Accounting and Finance
Full-time
With placement
Three year
Four year
September 2025
In a nutshell
This course is also available with a professional placement year option.
To apply for this programme with industry placement or study abroad year, please search 'Accounting and Finance with Professional Placement Year' on UCAS or speak to our enquiries team.
If you’ve a head for numbers and are looking for a rewarding career, an Accounting and Finance degree could be your way forward. At Salford Business School, we’ll help you develop the essential skills and knowledge for a high-level career in accountancy, finance, banking, insurance or general management positions.
- Gain a solid business education so you understand how accounting and finance fits in the wider context
- Understand the changes that technology is bringing to the sector and develop your skills with accounting-specific software applications
- Gain real-world experiences and become a high-calibre candidate for your dream position with extracurricular training and placement opportunities.
Become industry ready
Our teaching is practical and career-focused, with input from our industry partners, so you'll build the expertise that employers look for. You'll develop skills in financial analysis, budgeting, risk management and much more. You’ll look at accounting and finance within the wider context of business and management, and we’ll work with you to develop your soft skills, such as teamwork, communication and problem-solving.
You’ll look ahead to the technologies that will affect the work of accountants in the future and gain the essential digitals skills that will help you go further in the industry, such as:
- Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365
- Xero Accounting Software
- Body swap technology
Our Accounting and Finance undergraduate programme is accredited by major industry bodies including the ACCA, CIMA, CIPFA and ICAEW, so you know that what you learn is aligned with industry standards. If you choose to study accredited modules, you can benefit from exemptions from a number of professional body examinations.
Your journey starts here
Ready to take the next step? Discover more by attending an Open Day, or speak to our dedicated course enquiries team for further information.
options available
students accepted
Course accreditations
This is for you if...
You are eager to develop sought-after skills through work placements, study abroad schemes and real-world learning
You love numbers, enjoy problem-solving and want to learn the practical applications and theories of accounting
You are looking for a practical industry-informed degree accredited by leading financial industry professional bodies
All about the course
The modules delivered on the Accounting and Finance programme are designed around the current needs of employers and accounting professional bodies. On successful completion of this course, you can gain exemptions from some professional exams, helping you to leap ahead in your journey to becoming a finance professional.
Our programme offers two distinct pathways:
- The Professional Accounting pathway maximises exemptions from accounting body exams for a career in accounting with recognised qualifications
- The General pathway offers broader knowledge and skills in finance and professional services, allowing flexibility for exploration, higher study or employment in diverse roles within finance and professional services.
In your first year, you will build the foundation of financial knowledge that will be developed upon throughout the remainder of the course. You will develop other skills that are useful in the fast-paced world of finance and beyond. The second year is all about exploring more specialised theories and learning skills that will be transferable across multiple business functions. By your final year, you will develop the skills needed for responsible and ethical leadership and understand how to think strategically.
Enhance your experience
Studying Accounting and Finance programme at Salford Business School offers numerous opportunities to gain additional practical experience and practice your skills in a real-world setting.
With the opportunity for all students to complete a paid work placement or study abroad between their second and third years, you will enter the world of work with an in-depth knowledge of the industry and of key business concepts.
Discover our extracurricular and out-of-classroom opportunities to see how you can take your studies further.
New
Fundamentals of Financial Accounting
This module aims to provide you with a solid foundation in basic bookkeeping, accounting techniques, and the preparation and evaluation of financial statements. You will be introduced to the fundamental principles and concepts of financial accounting and will be supported to develop your skills and knowledge in the basic approaches to the preparation and analysis of financial accounts.
New
Contemporary Practices in Accounting and Finance
This module explores the wide range of accounting and finance professions and the commercial environment in which accounting and finance operates. An effective accountant and finance practitioner needs to have a broad understanding of the commercial environment and modern practices, such as FinTech and this module develops this knowledge. This module introduces essential academic and employability skills, including preparation for internships and placements.
Accounting is an ever-changing professional service with challenges in both knowledge and skills, and these issues will be explored including approaches to maintaining current levels of technical skills as well as the vital soft skills embracing IT and inter-personal skills.
New
Digital and Quantitative Skills
This module introduces you to the common industry digital applications used in business and will develop the quantitative skills demanded by employers in the accounting and finance professions. Employers routinely require graduates to possess working knowledge of how to use Excel, hence this module will enable you to develop that important knowledge. You will also be introduced to statistical techniques relevant to accounting and finance, including descriptive statistics and introductory regression modelling. This will enable you to effectively obtain, clean, and use data from a range of sources and enhance decision-making. Through completion of the module, you will work towards achieving the Microsoft Office Specialist, Excel Associate certification.
