Professional Accountancy Project module (BU52053)

This Professional Accountancy Project is a core component of the MSc Accountancy programme.

The project involves an extended literature review, on an issue affecting professional accountancy policy or practice, which may include relevant academic literature, professional accountancy pronouncements, professional publications, the financial press and other relevant sources.

You will be expected to work intensively and independently on a literature based project, meeting deadlines and producing a coherent final report which is fit for professional publication. The project will also allow you to demonstrate your ability to plan, organise, research and present your findings in writing.

What You Will Learn

By completing this module you will gain a deep understanding of your selected accountancy topic.

In this module, you will:

• apply theory to real-world problems faced by accountants, policy-makers, financial institutions and/ or investors and understand the difficulties involved in applying academic theories to real-world accounting & finance
• manage your time effectively, meet deadlines, and communicate orally and in writing in a clear and concise manner
• listen actively in meetings with supervisors and incorporate relevant information and develop balanced arguments
• demonstrate the generic skills to produce a coherent written report that is fit for a professional audience

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

• design a literature-based project and discriminate between material that is central to your selected topic and that which is auxiliary
• read and understand articles in leading accounting and/ or finance journals, and publications from professional and standard setting bodies
• critically evaluate research, current issues or developments in accounting & finance, while synthesising information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding of the theory and practice of accounting & finance

Assignments / assessment

Project report due at the end of Semester 2 (100%)

• 6,000 words

Teaching methods / timetable

You will have two-hour long introductory lectures, followed by a number supervisory meetings during the semester.