Train as an expert professional in accounting and finance, and specialize in Corporate Finance, Controlling or International Finance with this program designed for an international audience.
The main objective of the Blended Master in Accounting and Financial Management at UPF Barcelona School of Management is to train expert professionals who can successfully manage the accounting and financial department of any company or institution.
You will acquire the essential knowledge for aligning the evolution of the economic and financial environment with the financial strategy of any organization. In addition, you will master one of the specialties of Controlling, Corporate Finance and International Finance and Accounting, which allow you to focus your professional career on the field that interests you the most.
Throughout the course you will learn the latest techniques  in financial management, treasury, investment evaluation and data analysis. You will delve into the design and implementation of capitalization, indebtedness and dividend policies and you will learn to choose those financing instruments that best suit the needs of the company. The program will also cover the latest updates in accounting regulations.
The program offers elective courses to complement your training. You will have the opportunity to explore the latest technological trends in finance and accounting, learn about change management, leadership, and communication skills, or gain knowledge in Python programming and data visualization.
In addition, in the Corporate Finance specialization, you will have the opportunity to obtain a double degree with Montpellier University - MOMA (France).
The Blended Master in Accounting and Financial Management is endorsed by Pompeu Fabra University, the 1st Spanish university and the 15th best university in the world (of those with less than 50 years), according to the Times Higher Education ranking. In addition, UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally.
Collaborators:
Why choose this program
Study at an accredited school
Study at a school accredited by EQUIS, an international distinction that guarantees the quality of our institution and makes us the 1st school of management linked to a public university with this accreditation in our country.
Choose the modality that suits you
We offer the same program, content and academic qualification in 3 different modalities: on-campus, blended and online. You can choose the modality that suits your personal and professional situation.
The program is also offered entirely in English.
Learn from industry professionals
You will train with UPF professors, whose Department of Economics and Business has been rated 1st in Spain, 3rd in Europe and 46th in the world, by Times Higher Education. You will also train with recognized active professionals who will contribute their knowledge and experience in applying theory to practice.
Undertake your internship in top-level entities
You will be able to undertake professional internships in prominent companies such as Danone, VidaCaixa, E&Y, Boehringer Ingelheim, or Nestlé, among others.
Access to CIMA, ACCA and CFA credentials
Completing the master's degree gives you accelerated access to the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) credentials, two of the most internationally recognized institutions for accrediting professionals in management & accounting, financial accounting and management accounting. At the end of the Master, you can also take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam.
CFA Accreditation
The Master's is a member of the University Affiliation Program of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute. At the end of the Master you will be ready to take the exam to obtain the CFA accreditation, a prestigious international recognition in investment management and financial analysis, and for which there are two scholarships offered in each course.
You can also take part in the CFA Research Challenge, a team competition in which more than 1,000 universities and Business Schools participate from all over the world.
Specializations
The master is made up of 4 modules. The first 3 are transversal, that is, they are common in the three specialties. The last module of the master is the specialty, which you can choose depending on the field in which you want to develop your professional activity.
Corporate finance
Master the design and implementation of financial policies and optimal decision-making regarding financing and investment.
Controlling
Specialize in the controller function. Learn to define and operationalize company strategy and coordinate business operations such as analytical accounting, advanced financial planning, and sector analysis.
International Finance and Accounting
Focus on companies with an international presence. You will deal in depth with basic aspects such as international accounting regulations, the financial management of multinationals or international taxation. 25% of this specialty is taught in English.
Who is it for?
Aimed at both young graduates in the field of Business Administration, Economics, Accounting and Finance or Management, as well as graduated professionals who currently work in departments related to accounting and finance.
Accreditations
UPF Barcelona School of Management is the management school of Pompeu Fabra University, the 1st Ibero-American university and the 16th placed university in the world, among those under 50 years of age, according to the Times Higher Education ranking.Â
UPF Barcelona School of Management has EQUIS accreditation, the most prestigious institutional recognition for business schools globally, and places itself among the top business schools in the world.
The Blended Master in Accounting and Financial Management is an official master's degree and has the academic recognition of the Ministry of Education of the Government of Spain. The Quality Agency of the University System of Catalonia (AQU Catalunya) has institutionally accredited the UPF-BSM. This accreditation certifies all the official university master's degrees that we teach and recognizes the quality of our educational model in accordance with the criteria of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
The master provides access to the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants), ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) accreditations.
