Our course gives you the tools to succeed in this dynamic and rewarding profession.
Accounting is at the core of every business which means that our BA Accounting and Finance course offers you a range of opportunities in every industry, from banking to fashion and everywhere in between. You’ll develop your advanced theoretical knowledge as well as a practical understanding of all aspects of accounting and finance. Covering key areas within financial and management accounting, taxation and business law, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the role accounting plays in successful organisations.
You’ll build your knowledge through a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars. You’ll also take part in a range of class-based discussions to further develop your skills and understanding.
We use accounting software such as Xero, Sage and OneSource in our teaching and our state-of-the-art Financial Markets Lab will give you the hands-on experience you'll need to succeed in the profession.
During your studies, you will have the opportunity to do a paid work placement, either as a year-long project or two shorter placements. Here you’ll get the chance to test and improve your technical skills in the real world, as well as building your soft employability skills such as communication and team work.
We received a CIMA Employability Global Silver Excellence award from our professional body as recognition of commitment to employability enhancing education and workshops for our students.
We aim to provide our students with all the knowledge and tools they will need to achieve their desired employment goals. Below are some of the key focus points you will cover throughout your degree.
When it comes to support, you'll be allocated with a Personal Tutor to get the guidance you need, while your Subject Liaison Librarian supports you directly in the Financial Markets Lab. You’ll also get support from our Student Learning and Graduate Academic Assistants who have personal experience in your subject.
A BA in accounting and finance from one of the best accounting courses in London is the ideal first step towards becoming a qualified accountant. It’s also a springboard for other careers like corporate finance, market research, and risk analysis, among many others. Graduates from this course have gone on to have careers with the likes of PwC, Deloitte and City Bank among others.
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Our three-year degree (four years with the work placement option) covers the key areas of Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Finance, Taxation and Business Law. You will also choose from an extensive range of modules that explore the broader business environment, and gain an understanding of the pivotal role of accounting to the success of organisations across the globe.
You will develop a set of transferable skills to support you on your career journey, such as advanced analytical thinking and problem solving. You will learn how to work effectively in teams as both a leader and collaborator and become a confident communicator both written and verbally, ensuring you can communicate effectively in a business environment. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the UK taxation regime and its practical application in professional settings.
This module is an introduction to bookkeeping and financial accounting.
Its main aim is to provide you with knowledge of the basic techniques and skills required to record transactions by the method known in accounting as “double entry” and then prepare a set of single company financial statements based on those records.
Furthermore, it aims to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to be able to interpret financial statements prepared by others, including real company financial statements.
This module provides a thorough grounding of the basic statistical methods and computer software for the analysis and presentation of accounting and economic data.
It caters for students with some prior mathematical knowledge.
While you are expected to complete mathematical calculations by hand and using a computer, the emphasis is on the interpretation and communication of quantitative results.
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of economics from a business perspective.
This includes an understanding of how competition, the behaviour of the financial markets, and government economic policy can influence an organisation as well as providing the ability to apply economic theory in both microeconomic and macroeconomic contexts.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to introduce you to the significant role accounting information plays in each fundamental business transaction process. You will learn to analyse and handle information using accounting systems and advanced IT techniques.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to equip you with the basic accounting tools that aid management with its core functions of planning, decision making and control, both in a business or a not-for-profit environment.
Key areas covered are cost classifications for decision making, product costing techniques applicable to different industries, budgeting, short term decision making using cost volume profit analysis, and long term investment appraisal.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
Applied Financial Accounting
This module aims to develop your knowledge of financial accounting techniques and practices by introducing issues which involve more than one possible accounting treatment and examining the impact of international regulatory frameworks. You are encouraged to adopt a critical attitude to the quality of corporate reporting, particularly in areas of non-mandatory narrative disclosures such as corporate social responsibility and governance.
Please note that you will either complete this module OR the Advanced Financial Accounting module depending on your results in the Financial Accounting module of Year 1.
