The program aims to provide advanced education in accounting principles, industry practices, and financial decision-making while enhancing proficiency in modern accounting software to bridge the technological gap. It fosters ethical standards, professional judgment, and entrepreneurial skills, enabling graduates to establish businesses and offer consultancy services. Additionally, it trains professionals with strong moral values and equips students with advanced research methodologies for further education towards national development.
Programme objectives
At the end of the programme, graduates should be able to:
- Demonstrate their ability to apply advanced accounting principles by completing case studies and real-world problem-solving exercises.
- Complete at least three projects focused on financial reporting and decision-making under real-world conditions.
- Complete training and certification in at least one major accounting software, such as QuickBooks or Tally.
- Successfully complete a capstone project that incorporates accounting software to resolve a simulated or real-world financial problem.
- Complete a comprehensive course on ethics and governance, with assessments focused on ethical decision-making scenarios
- Participate in workshops or seminars addressing ethical practices, compliance, and governance frameworks.
- Prepare and present viable business plans for accounting or finance consultancies, evaluated by a faculty panel.
- Complete an entrepreneurship course that includes practical sessions on setting up and managing businesses in accounting and finance.
By the end of the program, students will demonstrate their ability to apply advanced accounting principles by completing case studies and real-world problem-solving exercises.
Intended/Expected Outcomes
- Graduates will have the skills to critically analyze and address complex accounting challenges in various industries.
- Graduates will gain practical experience in applying accounting principles to solve industry-specific issues.
- Graduates will be equipped with practical software skills that align with industry demands.
- Graduates will demonstrate the ability to effectively use technology in solving accounting and financial challenges.
- Graduates will display sound ethical reasoning and the ability to navigate professional dilemmas with integrity.
- Graduates will possess a solid understanding of ethical principles and their application in professional settings.
Retention/Progression
The Master of Science programme is made up twelve (12) courses. Students must pass all designated courses in each semester.
Graduation
The graduation requirements are as follows:
To graduate in the programme, a student is required to have:
- Passed all required (core and elective) courses (specified for his/her programme of study).
- Obtained a minimum of Thirty-six (36) credit hours if you are a Master of Science student.
- Achieved the minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average of 1.5
- Satisfied any other requirements of the Department and Board of Examiners of the Faculty.
Consultation with similar programme document and with people or consultants in the industry.
The following were consulted during the preparation of this document:
Academic peers — The curriculum was reviewed by the Accreditation Department and the Department of Procurement and Supply Chain of Accra Technical University.
Key industrial/professional partners:
- Chartered Institute of Accountants, Ghana
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (Ghana office)
- Chartered Institute of Taxation, Ghana
12.2 Collaborations
Accra Technical University (ATU) has collaborations with the following institutions below to ensure the effective implementation of the proposed programme:
- Institute of Chartered
- MIDA
- Silver Star Auto Limited
- Korle-Bu teaching Hospital
Evidence of Practical Training
- Provide written evidence that industry is willing to admit students for practical training. Students will not be required to undertake industrial attachments due to the duration but rather hands-on practice with finance software to bridge the gap between theory and practice
- Indicate the duration of practical training: N/A
- Indicate the competencies students are expected to acquire from the training. N/A
Mode of Delivery
- In-person lectures to cover theoretical aspects and core principles of financial reporting.
- Online Lectures: There will be online lectures where necessary to supplement the weekly in-person lectures.
- Seminars: Interactive seminars featuring guest speakers from the industry, discussing current issues and developments in financial reporting.
Group Projects: Collaborative projects where students work in groups to analyze real-world financial reporting scenarios.
Components of the programme
Core courses
Course Code | Course | Credit hours |
MAF 501 | Financial Reporting | 3 |
MAF 503 | Management Accounting and Control | 3 |
MAF 505 | Advanced Financial Management | 3 |
MAF 507 | Business Research Methodology and Methods | 3 |
MAF 511 | Advanced Accounting Theory and Practice | 3 |
MAF 502 | Corporate and Sustainability Reporting | 3 |
MAF 504 | Investment and Portfolio Management | 3 |
MAF 506 | Public Sector Financial Management and Accounting | 3 |
Mandatory course(s)
Course Code | Course | |
MAF 508 | Development and Management of Consultancies | 3 |
MAF 509 | Accounting Practice with Advanced Excel | 3 |
MAF 510 | Accounting Practice with QuickBooks | 3 |
Elective Courses
MAF 512 | Fraud Examination, Forensic Accounting and Finance | 3 |
MAF 514 | Advanced Auditing and Assurance Services | 3 |
Research component
Course Code | Course Title | |
MAF 597 | Thesis Proposal and Defence | 3 |
MAF 598 | Thesis and defence | 3 |
- Practical training, industrial attachment, internship, clinical experience, etc.
- Semester-by-semester structure/schedule of course, showing the credit value of each course
COMPONENTS OF THE PROGRAMME:
- COURSE STRUCTURE
YEAR I SEMESTER I |
Code | Course | T | P | C |
MAF 501 | Financial Reporting | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 503 | Management Accounting and Control | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 505 | Advanced Financial Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 507 | Business Research Methodology and Methods | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 509 | Accounting Practice with Advanced Excel | 0 | 6 | 3 |
MAF 511 | Advanced Accounting Theory and Practice | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 597 | Seminar on issues in applied theoretical accounting and finance research | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Total | | 12 | 10 | 20 |
YEAR 1 SEMESTER TWO
Code | Course | T | P | C |
MAF 502 | Corporate and Sustainability Reporting | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 504 | Investment and Portfolio Management | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 506 | Public Sector Financial Management and Accounting | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 508 | Development and Management of Consultancies | 1 | 4 | 3 |
MAF 510 | Accounting Practice with QuickBooks | 0 | 6 | 3 |
MAF 598 | Thesis | 0 | 12 | 6 |
Electives (Choose one) | | | | |
MAF 512 | Fraud Examination, Forensic Accounting and Finance | 3 | 0 | 3 |
MAF 514 | Advanced Auditing and Assurance Services | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Total | | 16 | 18 | 24 |
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
YEAR I SEMESTER I CREDITS
MAF 501 FINANCIAL REPORTING 3 Credit hours
The Financial Reporting course provides a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices underpinning the preparation and presentation of financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The course focuses on the conceptual framework, recognition and measurement criteria, presentation requirements, and disclosure obligations. Students will learn to prepare and analyze financial statements and understand their role in decision-making and accountability.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Understand the principles and framework of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and their role in global financial reporting practices.
