Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics
The Department of Accounting, Finance and Economics focuses on providing an excellent, all-round academic experience for students with an international perspective, with our graduates being highly sought after in both accounting and economics disciplines.
The Accountants in Mentoring scheme (AiM) is designed to help final year UG students make a successful transition between university and full-time employment.
Teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level is undertaken by our international team of staff who are active researchers and/or who have a professional background. This means you learn about current issues as well as gaining a sound theoretic grounding. Our staff maintain close links with relevant professional bodies, leading practitioners and employers and our courses can offer exemptions from professional exams. Students are encouraged to undertake a placement year and are provided with support in securing one.
The main focus of research within the department is on how accountability is achieved, explored from both theoretical and practical perspectives and encompassing a range of disciplinary and methodological approaches. Research is currently conducted into corporate governance, external reporting and internal control structures and processes in a range of organisations, including large UK PLCs, local and central government and charities. In the information management area, areas of expertise focus on Information Systems in Small and Medium Enterprises and teleworking.
Professor Spira through her role as Research Relationships Adviser to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales is bridging the gap between practitioners and academics. Professor Scott MacDonald has research interest in the impact of climate change on economic well-being with an emphasis on the impacts of climate change on Africa.
The department has established a Third Sector Study Group and is currently developing research into the governance of Third Sector organisations, particularly charities, building on the ACES project established by the Accounting Fields, in which student volunteers are trained by a local accountancy firm to assist local charities with basic accounting.
Our undergraduate accounting programme offers exemptions from Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales (ICAEW) and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