New
Fundamentals of Management Accounting
The purpose of this module is to develop an introductory knowledge and understanding of the nature and purpose of cost and management accounting information within organisations. You will be introduced to the fundamental principles around topics such as forecasting, budgeting and costing. The module content is cumulative which will form the foundation of future modules which may attract exceptions from the major accountancy bodies such as ACCA.
New
Business Economics
This module will enable you to understand the operation of markets and the economy. It considers both microeconomics - the analysis of choices made by individual decision-making units and macroeconomics - the analysis of the economy as a whole. It will also help you to develop an understanding of basic economic concepts that are applicable to careers in business, accountancy, and finance.
New
Governance, Ethics and the Legal and Regulatory Environment
In the professional business world, an understanding of the legal and regulatory environment and practise ethical and responsible management is imperative. This requires an understanding of the institutional systems that have led to the development and enforcement of corporate governance. This module will introduce you to the legal and regulatory environment in which accounting and finance operates. You will gain an awareness of the current developments in the UK and international financial reporting standards and practices, as well as explore the legal frameworks and regulatory environment for ethical and responsible corporate governance.
New
FinTech, Financial Services and Markets
Technological innovation is altering the way organisations function and supply goods and/or services. Financial technology (FinTech) is radically changing the financial services sector, providing new financial products and improved customer experience. In addition to this, accounting and financial services are now supported by a wide range of digital applications. In this module, you will gain a multidimensional viewpoint on what FinTech means and gain the knowledge to critique FinTech innovations. You will all also be introduced to common accounting software and basic FinTech techniques that underpin data analytics. On successful completion of the module, you will be able to assess various innovative FinTech technologies and appreciate the FinTech ecosystem.
New
Professional Development in Accounting and Finance
This module is designed to help develop graduate-level employability skills and plan for undertaking work-based learning via work placement and/or internship. The module will develop awareness of the recruitment requirements, processes and procedures which employers typically use to attract and recruit talent in accounting and finance. You will develop knowledge of the placement/internship opportunities which are available which can enhance your professional development. It will provide you with the essential professional skills in applying for work placements, internships and graduate positions, as well as support for those of you who may be intending to establish your own business.
New
Equity Analysis and Trading
The module aims to extend acquired accounting knowledge and skills to enable the interpretation of firms’ performance and prospects and the consideration of stocks as investment vehicles. The module will cover approaches and techniques to analyse stocks, select stocks and make rational decisions. It aims to provide opportunities to develop trading skills using Excel, become an equity analyst and prepare investment reports. Additional areas of study will include the different trading attitudes: value investing, fundamental analysis, speculation, and technical analysis.
New
Sustainability in Accounting and Finance
This module introduces sustainability accounting and especially how sustainable development links to the roles of organisations, financial management, management activities, accounting and reporting. The module will expose you to key developments in sustainability reporting and it will examine the current requirements for companies to report sustainability information such as their impact on the environment, society and economy. It will consider how sustainability accounting can be significant in the context of financial markets, risk management and investments and the accountability of organisations.
Also, it will provide an opportunity to explore future development of sustainability in accounting and finance.
New
Entrepreneurial Accounting and Finance
This module introduces the necessary knowledge and skills to enable you to understand the nature and characteristics of financial planning in the context of entrepreneurship. The goal of this module is to help you to acquire a critical understanding of the processes of financial management in a way that facilitates financial and investment decision-making within entrepreneurial settings.
This module covers the key financial issues and decisions faced by entrepreneurs: different forms of business, business planning, understanding financial statements, measuring performance, evaluation techniques, the range of sources of finance available, and how to formulate an exit strategy.
New
Managing Risk and Financial Performance
The module will build on previously developed prior knowledge of financial and management accounting and introduce core issues in managing risk and business performance from a financial viewpoint. Core to this will be the understanding of the types of risk faced by organisations and the strategies, methods and techniques available to mitigate and manage them. You will utilise the concepts and techniques within performance management to allow you to understand how they contribute to an organisation’s successful navigation of mid to long-term challenges.