Advanced Financial Accounting
This module enables you to extend your knowledge of the principles and techniques used in financial accounting and reporting. You will develop the ability to understand and critically analyse key techniques and practices within the framework of financial accounting and reporting. You will also develop and refine your transferable skills, including communication, presentation skills, critical analysis, time management and team-working.
This module will examine the laws regulating the conduct of business and business organisations. The first part of the module sets the context and provides essential material on English Business law (English Legal system, Contract, Tort & Employment) whilst the second part covers Company law and Corporate Governance.
Applied Management Accounting
This module examines the application of management accounting information and its influence on management behaviour and decision making. It will provide you with an opportunity to apply, interpret and analyse management accounting techniques and will enable you to consider their wider and strategic uses. The module will explore the impact on organisations of strategic issues of contemporary management accounting.
Please note that you will either complete this module OR the Advanced Management Accounting module depending on your results in the Management Accounting module of Year 1.
Advanced Management Accounting
This module aims to provide a critical understanding of the management accounting techniques and practices available today and the development of recent advances in methods of overhead cost allocation to reflect the changing nature of modern business.
This module aims to introduce students to the techniques and practices in project management.
The first part of the module is designed to examine the conceptual framework and key theories that underpin each phase of project management.
The second part of the module critically evaluates project optimisation mechanisms and explores ethical issues in project management.
You have the opportunity to manage a simulated project throughout the time of this module.
On completion, you will be able to:
This module will also enable you to:
This module explores the mathematics that underlies financial processes and decision-making and complements the study of these areas in economics and accounting.
Specific areas include probability, extending interest ideas to annuities and bonds, modelling financial data using time series models and Markov chains, applying discrete methods for option pricing, and using a utility to make decisions under challenging environments.
This module aims to broaden and expand your knowledge of the concepts and techniques required for the design, operation and control of business processes. Cases and practical exercises are relevant to a variety of commercial, manufacturing and service organisations. The module builds on the IT and quantitative skills developed in the first year.
The aim of the first part of the module is to introduce you to a variety of personal finance products and issues so as to increase their financial literacy.
The second part of the module aims to provide you with an understanding of personal financial behaviour. This includes an understanding of how market anomalies, financial bubbles, fake news and manipulations in financial markets can influence individual financial decision making as well as providing the ability to apply cognitive and emotional behaviour biases in irrational behaviour contexts.
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module examines accounting theory and its influence on accounting. The module aims to provide you with an opportunity to evaluate and apply different strands of accounting theory to research in accounting.
The module is designed to provide an in-depth exploration of philosophical debates connected to the generation of knowledge, whilst connecting such debates to those currently employed in accounting.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to provide you with a conceptual understanding of contemporary corporate finance and the practical tools and techniques for the financial decision-making process.
The module explores the main aspects of financial management, including capital budgeting and investment decision-making, capital structure and finance decision-making, and working capital management.
It will enable you to form a critical appreciation of the link between accounting and finance, and the interaction between financial decision-making and capital market behaviour.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
The aim of this module is to provide participants with the critical tools and mindset to analyse and identify responses to modern ethical business challenges.
You will be sensitised to different ways of thinking, learning from debating, and collaborating with your peers from different cultural backgrounds so as to build your methodological, analytical and communication skills.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to introduce you to UK personal and business taxation. It deals with the fundamental principles of UK tax law and practice, including the computation of tax liabilities.
This leads you to tackle more complex computational problems and to identify tax planning opportunities. You are also introduced to tax software packages, and gain ‘hands on’ experience of their use.
The module seeks to provide you with a better understanding of the ethical dimensions of tax compliance and tax planning.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module explores and applies several quantitative methods and computer software for the retrieval, analysis and presentation of project management accounting data, the emphasis being on the interpretation and communication of quantitative results for project planning, control and decision making.
This module aims to introduce you to the complexities of starting a business.
