Develop the specialist accounting skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in forensic investigation and dispute resolution on this master's course. A forensic approach to accounting is often used in the workplace and this course allows you to specialise in this field.
Through the forensic accounting modules, the course gives you specialist insight into the forensic analysis of financial accounts and methods used in dispute resolution. Your studies into electronic crime show how new media can be exploited in financial fraud and how such actions can be traced.
You also gain an understanding of the legal issues in a forensic context. Part of your study involves increasing your knowledge of the legal framework in relation to the law of evidence and studying accounting in a legal context.
The corporate governance and ethics module shows you the importance of good governance and ethics to organisations and society throughout the world, so you can apply these ideas in your future career.
Your module choice allows you to tailor your study to an area of interest.
The financial analysis module gives you the ability to understand and utilise financial and other information in connection with identifying manipulation of financial statements.
This is an academic degree and as such you will gain analytical and technical research and consultancy skills. You develop knowledge and a reflective understanding of methodological and philosophical issues in research and consultancy with specific reference to finance. As an extension to this, you will develop your ability to critically evaluate published research and develop your own research skills. It provides the key steps in developing your understanding of the nature of the postgraduate dissertation and approaches to undertaking one.
You undertake an extended piece of research, which you design and carry out under the direction of an academic tutor.
You gain transferable skills relevant to the current national and international business world, in areas including problem solving, communication and information technology.
The team delivering the course has strong links with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants(CIMA) and Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT).
Professional body membership
Your student membership fees for Association of Certified Fraud Examiners for your year of study are paid by the University allowing you to have full access to their member resources to help you complete your specialist modules.
Professional recognition
We are a member of the Anti-Fraud Education Partnership with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Core modules:
Optional modules:
Our graduates are well-equipped for a range of careers as the course develops skills that are required by a broad range of industries. We have a team of specialist recruitment advisers and run a range of careers and recruitment events.
You can find careers in any accounting related-profession, or you can specialise in detecting financial fraud through forensic investigation.
Graduates from this course are equipped for professional roles in accounting and finance, such as • accountant • finance or accounting manager • financial controller • financial analyst • financial consultant • researcher or educator.
You can also use the course to help your career development if you are in the police, legal and penal professions.
Businesses and governments rely on sound financial knowledge to underpin their strategies for success.
This popular course has been ranked among the world’s best, placed Top 60 worldwide and Top 15 in the UK (Financial Times Masters in Finance Pre-experience rankings 2017). The rankings also recognise the career progression of our graduates, placing us 2nd worldwide and 1st in the UK for salary increase after graduation. This course will kick-start your professional career, providing you with advanced knowledge of modern financial theories, accounting practices and controls, as well as an understanding of the organisational context.
You’ll cover fundamental topics such as corporate finance and financial analysis, and can specialise your knowledge with optional modules, from international business finance to forensic accounting or corporate governance. The course also allows you to apply your learning to practical case studies and simulations to test your knowledge in genuine business scenarios.
Academic Excellence
You’ll learn from academics who are experts in their field, with extensive teaching, research and consultancy experience of international standing. At the same time, you’ll collaborate with graduates from diverse international backgrounds for a challenging, rewarding and rounded learning experience.
As a student, you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Accounting and Finance; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.
You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a Masters that is relevant to the contemporary environment.
You’ll explore the essentials of corporate finance and the relationship between accounting information and organisational performance. At the same time, you’ll build advanced skills in handling quantitative data and examine how modern finance theories are applied to solve complex finance problems.
You will gain an understanding of important research methods in finance and their impact on current practice, and explore topics such as financial analysis, reporting and regulation.
Beyond these core modules, you’ll be able to specialise in areas that suit your career plans with your choice of optional modules. You’ll take at least one of Corporate Governance or Information and Organisation Design, but you could also study topics such as forensic accounting, behavioural finance or international investment.
A professional skills module runs throughout the year to help you develop the critical skills that will allow you to take your knowledge into the workplace. By the end of the year, you’ll be prepared to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.
Compulsory modules
You’ll study eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.
Optional modules
You’ll also take two optional modules. One of these must be either Information and Organisation Design or Corporate Governance.
For more information on typical modules, read Accounting and Finance MSc in the course catalogue
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops.
Thanks to our links with major companies across the business world, you can also gain a practical understanding of key issues. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about professional development activities for finance students.
You’ll be assessed using methods such as exams, project work, presentations, reports and essays. This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.
Career opportunities for graduates of this masters course are vast. You will be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of core accounting and finance principles, and the numerical and analytical skills to succeed in this rapidly changing complex environment.
Graduates have gone on to work as management accountants, management consultants, audit managers, finance managers, equity managers and credit risk officers.
We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the Masters programme. You benefit from our dedicated Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.
We’re also committed to offering a wide range of development and training events and activities. Recent activities and events have included field trips to corporate headquarters, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.
Read more about our careers and professional development support.
The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.
Earn your CPA in as a little as 20-months. The University of Miami's online Master of Professional Accounting program offers a top-ranked business program taught by the same unmatched faculty who also teach on campus. The Master of Professional Accounting program can be tailored to students' background and aspiration with a certificate option and track for those with a non-accounting undergraduate degree.
The University of Miami's online Master of Professional Accounting program is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). All online programs are also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and 23 other professional accrediting agencies.
UOnline's accounting program includes 4 options that can be tailored to your interests and aspirations. Relevant and rigorous courses prepare you for the CPA exam and / or to earn other accounting certifications such as Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). Students can take one of two paths.
For those with previous accounting experience we recommend completing the Accounting Practice Certificate and either the Master of Professional Accounting (with CPA track) or MBA with Focus Area in Accounting.
