Finance, Accounting and Management
As well as providing a route into financial professions, this degree develops skills that are useful in a range of sectors.
You will gain a solid grounding in areas such as business finance, financial and management accounting, and business law.
You will develop a broad educational base suitable for a future business leader.
What skills will I develop during my degree?
- Accounting and finance knowledge. Know the core principles of accounting and finance, including how to prepare and analyse financial statements and reports
- Data analysis and problem-solving. Analysing financial data to spot trends and make predictions, as well as finding solutions to financial problems
- Ethics and professional standards. Understand and apply ethical principles and follow the rules and regulations in the accounting world
- Communication skills. Skilled in writing clear financial reports, giving presentations, and communicating effectively with clients and colleagues
- Soft skills. Improved time management, teamwork, and adaptability, essential for balancing different responsibilities and thriving in various work environments
What are my career options?
Our graduates are highly sought after, gaining employment in accountancy, banking and other financial professions.
Chartered accountant and management accountant are both two of the most popular professional designations in the field of accounting:
Chartered accountants would typically work for a chartered accountant practice and work with multiple clients and conduct audits, record and report on financial trends and offer business advice.
Management accountants work within one organisation looking to its future financial plans.
Within chartered accountancy, the 'Big Four' (Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC) recruit high numbers of graduates each year. There are also a significant number of other large firms that recruit into training positions as well as small and medium-sized firms providing excellent opportunities for graduates.
In management accountancy, large multinational organisations provide the most coveted training positions, with potential employers including the leading firms in water, gas, electricity, pharmaceuticals, retailing, consumer goods manufacturing and transport. There are also opportunities to train as an accountant in the public sector with various schemes, including those run by the Civil Service, local government and the NHS.
A number of large and medium-sized firms recruit into specialised fields beyond audit and tax. These opportunities can provide highly attractive career paths and personal development. These specialisms may include:
- Business recovery and insolvency
- Business advisory and corporate finance
- Financial reporting and enterprise risk analysis
- Forensic accounting
What do graduates from my course go on to do?
Graduate Outcomes is a national survey capturing the activities and perspectives of graduates launched in 2018 and is the biggest annual social survey in the UK.
You can view the destinations of graduates, who completed the survey, from your course by booking an appointment with an adviser. This can help you to explore your options if you are unsure what you want to do.
Find out more about the Graduate Outcomes Survey
What are my further study options?
You can pursue several professional qualifications to further your career in accounting and finance. Many of the modules you will study carry accreditation towards the ACA accountancy qualification and other professional bodies too. Find out more about the qualifications.
Spotlight On: Accounting qualifications
The ACA (Associate Chartered Accountant) qualification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), requires all trainees to study the same subjects throughout the entire curriculum.
By contrast, ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) graduates can specialise early on in study.
Those looking to undertake training as a management accountant will usually complete the Chartered Institute of Management Accountancy (CIMA) qualifications.
Pursuing these qualifications can enhance career prospects, open up specialised roles, and provide advanced knowledge and skills in the field of accountancy and finance.
How can I develop my skills and gain experience during my degree?
Work experience and volunteering
Depending on what area of work or role you might be interested in, and where, there will be specific strategies, from speculative applications to formal processes you need to be familiar with.
Work experience - what, how and when
Consider some of these options:
- Internships in accountancy, banking or finance
- Easter vacation ‘Insight Days’ and ‘Spring Weeks’: Firms offer these early talent identification programmes, often leading to summer internships and full-time job offers
- Summer Internships. Available particularly for students in their penultimate year, these internships provide a fuller experience of a firm's work and culture.
- Civil Service offer a Summer Internship Programme (SIP)
Optional placement year
You can now undertake an optional placement year as part of your degree at the end of your penultimate year of study. The placement can be aligned to your degree discipline or related to your career aspirations. Speak to a career adviser or your school for more information.
If you are no longer at Nottingham, you can access work and volunteering opportunities at home. Depending on your location and what you want to do, your strategy may vary so come and speak to us or arrange a telephone appointment.
Nottingham Internship Scheme
We work closely with a huge variety of local and national businesses to bring you an exciting range of internship opportunities, for both current students and recent graduates.
Nottingham Consultancy Challenge
The Nottingham Consultancy Challenge offers the chance for you to gain hands-on experience of managing a short term project for a local business or charity as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Digital Marketing Academy
The Digital Marketing Academy will allow you to learn about and develop a wide range of industry-specific skills with experienced professionals from leading digital agencies.
Enactus
Enactus Nottingham is a not-for-profit, student-led organisation that works to transform the lives of people in need through the power of business.
They do this by setting up social enterprises that provide employment and their by-product does both social and environmental good.
Digital Centre of Excellence
Take industry-recognised digital qualifications by Microsoft and SAP alongside your course, which will develop your digital skills and help you stand out to future employers.
Nottingham Advantage Award
Through the completion of extracurricular modules, the Nottingham Advantage Award helps you develop key life and work-based skills and reflect on your experiences, allowing you to demonstrate your achievements and skills more effectively when applying for jobs.
Apply for part-time jobs
The university advertises part-time, casual and temporary jobs on campus and with local businesses.
Created just for you, the advertised vacancies can fit around your studies and other commitments.
Students' Union
The Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteering options both locally and internationally which you can fit around your studies.
Alternatively you could get involved in a society or sports club - there's so many, you're bound to find one that interests you!
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory Year Abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university's control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.