Accounting and Business with Foundation Year

Program Overview

This four-year Accounting and Business program at Leeds Trinity University provides an alternative pathway for those lacking formal qualifications or returning to education. The initial foundation year focuses on developing academic and professional skills, while the core BA curriculum emphasizes accounting, finance, business operations and management, and business strategy. Students gain expertise in financial accounting and management, business operations design and control, and advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, preparing them for challenging and rewarding career opportunities across the globe.

Program Outline

Accounting and Business with Foundation Year (BA Hons) at Leeds Trinity University

Degree Overview

The core BA curriculum emphasizes accounting, finance, business operations and management, and business strategy.

Key Objectives:

• Develop foundational academic skills and confidence.
• Master core accounting and business concepts.
• Gain expertise in financial accounting and management.
• Learn to design and control business operations.
• Analyze economic factors affecting business decisions.
• Understand and apply business management models and leadership.
• Develop advanced analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Gain practical skills in financial reporting and auditing.
• Benefit from industry expert instruction with real-life case studies.
• Prepare for professional accounting careers with ACCA and CIMA exemptions.

Outline

Year 1 (Foundation Year):

• Academic Skills and Studying with Confidence: Develop essential academic skills like electronic resource utilization, planning, note-taking, essay/report writing, presentation delivery, time management, prioritizing tasks, stress management, collaborative learning engagement, etc.
• Project: Study an area of interest and work individually on a project (written report, presentations, etc.).
Develop self-confidence through problem-solving and formative feedback support.
• Introduction to Business Operations and Management: Explore different businesses, their types, objectives, modern business environments, real-life case study analysis, supply chains, logistics, production processes, service vs manufacturing differences, project management principles, quality control processes, human resource management, and leadership.
• Starting a Business and Fundamentals of Marketing: Examine modern business environments, start-up growth with technology advancements, sustainability opportunities/limitations for small businesses.
Explore social media, communication technology usage by businesses to reach audiences. Develop business and marketing plans and concepts through lectures, workshops, coursework, and group work.

Year 2:

• Principles of Accounting and Finance: Explore financial markets and institutions, fintech, digital finance, payment systems, alternative finance, business organization types, stakeholder roles, regulatory
  on-regulatory factors affecting businesses.
Analyze financial reporting, performance, cash flows, financial statements via key financial ratios. Develop accounting and financial skills through problem solving, consequence chain analysis, measurement, and action planning.
• People and Organisations: Explore the complexity of organizations and functional specialism of people management.
Compare different management theory approaches (Taylor/Fordism and Human Relations). Analyze topics such as leadership, motivation, group formation/behavior, change, and international implications of people management through class-based exercises.
• Marketing Fundamentals: Learn about marketing environment, management, role, customer-centered approach, marketing research, market analysis, segmentation, targeting, positioning theory and practice, marketing mix elements (product, price, promotion, and place), service and retail marketing in theory/practice, technological developments like e-commerce, and the impact of technology.
• Globalisation and Social Justice: Develop a critical understanding of globalization and social justice.
Explore topics related to poverty, human rights violations, inequalities, social justice, and Leeds Trinity University's strategic themes. Engage with current events in lectures and workshops.

Year 3:

• Professional Development and Placement: Prepare career and study plans, learn job search techniques, experience a typical graduate trainee assessment process.
Analyze your professional development and personality through workshops. Develop essential graduate-level employability skills through reflective learning and study.
• Global Business Environment: Explore the interplay betweenethics, law and economics in the global market.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of organizational challenges and opportunities when operating in a global context. Study ethical considerations, corporate governance, human rights in business decisions, economic landscape of the global market, macroeconomic conditions, trade patterns, role of multinational corporations. Develop a strong understanding of the global business environment and position yourself to succeed in dynamic and challenging markets.
• Intermediate Accounting and Finance: Study the concept and purpose of financial reporting, qualitative characteristics of financial information, capital structure of limited companies, and accounting systems.
Focus on accounting concepts, inventory rules, provisions and contingencies, disclosure and events, profit/loss accounts, cash flow, financial position statements. Develop skill sets through problem identification/solving, ratio analysis, and teamwork.
• Business Research and Analytics: Acquire knowledge and skills to conduct primary/secondary research, analyze and present findings.
Understand research principles, research process tools, data collection methods (strengths/weaknesses), and basic quantitative/qualitative data collection methods.

Year 4:

• Audit and Assurance: Explore techniques related to the audit context and regulatory frameworks.
Study audit objectives, systems and processes, ethical standards, audit standpoint and professional skepticism, EU audit directive. Engage with risk identification and mitigation, materiality, analytical procedures, tests, internal audit systems and