Course description
Structure
The programme consists of Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma and Masters level study:
PG CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA This combined stage aims to provide graduates with an understanding of the key issues in International
Accounting and Finance. The modules studied at this stage are:
- Quantitative Methods
- International Accounting Principles
- International Accounting Issues
- Theory of Finance
- Research Methods
- International Management Accounting
- International Financial Institutions and Markets
- Interpreting Financial Statements
QUANTITATIVE METHODS
The module covers the mathematics necessary for the study of accounting, banking and finance, and an introduction to statistical software. Solutions to models are to be achieved using mathematical methods and, where appropriate, Excel and/or Eviews. Statistical analysis is undertaken using Excel.
INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES
This module introduces the student to the dynamic new world of International Accounting, which has changed radically, allowing an unprecedented level of agreement among nations in the publication of financial statements.
INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING
Global organisations have had to have management information developed to meet their needs. This module shows how financial information has changed to meets the needs of modern management in planning, control and decision making.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL MARKETS AND INSTITUTIONS
This module provides students with an introduction to the world’s financial markets and the assets traded on them. This is to include equities, currencies, interest rates and their derivatives. The module will also cover subjects of topical issues, such as the impact of the Euro on financial markets, recent derivative disasters and the Asian crisis.
THE THEORY OF FINANCE
This module provides students with training in the microeconomics underpinning financial decision making and modelling. This is achieved through a thorough grounding in the fundamental theories of finance. A real-world emphasis on the module is provided by the use of current market data. T pics covered include: Portfolio Analysis, CAPM, APT, Dividend Policy and Bond Portfolio Management.
INTERNATIONAL ACCOUNTING ISSUES
The rapid development of international accounting has led to controversy. This module highlights key areas of debate in international accounting as regulators explore alternatives.
RESEARCH METHODS
This module provides students with the necessary skills to apply to a research proposal that will lead to the dissertation.
INTERPRETING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
This module complements the traditional tools of investment analysis introduced in semester one by providing a practical foundation in the analysis of companies’ published financial statements. Students who successfully study any four modules from the list above may receive a Postgraduate Certificate, those who pass all eight may receive a Diploma.
MASTERS STAGE
This consists of a dissertation. Subject matter is based upon a free choice, however, this is subject to meeting the standard for a Masters level research project in International Accounting and Finance.
DISSERTATION
The dissertation is rated at 60 credits. All other modules are rated at 15 credits.
Programme Team
ROGER PEGUM BA (ECON) M.A.(ECON) MEd FCCA
Roger Pegum is a Principal Lecturer in Accounting with a specialist interest in International Accounting. He has taught on MBS and MBA programmes for many years. He has been Director of Studies for six successful PhD candidates. He is Programme leader for the MSc in International Accounting and Finance.
IAN FISHER MSc FCCA FCMA FCIS J.Dip MA
Ian Fisher has been a Senior Lecturer in Accounting since 1997 having held senior management accounting and financial management roles in medium-sized and large organisations in the manufacturing and service sectors.
JASON LAWS BA MSc
Jason Laws is a Reader in Finance and the Programme Leader for the MSc in International Banking and Finance. His teaching specialisms include Investments, Corporate Finance, Risk Management, Derivative Securities and International Finance. His research work focuses on derivative securities in their various forms. He has published in a number of refereed journals such as the European Journal of Finance, the Journal of Forecasting and the European Journal of Operations Research. He is also the co-author of ‘Applied Quantitative Methods for Trading and Investment’. (Wiley 2003).
GRAHAM PADGETT BA (Economics) MA (Econ)
Graham Padgett has expertise in Quantitative Methods and Marketing Analysis providing context for the Research Methods module.
KARL HARPER MBA BA (Hons) ACIB ACIM Cert Ed
Karl Harper has been a Senior Lecturer in Financial Services since 1990. He previously worked for Lloyds Bank plc. During his time with LJMU, Karl has provided training in International Banking in Russia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Ukraine and Poland. Karl is also an author and assistant examiner for the Institute of Financial Services.
PROFESSOR CHRISTIAN DUNIS BSC, MSC, PHD (COURSE DIRECTOR)
Christian Dunis is a Professor of Banking and Finance at LJMU. He has been the organiser of the annual Forecasting Financial Markets conference on Quantitative Finance since 1994. At LJMU he heads the Centre for International Banking, Economics and Finance (CIBEF), a research centre that disseminates widely its working papers (more than 50 in the currrent RAE review period) to the research community. He has published in several refereed academic journals and is the author of several research books, including "Developments in Forecast Combination and Portfolio Choice" (John Wiley, 2001) co-authored with Timmermann (UCSD) and Moody (Berkeley), and "Applied Quantitative Methods for Trading and Investment" (Wiley, 2003). He is an Official Reviewer attached to the European Commission for the Evaluation of Research Projects on emerging software technologies applied to Finance, and an advisor to asset management firms, specialising in the application of nonlinear methods to financial management problems. He is also visiting Professor of International Finance at Venice International University and Aix-en- Provence University and on the editorial board of the European Journal of Finance. He is a regular invited speaker at a number of international conferences on quantitative finance and fund management.
