This foundational module bridges the gap between accounting principles and strategic financial decision-making. You will develop analytical competencies crucial for interpreting financial data, enabling you to:

• effectively allocate resources
• appraise investments
• precisely measure performance in organisations.

You will examine how accounting information supports strategic decisions and drives organisational success in competitive markets. The course addresses the increasing importance of sustainability reporting and the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors in financial analysis. By integrating theoretical knowledge with practical applications, the module equips you with critical analytical capabilities and financial insights essential for informed strategic decision-making in contemporary business contexts.

The module provides you with an understanding of crucial advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), its application in corporate settings and a comprehensive overview of cyber security in a digitised business landscape. The module provides an overview of AI and discusses its current trends and future implications. Several case studies of the application of AI in finance, marketing and customer service link your learning to real situations.

The module discusses ethical considerations of using AI for business, including:

• privacy concerns
• copyright issues
• potential biases.

The module then gives you a strong understanding of the basics of cyber security, including types of cyber threats and the importance of cyber hygiene. It discusses strategies for safeguarding businesses and their digital assets, including:

• encryption
• firewalls
• intrusion detection systems.

You will be introduced to best practices for developing resilient cyber security systems. You will also learn about risk management principles and compliance with regulatory requirements related to data protection and privacy.

This module enhances your commercial awareness in a financial management business context. You will develop and refine the practical skills required by financial managers. The module covers key business functions that accounting and finance professionals need to be proficient in.

You will learn through intensive workshops and trading and business simulation exercises. Through these learning activities, you will reflect on the skills and knowledge you have gained through your degree programme, using them to make informed financial management decisions in high-pressure environments.

This year-long module, co-delivered with careers consultants from the LUMS Careers team, will enhance your skillset, knowledge, and experience, giving you a head start on your future career.

You will receive dedicated career and professional training and the basis to develop software and coding skills essential to the professional life of an Accounting and Finance graduate.

The module's content is tailored for your programme and covers a range of skills that are essential in an increasingly competitive job market, including:

• data management (eg SQL, Excel, VBA, Xero)
• databases (eg Bloomberg, Datastream)
• programming (eg Python, R).

By identifying and developing your employability skills, you will get practical opportunities to prepare for the future.

This module provides you with the core quantitative skills to carry out empirical financial data analysis for financial management questions in advanced modules and the dissertation project. It also ensures that you have the quantitative skills required in the job market.

You will cover material that includes:

• key descriptive data analytic methods
• formulation and testing of hypotheses
• the estimation and interpretation of the results of the classical linear regression model.

You will learn:

• the least squares estimation approach
• how to adapt the linear regression model to modern data features such as heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation prevalent in times series data
• how to interpret regression outputs confidently
• how to use key econometric software packages such as Stata to conduct empirical investigations.

This module allows you to integrate knowledge and skills gained during your MSc programme. You will formulate research questions, develop appropriate methodologies and analyse financial data to address real-world challenges in your field of study. You will investigate topics relevant to your career aspirations, whether in corporate finance, accounting, investment analysis, risk management or financial technology. Through this process, you will develop essential transferable skills including:

• research planning
• critical thinking
• data analysis
• academic writing.

This dissertation will prepare you for advanced roles in the financial industry or further academic study.

This module equips you with the fundamental building blocks of finance. You will gain key insights into corporate finance theory and its links to real business decisions like investment, financing and payouts. The module covers the time value of money, emphasising:

• present and future value calculations
• their role in capital budgeting
• their applications in valuing financial securities.

You will learn how to measure and analyse risk and return, and apply these concepts to estimate a company’s cost of capital. You will also learn how to evaluate the sources of financing available to companies. The module introduces the workings of financial markets, including the key market participants and the different financial securities traded, such as stocks, bonds, derivatives, foreign exchange and cryptocurrencies.

This module introduces you to contemporary environmental and social issues in the context of finance and financial management. You will learn about the effects of climate change and climate risk on company and investor decision-making. By engaging with real-life examples and case studies, you will gain valuable insights into organisational sustainability and corporate social responsibility from the perspectives of managers and external investors.