Finance and Investment (Point of Entry 2)

Almost all listed companies in the European Union and the United Kingdom have to prepare financial statements that comply with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs). With a thorough understanding of how financial statements are prepared under IFRSs, managers of mid-sized companies will have the skills needed to identify trends and potential threats, and actively track their financial performance in real-time.

In this module you’ll develop the knowledge and skills to understand and apply IFRSs. You’ll also learn the theoretical framework for preparing and analysing financial statements. Learning how to apply IFRSs will give you the necessary skills to become a successful accounting and finance professional.

How do financial markets work? Who are the major players? How do central banks’ monetary policies affect financial markets?

You’ll develop a broad understanding of the financial system and how the market works within it. You’ll also examine the roles of financial intermediaries and various financial instruments, and explore how these are connected with the wider economy.

By the end of this module, you’ll have the knowledge and skills to be able to analyse current developments in financial markets and the wider economy, a crucial skill for a successful career in finance.

Corporate finance is concerned with the way companies can efficiently manage financial resources. Managers are concerned about provision of resources (capital funding decisions) and allocation of scarce resources (investment decisions). What factors do they consider when deciding how to fund their operations and where to invest?

In this module, you’ll examine the underlying financial economic theories and concepts that help managers to run sustainable businesses. You’ll develop analytical and problem-solving skills to advise managers on investment opportunities, capital structure decisions, dividend policies, and merger and acquisitions activities.

The world of fixed-income markets is becoming increasingly complex. Debt instruments have various payoff structures and fixed-income derivatives products are becoming extremely important in managing multiple financial risks. We'll explore a range of fixed-income securities, and explore in great detail their characteristics, as well as the main players and their roles in the debt markets.

You'll learn various analytical techniques to price these instruments, to construct a range of important yield curves used in the valuation of financial assets. You’ll sharpen your quantitative skills, which will considerably increase your employability within various financial sectors. These include investment banks, pension funds and any other financial institution that deals with the pricing of old and new financial instruments.

Data-driven analysis is at the heart of the financial industry. In this financial econometrics module, you’ll develop a robust grasp of the fundamental econometric tools commonly used in empirical finance. You’ll explore these tools for modelling, analysing, and forecasting financial data and examine the practical applications of industry-standard software such as E-views.

You’ll also develop the critical ability to evaluate the application of econometrics within the empirical finance literature. By the time you complete the module, you’ll be empowered to contribute meaningfully to data-driven decision-making in the financial sector- which is a vital first step towards an exciting and successful career.

Effectively assessing and managing risk is essential for corporate survival and growth. The risk management module provides a comprehensive overview of effective oversight and value generation principles, focusing on financial risk dynamics.

You’ll rigorously examine advancements in risk governance, regulatory frameworks, and industry risk management practices, focusing on in-depth evaluations of financial risk. You’ll gain a detailed understanding of financial risk types through real-world examples and emerge with specialised insights into managing these financial risks in a professional context.

The module empowers you to explain complex risk management concepts, think critically in uncertain situations, and systematically approach risk-related problems.

In an ever-changing financial world offering a wide variety of investment opportunities, investors and portfolio managers face the challenging task of identifying securities and allocating assets optimally to earn risk-adjusted returns. This module addresses these issues by covering various contemporary asset pricing and security valuation models, as well as modern portfolio construction techniques.

You’ll build on your knowledge of market and industry analysis and use real-world securities market data to construct optimal portfolios. You’ll also use a range of methods to evaluate their performance.

This module will present you with the opportunity to explore current issues in financial markets including responsible, ethical, and sustainable investing. It will prepare you for a variety of roles in the investment industry such as financial analysis, investment advice, and portfolio management.

At the crossroads of technology and finance, a new language of success is being written in code. By learning how to program with Python, you are not just learning the syntax of a powerful programming language, you are unlocking the potential to innovate in the world of finance. You’ll learn to implement forecasting techniques on market trends, construct robust investment portfolios, and simulate economic scenarios with the precision and logic that only Python can provide. 