- Apply IFRS principles to prepare and present accurate and compliant financial statements, including the statement of financial position, profit or loss, and cash flow statement.
- Analyze financial statements to evaluate compliance with IFRS and assess an entity’s financial performance and position.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting treatments and disclosures for complex financial transactions, using IFRS as the benchmark.
- Develop comprehensive and well-structured financial reports that align with IFRS, incorporating appropriate disclosures and recommendations.
Course Contents
- Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
- Objectives of financial reporting and qualitative characteristics of useful financial information.
- Elements of financial statements and recognition criteria.
- Underlying assumptions and definitions.
- Presentation of Financial Statements-IAS 1
- Structure and components of financial statements.
- Statement of financial position, profit or loss and other comprehensive income, cash flow statement, and changes in equity.
- Notes and disclosure requirements.
- Revenue Recognition and Measurement-IAS 15
- Principles of revenue recognition.
- Contracts with customers, performance obligations, and revenue measurement.
- Presentation and disclosures.
- Property, Plant, and Equipment -IAS 16
- Acquisition, depreciation, revaluation, and disposal of tangible assets.
- Capitalization of costs and subsequent measurement.
- Investment Property and Intangible Assets -IAS 40 &38
- Accounting for investment property is held for rental or capital appreciation.
- Recognition and amortization of intangible assets, including goodwill.
- Impairment of Assets-IAS 36
- Determining recoverable amounts and cash-generating units.
- Recognition, measurement, and reversal of impairment losses.
- Leases-IAS 16
- Lessee accounting: Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities.
- Lessor accounting: Finance and operating leases.
- Lease disclosures.
- Financial Instruments-IFRS 9 (Financial instruments)-IFRS 7 (Financial Instruments Disclosures)
- Classification and measurement of financial assets and liabilities.
- Impairment and expected credit loss model.
- Hedge accounting principles.
- Employee Benefits-IAS 19
- Short-term, long-term, and post-employment benefits.
- Defined contribution and defined benefit plans.
- Provisions, Contingent Liabilities, and Contingent Assets-IAS 37
- Recognition, measurement, and disclosures.
- Distinction between provisions and contingent liabilities.
- Income Taxes-IAS 12
- Current tax and deferred tax.
- Recognition and measurement of tax-related items.
- Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements-IFRS 10, 11, IAS 28
- Consolidation principles: Subsidiaries, associates, and joint arrangements.
- Non-controlling interests, intra-group transactions, and equity method.
- Earnings Per Share and Share-Based Payments IAS 33 & IFRS 2
- Basic and diluted earnings per share calculations.
- Presentation and disclosure requirements.
- Equity-settled and cash-settled share-based payments.
- Recognition and measurement criteria.
- Fair Value Measurement-IFRS 13
- Definition and hierarchy of fair value.
- Application across various IFRSs.
Graduates from the MSC in Applied Accounting programme have a wide array of career opportunities across various sectors. The advanced knowledge, practical skills, and professional competencies gained from this programme make them suitable for numerous high-demand roles. Below is a list of employable avenues:
- Professional accounting, auditing and tax firms
- Audit Manager, Tax Consultant, Forensic Accountant. Examples are Deloitte, KPMG, PwC, Ernst & Young (EY).
- Corporate Finance
- Financial Analyst, Corporate Controller, Budget Analyst, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in multinational corporations, publicly traded companies, private enterprises.
- Government and Public Sector
- Public Sector Accountant, Auditor General, Budget Officer, Financial Manager like Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ministry of Finance, local government units, public sector agencies etc.
- Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
- Financial Manager, Grant Manager, Compliance Officer, Internal Auditor of International NGOs, local development organizations, charitable foundations.
- Financial Services
- Investment Analyst, Portfolio Manager, Risk Manager, Financial Planner of banks, insurance companies, investment firms, credit unions.
- Consulting
- Management Consultant, Financial Consultant, Business Advisor, Strategy Consultant in consulting firms, independent consultancy, advisory services.
- Entrepreneurship
- Entrepreneur, Start-up Founder, Financial Consultant for SMEs, Business Development Manager of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), start-ups and other entrepreneurial ventures.
- Internal Audit and Compliance
- Internal Auditor, Compliance Officer, Risk Assurance Manager, Fraud Examiner of large corporations, financial institutions and other public sector entities.
- Information Technology and Accounting Software
- Accounting Software Specialist, IT Auditor, Systems Analyst, ERP Consultant of technology firms, software companies and IT departments in various industries.
- Healthcare Finance
- Healthcare Financial Analyst, Hospital Accountant, Financial Planner, Revenue Cycle Manager in hospitals, healthcare systems, medical practices and healthcare consulting firms.
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Financial Analyst, Cost Accountant, Compliance Officer, Risk Manager in oil and gas companies, mining firms, renewable energy companies.
- Consultations and Collaborations
