wide recognition – for example in the area of Business, Management and Marketing we achieved the Best in the North East for Course Satisfaction, Satisfaction with Teaching and Satisfaction with Feedback according to The Guardian University Guide 2015. In the latest (2014) Research Excellence Framework the area of Business at Sunderland was ranked as 'world-leading' and 'internationally excellent'. Right from the start, you’ll notice Sunderland’s supportive atmosphere for your studies. There is a Getting Started programme (before you arrive), a Welcome Week where you get to know your tutors, planned one-to-one ‘programme time’ with the course leader, and support and advice from your personal tutor.

92.5% of graduates are in employment or further study within six months of graduating in 2013/14. Career destinations: Many students on this course will be considering a career as a professional accountant, whether as a financial accountant or a management accountant. A financial accountant will typically work for many different clients while a management accountant is employed by just one organisation and has a say in the running of that organisation. Placements: To further enhance employability we encourage you to undertake a 48-week placement between your second and final year. It effectively becomes a third year of a four-year course. Placements are paid, with an average salary of £14,000-£18,000 a year depending on your location. Placements are an excellent opportunity to put your learning into practice and understand the context for your new knowledge. The contacts made during placements can also be valuable for future job offers. Recent placement employers include: IBM, Procter & Gamble, BT, Nissan, Marriott Hotels, PricewaterCoopers and Adidas.