Curriculum
The Blended Master's Degree in Financial and Accounting Management is structured in 3 distinct modules, the first two modules are common, and the third module is the specialization to choose from among Controlling, Corporate Finance, or International Finance and Accounting.
In addition, students must choose two elective subjects from the offered options or the professional internship subject.
The master's program is completed with the development of the Master's Final Project, which is carried out throughout the academic year, in parallel with the teaching activities.
Accounting Management and Financial Accounting
- Critical vision with a comparative approach at the international level of accounting regulations (General Accounting Plan and International Financial Information Standards, General Accounting Plan for SMEs and Microenterprise Regime).
- Comparison with US GAAP regulations.
- Review of the latest research on accounting regulations and international accounting. Analysis of the latest trends and repercussions for the company.
- ICAC sanctioning procedures.
- Relevance of the consolidation of balance sheets in the cases of groups of companies
- Rules for preparing the consolidated annual accounts
- Formulation of consolidated accounts of corporations and groups of companies
- Comparison with international regulations. Review of the latest research on balance sheet consolidation.
- Analysis of recent changes in the legislation on auditing of accounts
- Critical vision with an international comparative approach of auditing regulations
- Auditing principles and standards
- Audit procedures. Audit reports. ICAC sanctioning procedures
- Internal audit and internal control
- Comparison with international regulations
- Review of the latest audit research
- Analysis of the latest trends and repercussions for companies and for audit firms. Special reference to the responsibility of the auditors.
- Current status of academic research and business practice in financial statement analysis
- Equity and financial analysis. Discriminant analysis. One-dimensional and multidimensional models
- Analysis of working capital. The relationship between working capital needs and actual working capital. Latest trends in working capital management
- Comprehensive analysis
- Analysis of the ability to generate profits, value and growth
- Comprehensive diagnosis of the company. Sensitivity analysis
- Relationships between cost accounting and financial accounting
- Current state of academic research and business practice on costs, with special emphasis on the different cost systems used by companies in the current context
- Activity-based cost management
- Relations with integrated information systems and other functional areas of the company
- Strategic cost management
- New trends in cost accounting
- Latest academic research on the subject
- Cost models of high growth companies
- New approaches to cost reduction. The low-cost model, quality and non-quality costs. Environmental costs. Consequences of cost reduction approaches in the company
- Relations with integrated information systems and other functional areas of the company
- Standard costs and variance analysis models
- Practical implementation of budget control models
- Review of the literature on new trends in budget control and management beyond budgets
- Budget management models of high-growth companies by sectors
- Link between strategy and control system
- Choice of monetary and non-monetary indicators
- Design of scorecards (balanced scorecard)
- Human aspects of management control
- Review of the literature on new trends in management control and foreseeable evolution of control in organizations
- Management control models in high growth companies
- Design of control systems that minimize the perverse effects of management control
- Case studies of successful companies and of failed companies.
Financial Management
- Relationships between financing policy and financial instruments
- Analysis of the impact of the macroeconomic environment and the behaviour of the intervening agents in the economic-financial situation of the company
- Review of the literature and the latest professional trends in the financial system
- Analysis of real operations traded in financial markets through the application of fundamental and technical analysis
- Review of the literature on analysis models of financial markets and stock investments
- Relations between investment policy and company financing
- Alternatives to fill the deficiencies of the different methods
- Choosing the most appropriate investment evaluation methods taking into account qualitative, fiscal, and organizational aspects and optimizing investment financing decisionsÂ
- Good investment evaluation practices in high-growth companies and special sectors
- Project finance.
- Latest trends in qualitative analysis of the company
- Current status of academic research and business practice in the field of business analysis and analysis of consolidated accounts
- Formulation of predictive models based on ratios (insolvency prediction techniques)
- Design of credit scoring and rating models
- Analysis of specific sectors
- Analysis of high growth companies, long-lived companies, failed companies and other types of relevant companies.
- Corporate finance: latest trends
- Current status of academic research and business practice in financial management
- Application of business valuation methods to real cases. Advantages and disadvantages depending on the sector and the company analysed
- Latest trends in business valuation and policies for value creation
- The perverse effects of value creation policies
Controlling Specialization
Corporate Finance Specialization
International Finance and Accounting Specialization
Elective Subjects: choose 6 credits (which correspond to two subjects or to the Professional Internship subject)
You can also undertake curricular internships in companies, which are validated as two elective subjects (6 ECTS credits).
- IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment
- IAS 40 Investment Property
- IAS 12 Income Taxes
- IAS 23 Borrowing Costs
- IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations
- IFRS 16 Leases
- IAS 38 Intangible Assets
- IAS 36 Impairment of Assets
- IAS 2 Inventories
- IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
- IFRS 8 Operating Segments
- IAS 33 Earnings Per Share
- IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements
- IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements
- IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities
- IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
Master's Final Project
In the Master's Final Project you must apply the knowledge acquired in the various subjects of the program to the business world.
Complementary activities
The Master's degree gives accelerated access to the CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) and ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) credentials, two of the most internationally recognized institutions for accrediting professionals in management & accounting, financial accounting and management accounting
Its contents mean that once you finish the master, you are prepared to take the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. There will be 2 scholarships available to access the CFA exam.
The Master in Accounting and Financial Management also includes the possibility of participating in practical activities and activities for personal and professional growth such as:
- Training Complement: Initial preparation course for participants who need it depending on their previous education: Introduction to Accounting.
- International mobility programme: extend your studies extracurricularly, during the academic year following the completion of your Master's, at a top-level institution. Limited places.
- UPF-BSM Inside: is a group of interdisciplinary subjects (applied data, communication, creativity, innovation and project management, sustainability and leadership among others) that, if you take this program, you can access at no additional cost. They are 100% online and you can take them throughout the academic year at your own pace, as they have been designed as self-study subjects.
Qualification obtained
After completing the program, and depending on their specialization, students will be awarded with the following degrees:
- Mà ster Universitari en Direcció Financera i Comptable de l’Empresa / Master in Accounting and Financial Management en l'especialitat en Finances Corporatives. Specialization in Corporate Finance - Máster Universitario en Dirección Financiera y Contable de la Empresa / Master in Accounting and Financial Management en la especialidad en Finanzas Corporativas. Specialization in Corporate Finance issued by Pompeu Fabra University.
- Mà ster Universitari en Direcció Financera i Comptable de l’Empresa / Master in Accounting and Financial Management en l’especialitat en Controlling. Specialization in Controlling - Máster Universitario en Dirección Financiera y Contable de la Empresa / Master in Accounting and Financial Management en la especialidad en Controlling. Specialization in Controlling issued by Pompeu Fabra University.
- Mà ster Universitari en Direcció Financera i Comptable de l’Empresa / Master in Accounting and Financial Management en l‘especialitat en Finances i Comptabilitat Internacional. Specialization in International Finance and Accounting - Máster Universitario en Dirección Financiera y Contable de la Empresa / Master in Accounting and Financial Management en la especialidad en Finanzas y Contabilidad Internacional. Specialization in International Finance and Accounting issued by Pompeu Fabra University.
Issuance of official Master's Degrees: The amount stipulated in the DOGC (Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia) must be paid for the rights to issue the title. This rate varies annually and the rate in force at the time of application for the degree will be applied.
Note: Elective courses will be carried out in case of reaching a minimum number of enrolled students. The final offer for each academic year may be adapted depending on the academic planning.Â
Faculty
The teaching team brings a dual approach to the program. On the one hand, professors from the prestigious UPF Department of Economics and Business contribute their theoretical knowledge in Auditing, Accounting, Control and Finance. On the other hand, recognized active professionals from leading companies contribute their experience on how to apply knowledge to the daily reality of today's companies.
Collaborating faculty
- Jordi Anducas Planas
Technical Manager in RSM SPAIN AUDITORES.
Postgraduate course in Auditing from UAB. Executive Development Program from Esade. - Silvia Baron Gomez
BBVA Real Estate Business Unit.
Master in Banking and Finance from Pompeu Fabra University. - Armand Bover de Soto
Financial Director at Sandrigham SL
Degree in Economics and Businesses Sciences from the University of Barcelona. - Julio Capilla Vidal
Partner of RSM Spain Auditores since 2013.  President of the Agrupación de Auditores de Baleares and member of the Board of Directors of the ICJCE. Â
Associate lecturer in the Accounting and Auditing Department of the University of the Balearic Islands.
Postgraduate course in Financial Management from Pompeu Fabra University Postgraduate course in Administration and Tax Management from the University of Barcelona.
