-
Master of Science in Business

Major in Accounting and Business Control

Customise your Master of Science in Business degree by choosing a major in Accounting and Business Control.

What will you learn?

The increasing complexity of business environments makes it especially challenging for managers and employees to create sustainable value. The major in Accounting and Business Control provides the required technical skills, theoretical knowledge, and deep understanding of various types of topics related to business, to successfully contribute to sustainable value creation in organisations. 

You will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career as a CFO, controller, treasurer, or corporate manager. These professionals need to be proficient in accounting, financial control, strategy, treasury, and forecasting. To understand what is required to establish a career as a controller, you will acquire knowledge in reporting, analysis, and the presentation of historical information of companies. In order to work in treasury, you will learn about capital structures, financial risk, liquidity, and investment analysis. Finally, to be proficient in strategy and forecasting, you will develop knowledge and skills in strategic business analysis, modelling, scenario analysis, and valuation. 

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

This major closely follows the syllabus of the internationally recognised finance qualification CIMA. Upon graduation, you can continue towards CIMA accreditation. Two of the pillars at CIMA’s Strategic Level are automatically recognised by CIMA after completion of the major in Accounting and Business Control. BI is the only school in the Nordic countries that offers this valuable option.

Popular courses covered in this programme

Illustration of a stop and go sign
Illustration of a stop and go sign

Develop the competencies required to analyse, evaluate, manage, and respond to risk.

Picture of numbers
Picture of numbers

Learn about the regulatory environment for financial reporting, preparation of financial statements, management working capital, as well as fundamentals of business taxation.

Illustration of a man with a suitcase
Illustration of a man with a suitcase

Develop the skills to interpret financial information for higher level managerial decision making. Understand how incorporating technology can improve both analytical insight and reporting practices.

Sircular image with colors
Sircular image with colors

Learn how to evaluate the financing requirements of firms, and the advantages and disadvantages of alternative sources of financing to meet those requirements. Also, develop the competencies required to value possible investment opportunities.

Why choose this major?

Engaging learning experiences and quality teaching are something we strive to provide, to help you build a solid skill and competency base, making you relevant for the future of work. In the video below, you will get the perspectives of our students, faculty, and the industry to understand the reasons for choosing to major in Accounting and Business Control at BI.

Why choose a major in Accounting and Business Control?

Career Possibilities

With a Master of Science in Business major in Accounting and Business Control, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to pursue a successful career as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), business controller, corporate risk manager, consultant, or analyst in various industries. Our major prepares you for the challenges and opportunities of a dynamic and complex business environment. You will learn to analyze, evaluate, manage, and respond to opportunities and risks, as well as create sustainable value for organizations. We offer you a variety of courses that cover topics such as financial accounting and taxation, management control, business analysis and valuation, strategic risk analysis, and treasury management. You will develop the technical, analytical, and strategic skills that are essential for accounting and business professionals, such as: 

  • Business Controller: You work within the finance department of an organization and are responsible for tasks related to financial analysis and management and are involved in the broader business aspects. As a business controller, you gather, interpret, and provide relevant information and collaborate with different departments to ensure efficient decision-making and advise top management. In an era of constant change, the role of a business controller has evolved to a pro-active change manager and business partner, who plays an important role in building new business models of the future. 
  • Corporate Risk Manager: As a corporate risk manager, you identify, assess, and mitigate risks in organizations. This includes risks related to financial transactions, regulatory compliance, technology, sustainability, strategic decisions, and more. Corporate risk managers also implement risk management strategies and practices that help minimizing the exposure of the organization to such risks. You also understand how risk management strategies impact the financial statements.   
  • Consultant: A consultant is responsible for providing expert advice and solutions to organizations about various accounting, control, and finance issues. As a consultant you help companies tackle various problems. You could for instance advise companies on organizational restructuring, optimization of various internal processes, or implementation of systems for control. 
  • Analyst: An analyst is responsible for conducting research and analysis on an organization. As an analyst you collect and interpret data, evaluate the performance, and forecast the future trends and outcomes, such as financial performance, sustainability, and digital trends.  
  • Auditor: Many students first join an auditing firm as a stepping-stone towards more senior roles outside the auditing industry. However, if you decide to become an auditor after studying Accounting and Business Control, you will be able to subsequently take the Master in Regnskap og Revisjon (MRR) with only one additional year of studies.1   
  • Many of these previous functions will ultimately prepare you for a position as CFO or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an organization.  
Thea Marie Sagelvmo Relationship Manager Nordea Putting theories into practice
Kristin Schønberg-Moe Associate Deloitte From Binders To Blockchain

Trying to decide which master programme is right for you? Take our Master Quiz to find your best match.

;

Programme Structure

The academic year at BI is divided into two semester, one in the autumn and one in spring. There are exams at the end of each semester. This programme structure provides an overview of which courses you will be taking and when you will be taking them.

Please be aware that the study plan and courses can be subject to change.