New
FinTech, Financial Services and Markets
Technological innovation is altering the way organisations function and supply goods and/or services. Financial technology (FinTech) is radically changing the financial services sector, providing new financial products and improved customer experience. In addition to this, accounting and financial services are now supported by a wide range of digital applications. In this module, you will gain a multidimensional viewpoint on what FinTech means and gain the knowledge to critique FinTech innovations. You will all also be introduced to common accounting software and basic FinTech techniques that underpin data analytics. On successful completion of the module, you will be able to assess various innovative FinTech technologies and appreciate the FinTech ecosystem.
New
Professional Development in Accounting and Finance
This module is designed to help develop graduate-level employability skills and plan for undertaking work-based learning via work placement and/or internship. The module will develop awareness of the recruitment requirements, processes and procedures which employers typically use to attract and recruit talent in accounting and finance. You will develop knowledge of the placement/internship opportunities which are available which can enhance your professional development. It will provide you with the essential professional skills in applying for work placements, internships and graduate positions, as well as support for those of you who may be intending to establish your own business.
New
Intermediate Financial Accounting and Reporting
This Intermediate Financial Accounting and Reporting module builds on the knowledge gained in the first year of the degree and forms the second of three financial accounting modules studied as part of the overall degree. This module will enable you to prepare and evaluate further financial statements including consolidation and identify solutions to accounting problems drawing on their knowledge and exposure to additional accounting standards and theory. The module will attract exemptions from the major accountancy bodies.
New
Intermediate Management Accounting
The module builds on the Level 4 Fundamentals of Management Accounting module and further develops competency in the analysis of information on costs and in applying costing techniques in addition to developing an understanding of risk of these decisions. The module also further develops knowledge of how to use budgeting as a means of short-term planning to execute the strategy of organisations. The module content will form the foundation of future modules and will contribute to exemptions from major accounting professional bodies.
New
Financial Management
This module aims to provide you with an understanding of the fundamentals of financial management and their practical application within a business context. You will learn about the role of financial management in achieving organisational goals and how to use financial information to make informed decisions.
New
Introduction to Personal Tax and Audit
This module introduces both the subject of personal tax and the foundations of audit.
It provides the core knowledge of the underlying principles of the main areas of UK taxes affecting the activities of individuals. It will consider the separate taxes such as income tax from self-employment, employment, investment, and the national insurance contributions liabilities of both employed and self-employed persons, as well as capital gains tax for individuals. Also, it can provide an opportunity to appreciate the tax implications of the taxpayer and the tax practitioner.
The audit part of the module will broadly introduce the external audit regulatory environment, professional ethics, and the basics of audit evidence.
Professional Placement
All students can apply for a one-year professional placement, which takes place between your second and last years of study.
This is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of and we will help you find out about vacancies and make the right connections with high profile employers through regular events and presentations.
Here is just a small selection of the companies our students have enjoyed placements with so far: NatWest, Barclays and the Cooperative Bank; BP, Esso and Shell; IBM, Hewlett Packard and Compaq; Ford, Vauxhall, Jaguar and Nissan; Marks & Spencer, Selfridges and Sainsbury’s; Eli Lilly, Glaxo and ICI; Fujitsu, Marriott and Virgin.
You have the option to do a professional placement year, taking a year in industry to learn in a real-life environment whilst earning a salary and paying no tuition fees. For more information, please visit the placement and internships page.
New
Career Development and Reflective Practice
This module will build on the skills, knowledge and experience gained from earlier studies and enable you to apply and further develop crucial employability skills through working on a live project. you will work in groups with an employer or third sector organisation in order to address a specific issue related to employment and/or career development within accounting, finance and professional services. In addition to this, you will develop personal employability and reflection skills through the use of VR software and the creation of a reflective log and personal development plan, which will support their progression into graduate-level employment or further study.
New
Environmental Accounting
This module will look at a range of diverse approaches to environmental accounting, covering physical issues such as biodiversity, carbon and water, along with accounting matters such as management control, finance and audit. It will provide an opportunity to assess the current trends, challenges and opportunities relating to environmental accounting issues locally and globally. The module provides an opportunity for further development in this subject and for you to identify specific areas that you may wish to pursue further studies and research.
New
Disruptive Technology in Accounting and Finance
The module will equip you to implement programming and algorithmic thinking in financial services, products and markets. You will be introduced to the provision of infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) to inform thinking about the future of business operations in financial services firms, banks and vendors. You will study and analyse ethics, sustainability and governance issues pertinent to FinTech, financial markets and society. A significant proportion of the module will be designed around delivering Python syntax, how to write sequences and functions in Python, how to develop Python modules and introducing Objected Oriented Programming (OOP).