For those with no previous accounting experience we recommend completing the Accounting Practice Certificate and either theMaster of Professional Accounting, MBA with Focus Area in Accounting, or Master of Professional Accounting.
Our faculty puts the success of our students first. For example, as part of the program you will receive 1-1 consultation with your professor at the start of your program. Most faculty have 10+ years of teaching at the University of Miami as well a professional and practical experience. Prior teaching experience at MIT, Duke, the University of Michigan, the University of Rochester, and Georgetown University and prior professional experience inlcudes the American Taxation Association, Ernst & Young, Price Waterhouse, ExxonMobil, and The United States Goverment.
The course meets the growing demand for masters level professionals in finance and accounting. It is suitable if you
A distinctive feature of this course is its focus on present-day national and global developments in systems, regulations and general practices of accounting and finance. By studying updated literature, international accounting standards, worldwide events, case studies and companies’ financial accounts, you learn how real organisations operate and the accounting and financial strategies and decisions they implement.
You complete in-depth research into various industries when producing presentations, coursework, assessments and the dissertation. This real world focus provides immediate value to your present or potential employers. Helping an organisation compete more successfully through better accounting and financial management and systems can be a rewarding career, in the UK or internationally.
After successfully completing the course, you are able to
You also gain transferable intellectual and professional skills relevant to the current national and international business world, and problem solving, communication and information technology skills
The team delivering the course has strong links with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA),the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT).
ACCA fast track route
International students who are ACCA passed finalists or qualified accountants can convert their ACCA qualifications to a UK masters on our MSc Accounting and Finance – ACCA Fast Track Route.
ACCA has granted the following exemptions from their examinations to students graduating from this course
September start – typically 12 months
January start – typically 15 months but it can be completed in 12 months
Semester one - Postgraduate Certificate
Semester two - Postgraduate Diploma
Semester three - MSc
Graduates from this course are well equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for professional careers in accounting and finance such as
Demand is growing worldwide for experts who have the technical skills to measure and manage financial risk. This masters degree prepares you to meet these requirements, equipping you to respond to emerging developments in the global capital and money markets.
You’ll gain comprehensive knowledge of essential topics including the dynamics of financial markets, the causes and effects of financial risk and professional practices for measuring and managing portfolio risk. You can also choose optional modules allowing you to specialise in areas such as accounting, international banking and security investment analysis.
Learning from highly qualified teaching staff involved in world-class research in financial risk management, you’ll test your knowledge in genuine business scenarios during practical case study exercises and simulations. Thanks to our excellent links with industry and commerce, you’ll gain an understanding of the latest challenges in financial markets worldwide.
Academic excellence
As a student you will be able to access the knowledge of our advanced specialist research units, which also have strong links with leading institutions in the US, Europe and Asia. These include the Centre for Advanced Study in Finance (CASIF), the Institute of Banking and Investment (IBI) and the Credit Management Research Centre (CMRC). This research makes an important contribution to your learning on the MSc Financial Risk Management; you will benefit from a curriculum that is informed by the latest knowledge and critical thinking.
You will also benefit from our strong relationships with the finance, credit and accounting professions. This provides a connection to the latest practitioner and policy developments, giving you a masters degree that is relevant to the contemporary environment.
The course builds your understanding of essential topics such as corporate finance and applies financial theory to practical problems. You’ll study financial modelling, risk and insurance, managing portfolio risk and derivatives. You’ll also undertake professional skills training throughout the year to help you develop the critical skills to apply your knowledge into the workplace.
Beyond these core areas of study, you’ll be able to specialise in areas that suit your career plans with your choice of optional modules. You’ll take at least one of Behavioural Finance or Discrete Time Finance, and can choose from topics such as forensic accounting and finance, international banking and finance or information and organisation design.
You’ll also develop your knowledge of research methods in finance and by the end of the year, you’ll be prepared to design and carry out your own research dissertation on a related topic of your choice, developing your ability to tackle the most pressing challenges currently facing the industry.
Compulsory modules
You’ll study eight compulsory modules including your dissertation.
Optional modules
You’ll also take two optional modules. One of these must be either Behavioural Finance or Discrete Time Finance.
For more information on typical modules, read Financial Risk Management MSc in the course catalogue
We use a variety of teaching and learning methods to help you make the most of your studies. These will include lectures, seminars, workshops, online learning and tutorials. Independent study is also vital for this course allowing you to prepare for taught classes and sharpen your own research and critical skills.
In addition to the assessed modules and research dissertation, you benefit from professional training activities and employability workshops. For example, students have developed their knowledge of financial markets through a one-week trading simulation delivered in partnership with Amplify Trading. Read more about our professional skills activities for finance students.
Assessment methods emphasise not just knowledge, but essential skills development too. They include formal exams, group projects, reports, computer simulation exercises, essays and written assignments, group and individual presentations.
This diversity enables you to develop a broad range of skills as preparation for professional life.
Graduates of this course are equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue a range of career options within finance, including risk management, credit risk analysis, derivatives, insurance and finance research.
Previous graduates have gone on to work for a variety of financial institutions, investment banks, regulators and standard setters, international insurers, asset managers, underwriters and investment funds.
This degree is also an excellent qualification for individuals seeking to pursue further postgraduate research.
We help you to achieve your career ambitions by providing professional development support and training as part of the Masters programme. You benefit from the support of a Professional Development Tutor, who will work with you to develop the important professional skills that employers value.
We’re committed to offering a wide range of development and training opportunities. Recent activities have included field trips to corporate headquarters, CV building and interview sessions, professional risk management workshops and commercial awareness networking events.
Read more about our careers and professional development support.
The University of Leeds Careers Centre also provides a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate.
