Information About Postgraduate Courses in Accountancy
The study of accountancy as a postgraduate offers a number of career options. Working in a commercial enterprise in one of the finance-related departments, working in a financial institution such as a bank or insurance firm, or working for some form of investment business such as stock traders for example.
Postgraduate Courses in Accountancy Trends
Accountancy falls under the overall category of business and administrative studies. In 2015-2016 in Ireland, 700 students enrolled in postgraduate courses related to business and administrative studies, including accountancy. This made business and administrative studies most popular subject for postgraduate students in Ireland in 2015-2016.
Research Subjects for Postgraduate Courses in Accountancy
The actual research subject and eventually thesis you prepare will depend on which are available within your specific curriculum. However, typical research subjects could be:
- Emerging markets finance and trade – looking deeply into how emerging markets have a financial impact on the global economy, and how these markets evolve.
- Banking regulation – dealing with the compliance requirements within the banking sector, how they are governed and how they evolve.
- Financial regulation and compliance – a top view of regulation and compliance across all sectors of commerce. The key drivers of compliance and legislation which affects all commercial enterprises.
- Insurance regulation – the legislation and compliance issues faced by the insurance sector, both commercial and personal.
Specialisations in Postgraduate Courses in Accountancy
Many people who decide to study accountancy at postgraduate level, do so by taking a course specialised in a single aspect of accountancy. Typical specialisations that would have relevant specialised courses are:
- Auditing – a specialisation which primarily deals with the theory and practice of auditing, using the fundamentals of the accounting process.
- Tax accounting – a specialisation following the process of handling corporate and individual taxation. Including preparing financial statements, performing tax calculations and filing tax returns.
- International accounting – a specialisation covering the practice and theory of global accounting across varied commercial, political and legal borders.
- Financial accounting – a specialisation dealing with the preparation and presentation to stakeholders outside of the enterprise such as investors and suppliers.
- Management accounting – a specialisation dealing with the preparation and presentation to stakeholders inside the enterprise to make informed strategic financial decisions.
Studying Postgraduate Courses in Accountancy for Professional Reasons
If you are going to study a postgraduate in commerce. However, you will have a wide range of options available to you. From the more traditional route as working as one of a team of accountants for a commercial enterprise, to working in advanced fields such as law enforcement via forensic accounting.
Job Roles Which Completing Postgraduate Courses in Accountancy Will Potentially Open Up
Studying towards a postgraduate diploma in accountancy will open up a wide range of career options in related industries. This includes:
- Accounting consultant – offering independent financial advice to either corporate clients or private individuals.
- Forensic accountant – operating as a financial detective, using financial records to gather proof and evidence in legal cases.
- Certified public accountant – operating as a generalist, providing accounting services to analyse information and attest to the viability of disclosures.
- Auditor – examining both the business practices and the financial habits of a company to ensure that it has operated within legal requirements.
- Budget analyst – monitoring a company’s monthly budget spend and accounting records to keep control of expenditure.
- Financial examiner – responsible for checking that a company is conforming to legal and compliance requirements by analysing financial records.
In Conclusion
Studying for a postgraduate qualification in accountancy demonstrates that the student is competent in the basic fundamentals of accounting. The skills learned are applicable in a very wide range of job roles, across almost every sector of industry and every commercial market.
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