Accounting and Finance BA (Hons)

This module introduces you to the core principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, focusing on understanding how these concepts can be applied in real world scenarios. You will build practical skills, learning to apply theory to address practical challenges faced by businesses. By studying this module, you will develop an understanding of how individual decisions and developments in economic environment may influence business strategies.

This module provides an introduction to ideas that are essential for your understanding of both financial and management accounting. We go beyond theory, equipping you with authentic workplace skills and a deeper understanding of your own strengths and abilities. The topics we will explore include:

• Differences between financial accounting and management accounting
• Preparing simple financial statements (such as statements of profit or loss, statements of financial position, and cash flow statement)
• Elements of financial statements, including assets, capital, liabilities, revenue and expenses
• Planning and budgeting

This module will introduce you to some of the contexts in which accounting operates. We will contextualise the accountant’s role in organisations, working and communicating with other organisational functions to provide useful information. By the end of the module you will be able to:

• Explain the role of accountants in various organisations
• Analyse organisational information within the context of the operating environment
• Recognise and assess your current skills to plan for your own professional development

This module focuses on recording, processing, and reporting business transactions and events. You will also learn to identify and correct errors, and consider the production of financial statements for incorporated entities. We will cover:

The regulatory framework

• Double-entry book-keeping principles including the maintenance of accounting records and sources of accounting information
• Understanding and applying accruals, prepayments, valuing closing stock, depreciation, bad debts, and provision for bad debts
• Preparing and correcting a trial balance
• Preparing Statements of financial position and statements of profit or loss
• Basic ratio analysis of financial statements

Modern businesses generate data at unprecedented scales, and data has become the lifeblood of businesses. This module introduces you to the essential characteristics of data, and the skills you need to use them effectively for business decision-making. We will teach you about the mathematical and statistical methods that are frequently applied in business, finance and economics.The module emphasises the practical application of mathematical and statistical tools to solve real business problems and generate actionable insights.This will include learning to use statistical software to perform data analysis. 

On this module you will learn about cost concepts and methods of basic cost accumulation in a variety of business settings. We will explore the principles of financial control, including standard costing and budgeting. You will also learn to use basic analytical techniques involved in the provision of accounting information for short and long-term decision making, and address some of the ethical and social considerations which need to be taken into account.

This module will further develop your managerial accounting techniques, in particular those relating to planning, control and decision making at an operational and tactical level. You will also investigate the impact of financial control and decision making on human behaviour. This will help you to develop your understanding of management accounting techniques, while also considering the financial, behavioural and environmental consequences of these actions.

A knowledge of the principles of business law is essential for anyone who aspires to manage and direct a business. This module will introduce you to the basic framework of English law, developing your knowledge and skills in the areas of contract law, agency law and Tort (a wrongful act or an infringement of a right leading to legal liability). You will also learn about laws relating to the formation and running of partnerships and companies. 

This module will deepen your understanding of investment decisions by situating them within a broader business context. We will focus on the sources and costs of both internal and external finance. On this module you will:

• Learn to analyse capital budgeting decisions, particularly in the context of risk
• Compare and contrast various theories of capital structure
• Understand how different capital structures can impact a company's cost of capital.
• Critically evaluate theories of stakeholder value, learning these theories influence business strategies and decisions

On this module you will develop your understanding of auditing procedures, as well as investigating contemporary issues in auditing. Whether you aspire to a career as a professional accountant in professional practice, industry or commerce, a sound understanding of the principles underlying auditing is essential. This knowledge will enhance your wider awareness of issues such as ethical conduct, quality assurance and practice development. 

On this module you will gain an understanding of taxation policies and principles, together with a detailed knowledge of income taxation. You will investigate the fiscal policies and principles of income taxation, and will learn how to understand and evaluate the mechanisms for calculating personal tax liabilities. You will also develop skills in tax planning and computation, and appreciate the importance of accuracy and integrity in a professional environment.

This module will further develop your understanding of the principles of financial accounting, referencing the key International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Accounting Standards. You will review the conceptual and regulatory frameworks for financial reporting, and explore how these inform the standard setting process. We will focus on the reporting of financial information for single companies, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and relevant IFRS Accounting Standards. You will also learn abut the analysis and interpretation of financial information provided by companies. 

