Level 5 Higher Diploma in Accounting and Finance

This Higher Diploma is being designed to be in alignment with the various professional Accountancy bodies in the UK.  It is an extension of the Extended Diploma in Accounting and Finance and designed to provide a deeper understanding and application of the Accounting and Finance disciplines to equip learners who are keen to take up employment in the Accounting profession. Those who are keen to further their education can progress on to Year 3 of a Bachelor degree in Accounting and Finance.

Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting (top-up) at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia

For Accounting and Finance students of LEB this is a great opportunity to study on campus at Murdoch University for only 1.5 years to achieve your degree

LEB students will receive 36 credit points and will only therefore need to top-up another 36 credit points

Overall Programme Outcomes

On completion of this programme, learners will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The management of human resources in organisations.
• The processes of financial management and decision making.
• Accounting, taxation and financial management principles and practices in its major contexts, including the legal and social environments, the business entity and capital markets, and the integral nature of the accounting function in the successful management of organisations.
• Current technical language, developments, methods, practices and issues in accounting and financial management.
• Methods of recording, summarizing, interpreting and preparation of financial statements.

Assessments

Assessments are based on course work, assignments, work based reports submitted by a learner and some modules will have an unseen examination consisting of multiple choice questions.

Entry Requirements

• Completion of the London Examinations Board Extended Diploma in Accounting and Finance or an equivalent level 4 qualification.
• Applicants shall be admitted on evidence to show they are able to fulfill and benefit from the objectives of the programme and achieve the standards required via APL or APEL.

Programme Structure

The Level 5 Higher Diploma in Accounting and Finance accrues 120 credits over 8 Modules. Each Module carries 15 credits and are in:

• Module 1 – Intermediate Financial Accounting
• Module 2 – Business Taxation
• Module 3 – Advanced Management Accounting
• Module 4 – Business Finance
• Module 5 – Financial Analysis and Interpretation
• Module 6 – Managing People
• Module 7- Enterprise Management
• Module 8- International Business

Module 1: Intermediate Financial Accounting

Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:

• Prepare statutory financial statements for a limited company
• Prepare consolidated financial statements
• Interpret financial statements using ratio analysis and other techniques

Module Content includes:

• Accounting standards and relevant legislation to correctly identify, and adjusting accounting information
• Preparation of comprehensive income statement of financial position (balance sheet)
• Notes to the accounts to satisfy current statutory disclosure requirements in respect of accounting policies, fixed assets, current and long-term liabilities and equity
• Preparation of cash flow statements
• The accounting treatment of goodwill, non-controlling interest (minority interest) and post-acquisition profits, in the group financial statements
• The financial statements and profitability, liquidity, efficient use of resources and financial position
• Drawing conclusions from the information within financial statements

Module 2: Business Taxation

Upon completion of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of tax that can be apply to incorporated businesses.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental concepts in international taxation of incorporated businesses.
• Prepare corporate income tax calculations based on a given sets of rules.
• Apply the accounting rules for current and deferred taxation including calculation of deferred tax based on a given set of rules

Module Content includes:

• Principles and types of taxation.
• Indirect taxes collected by companies
• Employee taxation
• Records and timelines
• Powers of Tax Authorities
• Tax avoidance and evasion

Module 3: Advanced Management Accounting

Upon completion of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Apply a variety of costing methods, analyse and interpret the results derived from the computations.
• Apply principles of environmental costing in identifying relevant internalized costs and externalized environment impacts of the organisation’s activities
• Prepare forecasts of financial results and budgets based on forecasts
• Appraise Investment Project

Module Content includes:

• Costing Methods, Results and Interpretations
• Cost Accounting Systems
• Forecasting and Budgeting Techniques
• Information required for Investment Project Appraisal
• Evaluating Project/Investment Proposal

Module 4: Business Finance

Upon completion of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Examine the role of the finance function.
• Analyse the main features of the capital markets and the finance functions interaction with them.
• Examine the factors involved in the management of working capital and calculate the effect of different strategies.
• Examine the advantages and disadvantages the main sources of internal and external finance.
• Calculate the weighted average cost of capital and understand its implications for capital structure.
• Examine how business evaluation is undertaken.
• Identify the main components of the risk management process and explain how it operates.

Module Content includes:

• The role of the finance function
• Financial planning and analysis
• Financing decisions
• Financial controls including Risks Management
• Business Valuation

Module 5: Financial Analysis and Interpretation

Upon completion of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Prepare the full consolidated statements of financial position with subsequent analysis and interpretation of the financial statements.
• Apply the principles of accounting for capital schemes and foreign exchange rate changes.
• Analyse accounting principles and their relevance to accounting issues of contemporary interest.
• Undertake a ratio analysis to appraise performance and financial position.

Module Content includes:

• Group Financial Statements
• Accounting for Capital Schemes and Exchange Rate Changes
• Accounting Recognition and Measurements
• Analysis of accounts
• Interpretations of Accounts and Developments in Financial Reporting

Module 6: Managing People

Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:

• Demonstrate understanding of the implications of HR decisions on the workforce and the organisation.
• Develop a critical awareness and understanding of current theory and good practice in the management of people.

Module Content includes:

• Introduction to people management
• HRP, flexibility, recruitment and selection.
• Managing reward, performance & conduct
• Employee development
• Managing health & safety, managing stress.
• Diversity management
• Generating commitment through involvement.
• Employee relations

Module 7: Enterprise Management

Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:

• Analyse the competitive environment in which businesses operate in.
• Apply key and emergent strategic management thinking and practice in managing organisations.
• Use appropriate tools and techniques in managing projects including managing relationships.
• Apply key human capital management tools and techniques to ensure their contributions to business organisations.

Module Content includes:

• The Competitive Environment Analytical Tools.
• Strategic Management.
• Key Tools for Project Management.
• Process Control and People Management.

Module 8: International Business

Upon completion of this unit, learners will be able to:

• Understand the context in which international business takes place;
• Distinguish what differentiates international from domestic business;
• Research the international business environment and understand the actors and their interaction in it; and
• Apply knowledge and skills needed to develop solutions and challenges present in the international business environment.

Module Content includes:

• Introduction to and overview of the international business environment.
• The cultural environment.
• The political and legal environment.
• The economic environment.
• Government influences on trade and investment.
• Corporate trade and investment issues.
• The international financial environment, currency and capital markets.