In recent years there has developed a greater focus on the tax behaviour of companies and individuals with Panama papers and Pandora Papers. In particular, the actions taken and structures adopted by multinational enterprises have been subject to considerable scrutiny. Many concerns have been expressed by international organisations, national governments, NGOs, activists and the media generally that the taxation systems of countries and the ways in which the international community had agreed to tax multinational enterprises had not developed in a manner that takes into account the changes that have occurred within the business world. This concern has led to a reappraisal of many aspects of taxation. This reappraisal considered a number of key and important topics in international taxation as part of the Base Erosion Profit Shifting (‘BEPS’) project conducted under the authority of the OECD. The nature and results of the BEPS project will also be considered in more detail, the Digital Taxation outcomes will also be discussed, namely, Pilar I and II.

Strategic finance and risk management are critical for corporations to support decision-making that enhances long-term business objectives. Managing a company’s finance strategically supports target setting and creates planning and governance opportunities. Organisations serve as custodians for investors, and it is essential to address relevant strategies that maximise their market value. This approach ensures that a feasible plan is followed effectively so as to achieve short and long-term goals, thereby maximising shareholder wealth. Strategy is a key driver of an organisation’s direction, making risk management a priority due to the competitive environments, emerging markets and technologies.

The central aim of the Financial Management Project is to invite students to investigate an area of new technology or practice. This could include new software or accounting convention. Students are required to research the topic thoroughly using multiple sources and develop a research project that discusses the strategic contribution of the new technology or practice to the accounting and finance domain. The project should conclude with a comprehensive assessment of the potential value of the new technology or practice. This gives the learner the opportunity to perform an in-depth analysis of innovative technologies in accounting and finance.

This module considers issues related to environmental analysis and decision-making. Drawing on aspects of marketing, strategy and finance to provide information, the module considers how this might be used to both make and evaluate decisions. The module will provide opportunities for students to develop the required skills and apply them within their own organisation. The assessment will require students to evaluate aspects of the environment in which their organisation sits and the ways in which information is used to inform decision-making.

This module seeks to explore the way by which corporate and business performance is evaluated and measured. It will place a critical eye of a range of evaluation and performance measurement techniques.

The aim of this module is to enable students to apply technical knowledge, analytical techniques and professional skills in the context of the preparation and evaluation of corporate financial statements and reports.