New
Accounting Fraud and Financial Crime
This module explores the salient theories that purport to explain the phenomena of accounting fraud and financial crime, and how it can be detected and prevented. This module will also develop knowledge, skills and understanding of, and ability to critically evaluate issues associated with forensic accounting, including fraud examination.
New
Business Integration Project
The Business Integration Project is designed to allow you to scope, define, design and implement a research project, using published literature, to support their future career aspirations within the broad field of accounting & finance. It provides the opportunity for research and analysis of current practice and exploration of innovations and contemporary developments within accounting and finance, aligned to your future career goals. You will work under the guidance of an academic supervisor to produce an in-depth business report which addresses an identified challenge, problem or opportunity within the field of accounting and/or finance. This module encourages you to demonstrate research skills and to apply knowledge from across the programme in order to explore an area of your own interest, whilst also demonstrating the ability to work independently and with minimal supervision.
New
Strategic Management in Accounting and Finance
This module will provide you with a detailed understanding of business strategy and contemporary approaches to management, to prepare you to be effective managers and leaders of the future. Accounting and Finance professionals need to be able to take a holistic view of business issues and understand the strategic aspects of business decisions in an often globally influenced operating environment. The module will draw together knowledge from across the programme and apply this to real-world organisational problems, deploying established techniques of analysis and enquiry, some of which are at the forefront of strategic research and practice.
New
Career Development and Reflective Practice
This module will build on the skills, knowledge and experience gained from earlier studies and enable you to apply and further develop crucial employability skills through working on a live project. you will work in groups with an employer or third sector organisation in order to address a specific issue related to employment and/or career development within accounting, finance and professional services. In addition to this, you will develop personal employability and reflection skills through the use of VR software and the creation of a reflective log and personal development plan, which will support their progression into graduate-level employment or further study.
New
Advanced Financial Accounting and Reporting
This module takes the financial accounting and reporting knowledge and skills developed at Levels 4 and 5 up to the advanced level. It will look at a wide variety of accounting standards and the theory behind the developments in the world of accounting. It will consider more advanced areas of the consolidated financial statements and analysis and interpretation of financial information. This module can lead to exemptions from professional accounting body examinations for students wishing to pursue a career as a professional accountant.
New
Advanced Financial Management
This module aims to provide you with the skills that would be expected from a finance manager responsible for the finance function of a business by developing upon the core financial management knowledge and skills introduced in Level 5 Financial Management.
The objective is to enhance the capability to think critically and engage in logical analysis, to conceptualise problems, form logical conclusions and the ability to solve problems.
New
Business Taxation
This module provides grounds of the business taxation principles and the rules in the context of these principles. It will consider the business taxation specific to the UK tax system including Corporation tax, Capital gains tax, Inheritance tax and Value Added Tax. Taxation is a subject that touches all areas of business, so it can provide an opportunity to develop further and specialise in a variety of areas. This module can lead to exemptions from professional accounting body examinations for students wishing to have a career as a professional accountant.
New
Advanced Management Accounting
Advanced management accounting concepts and techniques are organised around a focus on strategy to enable you to contribute to an organisations’ successful navigation of mid-to-long-term challenges. The module extends your understanding of approaches such as: value chain analysis; strategic pricing; lean manufacturing; strategic issues for financing the firm; risk analysis; project appraisal techniques; performance appraisal and the balanced scorecard. The module aims to develop strategic understanding and how this applies to real life scenarios.
New
Advanced Audit and Assurance
This module builds on learning around Personal Tax and Audit and will critically explore issues around independence and corporate governance, the regulatory framework of auditing, the impact of civil and criminal law on auditing and current developments in financial auditing. The module content will attract exemptions from the major professional accountancy bodies.
Please note that it may not be possible to deliver the full list of options every year as this will depend on factors such as how many students choose a particular option. Exact modules may also vary in order to keep content current. When accepting your offer of a place to study on this programme, you should be aware that not all optional modules will be running each year. Your tutor will be able to advise you as to the available options on or before the start of the programme. Whilst the University tries to ensure that you are able to undertake your preferred options, it cannot guarantee this.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a degree in accounting and finance?
