Timetable and Modules

Note: Students have the opportunity to partake in preliminary classes one week before the beginning of term, ensuring they enter the programme with a foundation and knowledge in accountancy.

Module Descriptions

Financial Accounting (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Understand the regulatory and conceptual context of financial accounting;
• Apply bookkeeping skills to various events and transactions;
• Prepare a trial balance and set of financial statements for incorporated and unincorporated entities;
• Understand and apply key International Accounting Standards to the preparation of financial statements.
• Calculate and interpret a range of financial ratios.

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Taxation (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical awareness of different taxation laws in Ireland and the impact of European legislation on the Irish tax system.
• Compute and explain issues pertaining to taxes on capital gains.
• Prepare income tax computations, including an ability to understand and explain differences between accounting revenues and costs and taxable income and deductible expenses.
• Understand the basic principles of corporation tax and an ability to advise upon corporation tax obligations.
• Possess a systematic understanding of the various regulations relating to VAT.

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Audit (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate a critical awareness of the regulatory context within which audit operates;
• Prepare an audit plan, taking account of audit risk and materiality;
• Identify and assess the internal controls of an entity;
• Possess a systematic understanding of how to collect and evaluate audit evidence;
• Understand and critique an audit report, informed by contemporary company law developments.

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Company Law (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Understand and critique the legal environment within which firms operate;
• Possess a systematic understanding of the rules pertaining to business organisation;
• Evaluate the legal obligations of entities regarding capital requirements;
• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the requirements pertaining to employment law;
• Understand and evaluate the ongoing developments in the area of insolvency law.

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Financial Management (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Display a systematic understanding of the role and responsibilities of the financial manager;
• Make appropriate judgments leading to informed decisions pertaining to working capital management;
• Apply investment appraisal skills to aid organisational decision-making;
• Identify and critically appraise various sources of finance;
• Scrutinise and apply the key principles of business and asset valuation.

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Management Accounting (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Discuss the theories, concepts and methods pertaining to management accounting, and distinguish between management accounting and financial accounting.
• Identify core cost terms and concepts, and describe the purposes for which cost information may be required.
• Prepare break-even, contribution and profit-volume graphs, and apply these in a multi-product setting.
• Describe and apply the various approaches to pricing, including target-costing and cost-plus pricing.
• Contrast activity-based and traditional costing systems.

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Financial Reporting (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Synthesise and apply the international accounting standards relating to tangible and intangible non-current assets.
• Apply a range of international accounting standards to the preparation of single-entity financial statements.
• Critically interpret the real-world financial statements of business entities.
• Prepare consolidated financial statements for a range of commercial and financial scenarios.
• Discuss and critique current developments in financial reporting.

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Advanced Taxation (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Calculate and communicate the advanced aspects of income tax and corporation tax.
• Possess a systematic understanding of the tax implications of various strategic courses of direction.
• Compute and evaluate how alternative decisions impact upon tax liabilities. 
• Apply advanced analytical taxation skills to the investment and expenditure policies of individuals and firms.
• Critique tax planning in an ethical context.

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Accounting in Practice (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in preparing extended trial balances, financial statements and tax computations using Excel;
• Conduct accounting and taxation-based practice research;
• Critically evaluate the accounting and/or taxation implications of a client transaction or event by applying knowledge obtained in prior accounting and taxation modules;
• Draw rational and relevant conclusions from analysis of financial information, and use the Microsoft Office Suite to articulate appropriate advice in a report, schedule, memorandum or file note; whilst maximising the use of technology.
• Demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills to effectively communicate complex financial information in order to gain confidence in interacting with other professionals and clients.

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Corporate Governance and Ethics (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Possess a systematic understanding of the crucial role of well-implemented corporate governance;
• Demonstrate a critical awareness of best practice within common corporate governance;
• Critically evaluate how corporate governance affects firms’ business;
• Devise and assess appropriate internal controls across a range of corporate contexts;
• View commercial and organisational decisions through the lens of ethical best practice.

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Advanced Financial Management (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Understand and prioritise the various needs of stakeholders;
• Apply specialised skills to the complex international finance environment;
• Scrutinise and apply key principles of business and asset valuation.
• Calculate and critique the implications of acquisitions and mergers as growth strategies;
• Apply hedging and derivative instruments as risk management techniques.

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Performance Measurement (5 ECTS)
Having successfully completed this module, the student should be able to:

• Possess an up-to-date understanding of the various budgeting techniques available to an organisation;
• Calculate, analyse and apply variances as an aid to decision-making, and explain the importance of qualitative factors in this area;
• Distinguish between a traditional management accounting system and strategic cost management;
• Advise senior management on optimal transfer pricing strategies;
• Measure and optimise organisational performance through the use of appropriate strategic performance measurement techniques.

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