Degree in Economic and Business Sciences from the University of Barcelona. - Pau Guerrero VilÃ
Corporate Financial Director at Cervino Corporation.
Executive MBA from IESE.
Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA). He also holds a Bachelor in Administration and Business Management and a Bachelor in Law from Pompeu Fabra University. - Xavier Olsina Pau
Degree in Economics and Businesses Sciences from the University of Barcelona.
He was Treasury Manager at ENDESA, SEAT Volkswagen and AGBAR Group. Founding member of ASSET (the Spanish Association of Corporate Finance Officers and Treasurers). - Albert Soler Rubio
Executive Director Credit Risk at Caixabank
MBA from ESADE. Degree in Economics and Businesses Sciences from the University of Barcelona. - VÃctor Vera Vinardell
Financial Director at Orange Catalunya.
Economist and Chartered Accountant. International Business Development at Essec.
Methodology
The approach is very practical and professional. The blended learning methodology is highly participative, combining in-person sessions with independent student work. Two weekends per month are dedicated to in-person classes, while the other two weekends are free for autonomous work.
Before in-person sessions:
- Course materials will be provided for preparation.
- Students will need to study part of the assigned syllabus.
- A preliminary activity or exercise will be required before the session.
In the face-to-face sessions:
- There will be a theoretical-practical session of the subject.
- There will be a test, generally multiple choice, in order to review the concepts worked at home.
- Case studies that have been prepared in advance will be discussed.
- Concepts will be clarified.
Between one face-to-face session and the next, the academic team will be available to help and facilitate the student's learning process.
The program adapts to you
Compatible with your professional and personal life. Face-to-face classes on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings, 2 weekends a month, combined with remote work.
Interactive teaching materials
Materials in different formats will make your experience more motivating: videos, case studies, content maps and downloadable resources. Designed and regularly updated by professionals and experts in the field, they provide you with the latest knowledge, skills and tools to take your career to the next level.
Flipped Classroom
You will prepare theoretical content by watching videos, reading articles or other materials provided by the teacher; once in class, you will share this content by solving cases, debates, thoughts, simulations and practical exercises.
Collaborative learning - Team building
Group activities will allow you to share visions, knowledge and opinions with colleagues from diverse backgrounds, enriching your academic experience and strengthening your network of contacts.
Connect with the professional world
Throughout the course, practical, real and current case studies will be discussed and presented, which allow you to apply the concepts learned and thus face the situations that you will find yourself in during your professional activity.
The figure of the mentor
Throughout the programme, you will develop your final project and, for this purpose, you will be assigned a mentor expert in the subject, who will be in charge of advising you and supervising its development until the final presentation.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the program will be based on:
- Case studies and work oriented to the business reality
- Multiple choice tests
- Final Project
- Class participation
- Attendance in class (80% of the face-to-face sessions of each module)
Tools
The combination of online learning and face-to-face sessions favours the balance between theory and practice in a flexible learning process. The various multimedia resources that are made available to the student allow them to acquire knowledge in a self-regulated manner and the face-to-face sessions seek to put them into practice with active methodologies.
You will have:
- Digital resources and audiovisual blocks for online learning
- Face-to-face sessions with active methodologies for transferable learning
- Master's or postgraduate work to learn by doing
- A personal mentor to monitor your Master's Final Project or Postgraduate Final Project
Professional Future
The program is aimed at all those professionals who want to grow and develop in an accounting or financial department, whether they are young graduates who want to start their careers, or graduated professionals who want to take on new challenges and responsibilities in this area of vital importance in any company.
Student profile
You will share a classroom with active professionals who have a common background (Accounting and Finance, Economics or Business Administration) and from different parts of the country, who seek quality training compatible with their work and personal life, with the added value of face-to-face experience in the classroom.
Average age
Number of years of average professional experience
Employability rate of the last 4 courses
Recommendations concerning the last 3 courses
Career opportunities
We train you to direct your professional career to accounting and finance departments, the consulting sector and Corporate Finance.
The master includes curricular internships that will help as a gateway into your professional future. They can be recognized with 2 years of experience in the field.
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- Director of accounting/finance department
- Business advisor on accounting, financial and management issues
- Business consultant
- Risk analyst in financial department
- Internal Auditor
- Staff/middle management in financial department of multinational
- Controller functions