It draws together a range of theories, concepts, and notions from several sources such as Finance, Marketing, and Strategy.
The module utilises the development of a unique business plan through which you will learn, practice, and apply the necessary academic and practical knowledge and skill sets, including team working, required for the establishment of a new business, as well as an understanding of the complexities relating to the functioning of a small business.
The primary aim of the work placement module is to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a period of work experience (minimum of 30 days) from which they learn about business in general and the organisation, and the sector within, which it operates as well as the critical drivers of business success.
The work placement will provide an insight into the world of work and appropriate conduct at work. The module will therefore facilitate you in becoming and staying employable through assertiveness, continuing development and reflection on their development and the link between theory and practice.
This module aims to critically evaluate theoretical perspectives on leadership, in particular the increasing interest and demand for authentic leadership.
The module will explore the contextual complexity of and challenges to leadership effectiveness in the 21st century.
The module will also provide you with the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in order to develop your current practice.
This module aims to equip you with knowledge sufficiently in depth to critically engage with modern investment theory and practice.
It incorporates a study of portfolio theory as the basis for contextualising challenges in investment decision-making, especially those related to asset price determination, understanding risks, asset management practice, the merits of rival investment philosophies, financial market liquidity, and information disclosure.
It investigates how these challenges drive institutional, product, regulatory and technological innovation in financial markets.
This module aims to develop knowledge of the purpose and need for auditing of financial statements, to understand some of the theoretical contexts of auditing and to develop an ability to evaluate the use of modern auditing techniques in a variety of practical situations.
You will learn how to develop and apply audit strategies and learn the practical application of Auditing Standards (ISAs).
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
The module provides you with an understanding of the concepts and key issues in corporate governance and corporate accountability.
Students will also get an overview of the high profile cases of corporate failure and analyse them from a corporate governance perspective.
By extending the traditional corporate governance theoretical framework to address broader corporate social responsibility issues, you will understand the significance of corporate transparency and accountability in modern corporations.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
This module aims to provide you with appropriate tools for the analysis of financial statements, in particular for the purpose of business valuation.
In doing so, you will become familiar with how investors, lenders and corporate managers evaluate and utilise financial and non-financial information in corporate reports.
The module aims to synthesise information contained in financial statements and narrative reports to enable you to interpret company performance and gain an insight into the business.
You will thereby develop an awareness of the risks faced by companies and how these can be mitigated.
On completion of this module, you will be able to:
More information about this course
See the course specification for more information:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
All students who complete our BA Accounting and Finance degree can apply to any one of the accountancy bodies for exemptions. A graduate can then sit more professional exams upon graduation and work towards becoming a chartered accountant. Starting in a traineeship position, there are various pathways to choose from including: audit, taxation, budget analysis, financial accounting and management accounting.
We are accredited by:
We are recognised by:
The ICAEW is a world leading professional membership organisation that promotes, develops and supports over 142,000 chartered accountants worldwide. They provide qualifications and professional development, share knowledge, insight and technical expertise, and protect the quality and integrity of the accountancy and finance profession.
Middlesex University enjoys partner in learning status from the ICAEW, which allows BA Honours Accounting and Finance graduates to be granted up to six exemptions towards ICAEW professional qualifications.
The ACCA is the fastest growing, most supportive gateway to your career in accountancy, finance, business and management. The ACCA Qualification will arm you with the skills and experience to build a successful career anywhere in the world. With our strong presence in 181 countries around the world, your skills will be in demand internationally.
ACCA offers you more flexibility than other accountancy qualifications thanks to our unique option papers. This gives you a really broad, yet thorough set of skills as well as an opportunity to specialise in whichever area you wish, from audit to management accounting. You don't have to choose your specialism until later in your studies, giving you time to decide where your interests lie.
We know how important it is to be able to fit your studies around work and lifestyle and we offer you a range of study options to suit your budget and situation. We are proud of our unparalleled level of study support via wealth of online resources and dedicated 24/7 care line.
