This module provides a comprehensive and critical exploration of corporate financial strategy, financial technology, valuation, risk management, sustainable finance and international finance within dynamic and uncertain business environments. Students will examine the development of financial strategy within organisations, exploring the breadth of corporate finance and corporate treasury management, including investment appraisal, financing decisions, capital structure, and dividend policy. The module introduces a rigorous analysis of business and financial asset valuation, covering the nature and purpose of valuation, models for share valuation, valuation of debt and other financial instruments, the Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH), and practical considerations in equity valuation. Building on this foundation, students will analyse mergers, acquisitions, and takeover activity through real-world case studies, evaluating alternative financing methods including the growing importance of private equity, internal financing capacity, dividend strategies, capital reconstruction, divestments, diversification, corporate restructuring, and corporate failure.

The module further develops understanding of risk and returns by examining portfolio theory, the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM), and advanced quantitative techniques for measuring, interpreting, and managing financial risk, including scenario analysis for economic, environmental and social implications of financial strategies, simulation methods, and risk modelling under uncertainty. Alongside this, the module explores the transformative role of financial technology in modern financial systems, including applications of automation, artificial intelligence, data mining, blockchain, and regulatory technology, while critically reflecting on the ethical, regulatory, and cybersecurity challenges associated with digital financial innovation. The module concludes with a strong international focus, examining multinational financial strategy, the advantages of multinational corporations, the complexities of foreign direct investment (FDI), and the management of foreign exchange exposure through the evaluation and application of internal and external hedging strategies.

Finance Consultancy Project Group Presentation (30%)

In this experiential group project, you will act as junior financial consultants responding to a client-style brief from a real-world organisation or listed company. You will analyse the business and industry, review financial statements, apply valuation techniques, and assess investment, financing, and dividend policies, considering real-world constraints such as risk and uncertainty.

The presentation simulates a client-facing consultancy briefing and requires clear, professional communication.

Key Requirements of the Consultancy Presentation

The project also develops teamwork, role allocation, and professional communication skills. Reflection-in-action is embedded, requiring you to justify assumptions, acknowledge limitations, and demonstrate emerging professional judgement. This assessment builds graduate-ready skills in financial analysis, decision-making, teamwork, and client-focused problem-solving. Successful completion demonstrates readiness for progression to Level 6 study and supports future employability in finance, accounting, business analysis, and related professional pathways.

Students may choose one of the following formats to present their team analysis:

Live group presentation delivered in class

Pre-recorded group video presentation submitted online

All formats are assessed using the same marking criteria and must demonstrate equivalent academic standards.

A Closed book exam (70%)

A two-hour written examination, with an additional 10-minute reading time, assessing students’ knowledge of core accounting principles, their ability to apply critical reasoning to accounting and legal scenarios, and their competence in problem-solving within business contexts. The exam typically includes a mix of short-answer questions, structured problems, and scenario-based tasks.

Interactive lectures - Practice-Based Learning to encourage students to work through question banks. Case Study Analysis to use real-world scenarios to apply financial modelling.

Tutorials: Break down problem-based scenarios through guided exercises.

Lab sessions for Fintech: will enable students to develop practical skills in financial modelling, data analytics, automation, and digital finance tools. Through guided workshops and applied exercises, students will engage with real datasets, financial software, and emerging FinTech platforms to analyse financial performance, manage risk, and evaluate strategic financial decisions in technology-driven environments.

Workshop - The workshop supports to achieve focus on the practical application of automation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data mining techniques in financial analysis, valuation, risk management, and strategic decision-making.

Guest Lecture on Fin-tech models (resource person from academia and/or practitioner).

Digital learning for professional and continuous skills development - Throughout the module, emphasis is placed on developing professional skills, including fintech and use of financial data analytics. Students are encouraged to earn digital badges/ micro credentials by completing online short programmes in relation to fintech which were introduced by the potential employers and showcase these gained skills in LinkedIn.

1. Evaluate corporate financial strategy, including the components of strategy and the implications of emerging FinTech innovations and data-driven systems.

Knowledge and Understanding

2. Investigate corporate financial strategy, using research approaches to evaluate the impact of emerging FinTech innovations and data-driven systems on strategic financial decision-making.

Research Skills

3. Collaboratively present strategies for managing investment and finance risk in uncertain business environments using appropriate quantitative techniques.

Critical Reasoning and Collaboration
Communication

4. Use advanced data-driven tools to automate complex financial processes and interpret large datasets for strategic financial management.

Digital Literacy

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. (2024) Advanced Financial Management : course book : for exams in September 2024, December 2024, March 2025 and June 2025. 5th ed. London: BPP Learning Media.

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. (2023) F3 Financial Strategy: course book: for exams from January 2024. 6th ed. London: BPP Learning Media.

Hilpisch, Y.J. (2024) Python for Finance: Mastering Data-Driven Finance. 3rd edn. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly Media.

Hull, J.C. (2023) Risk Management and Financial Institutions. 6th edn. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Sheppard, K. (2022) Introduction to Python for Econometrics, Statistics and Data Analysis. 4th edn. Oxford: University of Oxford. Available at:
https://bashtage.github.io/kevinsheppard.com/files/teaching/python/notes/python_introduction_2020.pdf.

Step into the role of a senior financial strategist in this module designed to navigate the complexities of global corporate finance and digital innovation. You will synthesise advanced theories in investment appraisal, business valuation, and capital structure to provide actionable intelligence for organisations operating in uncertain global markets. The curriculum is engineered to build your technological fluency, exploring how automation, AI, and blockchain are transforming modern financial systems and risk management. This module serves as a professional launchpad, equipping you with the strategic agility and executive confidence needed to manage multinational portfolios and excel in the global financial landscape.