In today’s data-driven business landscape, the ability to analyse, interpret, and communicate insights effectively is a critical skill. Organisations rely on Business Intelligence (BI) tools and data visualisation techniques to transform raw data into meaningful narratives that drive decision-making. This module will give you the practical skills d to harness the power of BI, using tools such as Power BI to create dynamic, interactive dashboards and reports. By integrating visualisation principles with data storytelling techniques, you will learn how to present complex data in a clear and compelling way.

Understanding research and conducting it is a life skill, as well as being valuable to the functioning of organisations. This module will give you the foundational skills to evaluate, design and conduct research. You will learn to:

• Formulate and scrutinise research questions
• Design and propose research methodology
• Collect qualitative and quantitative data
• Analyse data, reach conclusions using it, and report it

These skills will be transferable in all fields of business, including finance, marketing, economics, tourism and events. You will also learn IT skills for survey design and statistical data analysis. For this module’s assessments you will learn to create video presentations, to work conduct and report research collaboratively, and to propose an original piece of research.

This module builds upon your knowledge of financial management gained from the Corporate Finance module in Year 2. You will learn to critically examine the theory of business finance and its contribution to decision making. The valuation of a business or share is a crucial skill in financial management and we will introduce you to different techniques in the context of financial management. This includes the role of dividends and share buybacks.

On this module you will examine advanced issues in management accounting. You will learn about the accountant’s role in providing information for strategic planning and decision making, control and performance management. You will consider recent developments on cost management and the integration of cost accounting with modern manufacturing techniques. You will also investigate the connection between management accounting and strategic management.

On this module you will continue your exploration of accounting standards. You will learn how to produce consolidated financial statements for a group of companies, including an associate. You will also critically evaluate current developments and debates related to financial reporting.

As companies become increasingly complex, they become more difficult to manage, direct and hold to account. Meanwhile the environment they operate in is also becoming more complex, due to pressures of sustainability and ethical behaviour. On this module you will consider how modern companies are operated and directed in this fast changing world, within the framework of the FRC UK Corporate Governance Code, taking in to account their responsibilities for Ethical behaviour and sustainability. York Business School are committed to integrating Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRME). This module is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. 

On this module you will develop a substantial piece of specialist work, with the support of a designated research investigation tutor. This could be in the form of either:

• A traditional Dissertation
• A Business Creation Feasibility Project

You will develop research objectives, formulate appropriate methodologies, and apply problem solving and analytical skills in a business context of your choice. You will also need to collect, analyse, interpret, and evaluate the data generated by your research. At the end of the module, you will have the opportunity to showcase your research at the York Business School Undergraduate Research Symposium.

This module will further develop knowledge and understanding of auditing. You will learn about main technical language and practices of auditing, as well as learning to to review and test transactions and other financial events to arrive at an audit opinion. You will explore:

• The theory underlying the audit process including independence, competence, evidence, materiality, risk, and scepticism and audit quality
• Legal and regulatory frameworks in auditing
• Audit planning and audit evidence
• The audit review, finalisation and the audit report

On this module you will learn about taxation policies and principles, including a detailed investigation of corporate tax, vat, capital gains tax and inheritance tax computations. Whether you aspire to a career as a professional accountant in professional practice, in industry, or to a more general role in management, a sound understanding of the principles underlying personal and business taxation is essential. 

Globalisation has been a defining feature of how the planet has been re-shaped in economic, technological, social and cultural terms throughout the twentieth century, but it is increasingly being questioned. Issues such as uneven development, inequality, climate change, national-populism, and insecure employment have all challenged dominant thought on globalisation. On this module you will explore how globalisation is being revisited and rethought, engaging with arguments related to social justice in a contested global environment. We consider a broad range of perspectives, not just the traditional voices from the Euro-West that have typically been used to interpret the global environment. The module is informed by the Principles for Responsible Management Education (PRiME).

The requirement for effective strategic management is increasing due to the highly complex environments in which most private and public sector organisations currently exist. The study of organisational strategy includes theory and practice from a broad range of business sectors. You will investigate concepts introduced in earlier modules and you will develop your critical understanding of these topics and their relationships.