Starting your qualification whilst you're still at university will make you stand out from other candidates when looking for an internship or job. It will prove to employers that you are a self-starter with initiative and dedication to your future career.
Depending on your degree, you will most likely be eligible for exemptions from some of our exams.
To find out more about ACCA, and how you can start a successful career straight out of university, visit ACCA webpage.
The CIMA is a globally recognised professional qualification in accounting, business and finance. Students are eligible for exemptions from CIMA meaning you have will have completed part of your professional qualification as part of your degree.
We fully value not only your academic but your professional development at Middlesex. In partnership with CIMA, students will be sponsored to have CIMA Student Membership (paid for by Middlesex) whilst studying - taking our support beyond your degree into the professional world!
In addition CIMA will support your time at Middlesex with employability talks and skill sessions as well as providing internship, placement and graduate opportunities with employer partners across all industries.
CIPFA is the leading professional body for accountants working in the public sector. Transforming at an unprecedented rate, the public sector offers excellent career opportunities for innovative professionals, keen to make a difference. Middlesex BA Accounting and Finance students are granted six exemptions towards their CIPFA qualifications, meaning that they can potentially qualify in eighteen months.
AIA is recognised by the UK Government as a Recognised Qualifying Body for statutory auditors under the Companies Act 2006, across the European Union under the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications directive and as a Prescribed Body under the Companies (Auditing and Accounting) Act 2003 in the Republic of Ireland.
Middlesex BA Accounting and Finance students are granted twelve exemptions towards AIA professional qualifications.
The AAT is the UK's leading qualification and membership body for accounting staff, awarding around 90% of all vocational qualifications in accounting. Provided you undertake a placement during your course, on graduation you will be able to apply to become a full member of AAT, and start work immediately as an accounting technician.
The mission of CFA Institute is served by generating value for investment management professionals and engaging with the investment industry to advance ethics, market integrity, and professional standards of practice, which collectively contributes value to society.
An Accounting and Finance degree opens the doors to a range of careers, many with excellent progression and competitive salaries such as Trainee Accountant, Audit Trainee, Financial Risk Analyst, Finance Assistant and Credit Controller. Previous graduates have progressed into careers with a wide range of prestigious organisations including:
You can pursue accounting and finance career or you can go on to further study on courses such as MSc Investment and Finance, and MSc Banking and Finance.
Teaching interests: Financial Accounting; Managerial Finance
Research interests: Financial Reporting; Audit Quality; Corporate Governance
Kooi See Yeap has extensive accounting experience in public accounting firm prior to joining the teaching profession. She has taught in Malaysia, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam.
Teaching interests: Taxation
Toby qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989 with a firm which is now part of Baker Tilly. After spending time in audit, corporate finance and corporate recovery, Toby moved to Speciality Retail Group becoming its Finance Director between 1996 and 2003, a period of rapid expansion and success for the company. He joined Middlesex University in 2003 but continues involvement with private companies through corporate consultancy and advising social enterprises. Toby sits on the board of a social enterprise, is Treasurer of St Matthew's Westminster and was Chair of Finance at Queens Park Community School until 2018.
Teaching interests: Corporate Reporting, Financial Reporting and Accounting, Taxation
Research Interests: Corporate Reporting
Jo graduated from the University of Exeter with a BSc in Mathematics & Mathematical Statistics. She trained and qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte gaining experience of a diverse range of clients. On leaving practice she worked for Rexam plc as Group Accountant, then swapped industry for education and joined Middlesex. Currently Jo is Director of Accounting Programmes, specialising in corporate reporting.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2023, September 2023: EU/INT induction
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N390
Start: September 2023, September 2023: EU/INT induction
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, 6 years part-time
Code: N491
Start: October 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time, 4 years full-time with placement, Usually 5 years part-time
Code: N302
