Accounting and Finance

Why study Accounting and Finance at Aberystwyth?

• The Accounting and Finance degree will prepare you for a career in professional accountancy or financial services, by focusing primarily on financial accounting and management accounting, with taxation, business law and business ethics dovetailed throughout the programme.
• Our research-active staff will help you develop a broad understanding of the operational context, and the impact of financial measurement and disclosure on cash-flow, internal policy, and financial systems. This will enhance your understanding of how financial data may be used to inform and influence managers, investors and decision makers; and how the presentation of financial information can impact the longevity (and profitability/sustainability) of a company or public sector organisation.

Opportunities for Accounting and Finance students at Aberystwyth include:

• studying a degree accredited by the world’s leading accountancy bodies
• being taught and mentored by professionally qualified and practising
• accountants with a wealth of industry and academic experience
• introduction to legal issues relevant to the business environment
• professional exemptions from the main UK professional accounting
• bodies exams, which include:
• ACCA
• CIMA
• ICAEW
• CIPFA
• CII
• ICAS.
• You will be taught and mentored by qualified and recognised accountants who have a wealth of industry and academic experience.

Our Staff

Students at the Aberystwyth Business School are taught by lecturers and other teaching staff who are active researchers and expert practitioners in their chosen subject area.

Over 75% of full time members of teaching staff are qualified to PhD level. Most are currently research active, meaning that students benefit from being taught ‘new’ knowledge in their chosen field of study as well as recognized literature. The School also employs part-time and full time staff devoted purely to teaching. Many part-time staff combine teaching duties with consultancy and business activities, ensuring that students have access not only to up to date research but the latest applied knowledge.

Accountancy firms, investment banks and financial institutions offer a range of career opportunities to suit all interests including traditional auditing and assurance work, management consulting, corporate finance, IT

consulting, tax planning and insolvency. We have established links with the major Accounting and Finance employers. As well as placing our students in traditional accounting firms including Deloitte, PwC, E&Y,

KPMG, our recent graduates have secured employment with other wellknown organisations such as Barclays, the BBC, Lidl and the NHS.

Graduate Destinations

• Chartered Accountant
• Chartered Certified Accountant
• Chartered Management Accountant
• Chartered Public Finance Accountant
• Accountant Technician.

Some of our graduates have also explored other pathways:

• Tax Advisor
• Auditor
• Investment Analyst
• Financial Trader
• Retail Banker
• Economist
• Actuary.  

Careers and Employability

From the moment you arrive at the Aberystwyth Business School we will work with you to build on your skills and experience to enhance your career prospects. During your time with us you will have the opportunity to:

• Undertake a work placement or internship through the AberForward scheme, which is a paid internship;
• Work and network with employers from a range of national and international companies through our visiting speaker programme;
• Experience and learn with one of our partner Universities through our Erasmus + or International Exchange Programme. 

What work experience opportunities exist whilst studying? 

Discover more about the various employment opportunities that our Aberystwyth University Careers team offer.

Enhance your employability prospects with GO Wales and YES (Year in Employment Scheme) managed by our Careers department. 

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

In your first year you will discover:

• The three key areas of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting and Financial Management
• Quantitative techniques and the use of specialist statistical software.

In your second year you will explore:

• Investment analysis
• Portfolio selection and risk management
• The specific rules and practices of accounting in fields such as audit and taxation
• Corporate governance
• Financial and management accounting
• Business Law.

In your final year you will study:

• Trends in management accounting
• Financial accounting and corporate finance
• Options to focus on auditing, taxation or financial statement analysis.

How will I be taught?

Our course is taught through the medium of lectures, small-group seminars and tutorials. All our modules are available online after the lecture or seminar for you to watch in the comfort of your own room.

You will be assessed through:

• Examinations
• Assessed essays
• Reports
• Projects
• Presentations
• Coursework.

You will be assigned a personal tutor throughout your degree course, who will help you with any problems or queries, whether these are academic-related or personal issues. You should feel free to contact them at any time for help and advice.

I love how enthusiastic our lecturers are. They are all willing to help out and they understand that some of us actually don't want to be accountants, and are willing to just help us get good grades in our exams. They are also REALLY approachable! Rowan Kemeys

It provides a vast array of knowledge applicable to business as well as world markets. I find it challenging, but incredibly rewarding at the same time. The tutors are very approachable and always there to talk to and are ready to help whenever you need some guidance. All the careers advice that I have received so far has really helped me to shape the direction that I would ideally like to take in the future. Harry James Geyton

N400 Accounting and Finance degree has given me a broad understanding of business and allowed me to build on my knowledge of industry and the economy as a whole. I love studying accounting because it gives me a totally different perspective on the world of business. Accounting is so much more than most people think it is; it's not just people sitting around doing book-keeping. It has allowed me to break down companies and given me a much better understanding of their intricacies as well as their potential. Emma Louise Taberner