Accounting and Finance

Accounting and finance is a discipline that sits at the core of how organisations and economies function. Accounting provides the language and systems through which financial information is recorded, reported, and interpreted. Finance extends this into the analysis of investment decisions, capital markets, corporate strategy, and risk management.

Together they equip you with the quantitative rigour and analytical judgement that businesses, public bodies, and investors depend on to make sound financial decisions.

At Manchester Metropolitan University, this three-year degree explores every major aspect of the subject, building from the fundamentals of financial reporting and management accounting through to more advanced areas including financial analysis, taxation, auditing, governance, ethics, and law. You will develop both technical competence and the ability to think critically about how financial systems work and how they can be improved. The degree includes a sandwich year in industry, allowing you to spend a full year in a professional environment before completing your final year.

Work placements are woven into the programme, giving you direct exposure to practice in accountancy firms, corporate finance departments, financial services companies, or the public sector. This combination of academic rigour and professional experience makes graduates highly attractive to employers across a wide range of sectors.

Accounting and finance graduates move into some of the most in-demand professional roles in the UK economy. Many pursue qualification with one of the major professional bodies, completing their training contracts with accountancy firms or in-house finance teams to become chartered accountants, management accountants, or certified public accountants. Others move into investment banking, financial analysis, treasury management, or corporate finance.

The degree also provides a strong foundation for further study, including master's programmes in finance, financial economics, or business administration, and for roles in financial regulation, consultancy, and public sector finance.