This module is designed for the bold, the curious, and future finance leaders who are ready to embrace the digital revolution. The module is not just about grasping theories. It is about applying knowledge to real-world challenges. 

The module equips you with the skills to drive financial dialogue. It will enable you to redefine the boundaries of finance, with Python as your tool and innovation as your goal. Do not just calculate the future. Code it.

What are derivatives markets and how do they work? We will delve into the intricacies of these fascinating securities and markets, equipping you with the knowledge and skills required to make sound financial decisions.

You will learn about primary derivative securities and how they are used for hedging, arbitrage, and investment purposes. You’ll use market data from diverse underlying financial and physical assets such as stocks, currencies, bonds, and commodities in pricing, trading, and valuing derivatives. By the time you complete this module, you’ll be equipped with the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to launch careers in investment, treasuries, and risk management.

More businesses are incorporating sustainability as a core corporate strategy. Sustainability issues are becoming increasingly important to customers and investors. Navigate through ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) regulation and industry initiatives which are designed to improve transparency and accountability, encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and protect investors from greenwashing. You will gain analytical skills that will help you integrate sustainability into financial decisions taken by both corporate managers and professional investors.

For centuries taxation has been an important fact of national life. Without tax it would be impossible to pay for the country's defence services, its health, welfare and social services, it schools and universitites and its transport systems. In addition , taxaion is a means for government to influence our everyday activites. In this module you will be introduced to how the taxation system operates in the UK, providing a core knowledge of the underlying principles and major technical areas of taxation as they impact the activities of individuals and businesses. Through case studies, practical examples and discussions, you will gain a core understanding of the various UK taxes. We will explore the areas of tax compliance, reporiting obligations and develop effective tax planning strategies. In this module, you will gain a deeper appreciation of how taxation impacts on every area of our personal and business lives.

Gain the knowledge and skills required for meeting the strategic needs of businesses in the digital age. You will develop competences in the application of management accounting techniques to complex organisational problems, learn how to analyse data, solve problems related to cost, pricing, variances and performance management and convey your solutions in a succinct and impressionable manner for the purpose of planning, controlling, evaluation and decision-making.

Apply your learning, experience, skills and curiosity to varied contemporary accounting and finance issues. Under the guidance of academics, alumni and businesses, you'll be given the autonomy to select, investigate, report on and defend a contemporary accounting and finance problem or topic leading to the development of a business case or dissertation.

Auditing of companies' financial accounts help increase transparency as it assures stakeholders and potential investors that companies' accounts are reliable, unbiased, and faithful representations of companies' financial performance. You'll gain a thorough understanding of a range of auditing topics together with an appreciation of the regulatory and social environment within which auditing process takes place. Through real-life case studies, you will gain technical knowledge and critical thinking skills that will help you undertake efficient auditing processes and provide assurances to all interested stakeholders.

Gain a comprehensive understanding of the rapidly evolving financial technology landscape. You'll delve into the core concepts and emerging trends in the fintech industry, equipping you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate this dynamic field. You'll explore contemporary market developments, evaluate challenges and opportunities and immerse students in the innovative world of fintech. Topics may include but are not limited to: decentralized finance, disruptors in the industry, blockchain, cryptocurrencies and cybersecurity. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of fintech, making them the prime candidates for roles in financial innovation-driven companies.

Banks are both the backbone of a healthy economy and a potential source of instability. We'll explore the essential role banks play in the global financial system, understand the diverse risks that banks encounter, analyse methods for measuring bank performance and explore bank regulation in an international context. By studying recent financial crises, students will also be able to assess the link between the banking sector and the real economy. We'll also look at to how contemporary banking trends, such as sustainability initiatives and new financial technologies, shape the banking sector's future, equipping you with the essential theoretical and practical knowledge to engage professionally with the banking sector.