Timetable and Modules

Note: Modules offered each academic year are subject to change. Listed below are the modules and timetable for 2023/2024

Michaelmas Term

Hilary Term

  • Financial Accounting

  • Taxation

  • Audit

  • Company Law

  • Financial Management

  • Management Accounting
  • Financial Reporting

  • Advanced Taxation

  • Accounting in Practice

  • Corporate Governance and Ethics

  • Advanced Financial Management

  • Performance Measurement

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;
  • Produce a basic set of consolidated financial statements for a parent and subsidiary;
  • 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, methods and information technology systems 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. 
  • Understand and apply the various management accounting decision making techniques. 
  • Understand and apply the varies specialist cost and management accounting techniques.

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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;
  • Demonstrate appropriate oral communication skills to effectively communicate complex financial information through email, telephone and face-to-face interactions.

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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;
  • Make appropriate judgments leading to informed decisions in a capital budgeting context;
  • 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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