How can you ensure that shareholders and managers receive the right information? How do modern-day developments, such as IT and Corporate Social Responsibility, affect the provision of information?
The MSc Accountancy and Controlling emphasizes the importance of high-quality information. In today's world, such information is crucial for all kinds of decisions. For instance, shareholders have to decide whether to continue their investment in particular companies, and managers need to decide which strategy to follow for their company to remain successful.
These and other decisions require relevant, reliable, and timely information. In this master’s programme, you will learn how to design information systems that produce such information, and how to assess the quality of existing systems.
The emphasis will be on the future role of auditors and controllers in society. Therefore, much attention will be paid to the opportunities and threats which arise due to innovations in information technology. Similarly, the current trend of reporting about sustainability issues, and its implications for information systems, will receive ample attention. Of course, also more traditional topics, such as ways to detect fraud, will be discussed at length. Many graduates further specialise by obtaining a professional qualification and/or following an executive master programme.
Did you know you can also study management accounting and control in Groningen? Find out more about our MSc Business Administration - Management Accounting and Control .
During my study, I learned the usage of IT
How can you ensure that shareholders and managers receive the right information? How do modern-day developments, such as IT and Corporate Social Responsibility, affect the provision of information?
The MSc Accountancy and Controlling emphasizes the importance of high-quality information. In today's world, such information is crucial for all kinds of decisions. For instance, shareholders have to decide whether to continue their investment in particular companies, and managers need to decide which strategy to follow for their company to remain successful.
These and other decisions require relevant, reliable, and timely information. In this master’s programme, you will learn how to design information systems that produce such information, and how to assess the quality of existing systems.
Programme
The programme has two profiles to choose from: Accountancy and Controlling. The Accountancy profile focuses on the information needs of external stakeholders, such as shareholders.
This focus comes back in courses on Auditing (10 EC in total) and Financial Accounting (10 EC). A lot of attention will be paid to a firm's external reporting and the investigation of the quality of information systems and external reports.
The Controlling profile emphasizes the information needs of managers and other internal stakeholders. This emphasis is realized in courses on Management Accounting / Management Control (15 EC) and Financial Management (5 EC). Therefore, the provision of information for decision making and control will be the main interest.
- Academic Bachelor's or Master's degree from a research university in the field of Business Economics or Business Administration with a specialisation in Accountancy & Controlling; the content of the programme has to meet specific requirements; for instance, it needs to include courses in Auditing and Accounting information systems (or Internal Control)
- Proof of English proficiency
- A GMAT/GRE test is required from all candidates who obtained their bachelor's degree from a university in a non-EU/EEA country
Not meeting the pre-education requirements for direct entry? Please read more about our pre-Master programmes .
Your Master's programme is a good basis for many positions in both the private and the public sectors, including the positions of auditor and controller (sometimes called management accountant). Also becoming a consultant in related areas is an option.
Job prospects
Many auditors start their career at one of the Big Four auditing firms: KPMG, PwC, Deloitte and EY. Auditors examine a company's information systems and test the reliability of these systems by conducting random sample checks and data analyses. To become an auditor, you usually need an additional qualification as a Chartered Certified Accountant.
Controllers are employed by regular companies, where they prepare budgets and reports, make cost price calculations, assess investment proposals, and design performance measurement systems. Strategic decision-making, IT solutions, and risk management are also examples of subjects a controller deals with. As a controller, you may want to pursue a Chartered Management Accountant qualification (optional).
The ways of attaining these qualifications differ per country. In the Netherlands, after finishing the Accountancy profile, you can combine your job with the Executive Master of Accountancy (EMA). This programme lasts one and a half years and is combined with a three-year practical internship. On completion, you can use the title Executive Master and the Dutch qualification of 'registeraccountant'. Alternatively, and irrespective of the profile you completed, you can follow the Executive Master of Finance and Control (EMFC). This part-time programme lasts two years, and – after completion – allows you to use the title Executive Master in Finance & Control and the Dutch equivalent 'registercontroller'.
Job examples
- Management accountant
- Financial manager
- Consultant in the domain of financial management / information systems
- Auditor
- Controller