A degree in accounting and finance equips students with a deep understanding of financial principles, accounting practice and the economic environment. The aim of the degree is to prepare students to secure a job within the finance industry, however finance students can also find employment in other sectors.
How hard is finance and accounting degree?
For a student that has a passion for working with numbers and is willing to put in the work, a degree in accounting and finance is no harder than any other degree.
What jobs can I get with an accounting and finance degree?
An accounting and finance graduate can gain employment in a variety of roles in different sectors. For example, you could become an accountant, an auditor, a financial analyst, a risk manager, a financial advisor or an investment banker.
Meet Harry
As part of his degree, BSc (Hons) Accounting & Finance alumnus Harry Rosenberg completed a placement with the Northern Care Alliance (NCA), working with hospitals in Salford, Bury, Rochdale and Oldham.
"The university prepared me very well for this placement. What we learned at university taught me an overview of what I'm doing. It gave me a base knowledge. I feel supported all of the time, My university supervisor has honestly been phenomenal. If I ever have a question, all I have to do is email him.
Working for the NHS honestly feels incredibly more rewarding. I know I'm not helping directly in the hospitals but me doing the jobs I do, I know I help in an indirect way and that gives me a feeling of I've done something well today."
What about after uni?
Further study
A postgraduate degree is a great option if you want to take your knowledge and skills to the next level. Salford graduates and alumni also receive a significant fees discount.
Accounting & Finance graduate could continue their studies at Masters level in areas such as:
Career Links
Studying Accounting and Finance at Salford Business School will open up opportunities in a wide variety of career paths, and by completing a professional placement year, you can enhance your skills, confidence and employability.
We work with a wide range of employers to support our students, helping them to develop their skills and access internships, placements and graduate jobs. Employers we have worked with previously include PwC, EY, Bank of New York Mellon, Beevers & Struthers, the NHS and Salford City Council.
What you need to know
Applicant profile
If you have an eye for detail and enjoy working with numbers, this course is ideal. But Accounting and Finance isn't just about number crunching; it’s about gathering and analysing data to make informed business decisions. Knowledge and expertise in these areas are highly sought after by employers across a wide variety of sectors.
English language requirements
Applicants will be required to show a proficiency in English, with an IELTS score of 6.0 (with no element below 5.5).
GCSE
Maths and English at grade C / grade 4 or above. Applicants who do not have the equivalent of grade C or above in these areas will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
UCAS Tariff points
104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of two A Levels or equivalent.
A level
BCC - BBC (104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points) from a minimum of two A Levels or equivalent.
BTEC National Diploma
DMM - DDM (104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points)
T levels
Merit
Access to HE
104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points from a QAA Approved Level 3 Access to HE Diploma to contain a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3 and 15 at Level 2 to total 60 credits overall for the full award.
Scottish Highers
104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of two Advanced Highers.
Irish Leaving Certificate
104 - 112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of two Higher Level Subjects including a minimum of H7 (D3) or O4 (C3) in Maths and English.
International Baccalaureate
30 points - including a grade 5 in standard level maths and grade 6 in standard level English or grade 4 in higher level maths and grade 5 in higher level English.
European Baccalaureate
Pass Diploma with 60% or above
International Students
We accept qualifications from all around the world. Find your country to see a full list of entry requirements. If you do not meet the entry requirements, you could take the International Foundation Year to gain entry onto this degree.
Salford Alternative Entry Scheme (SAES)
We positively welcome applications from students who may not meet the stated entry criteria but who can demonstrate their ability to successfully pursue a programme of study in higher education.
Students who do not have the traditional entry requirements may be able to apply through the Salford Alternative Entry Scheme. Support in preparing for the written assessment is available from the University.
How much?
Type of study | Year | Fees |
---|---|---|
Full-time home | 2025/26 | £9,250.00per year |
Full-time international | 2025/26 | £15,720.00per year |
Additional costs
You should also consider further costs which may include books, stationery, printing, binding and general subsistence on trips and visits.
All set? Let's apply!
Still have some questions? Register for one of our Undergraduate Open Days or contact us:
By email: enquiries@salford.ac.uk
By phone: +44 (0)161 295 4545
Additional UCAS Information
Accounting and Finance with Foundation Year UCAS Course ID - NN44
Accounting and Finance with Placement Year UCAS Course ID - NN3K
Enrolment dates
UCAS information
Course ID NN34
Institution S03