EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Degree program in Accounting and Finance at M.A College has been offered in all three modalities since the college obtained full-fledged accreditation   from the then Higher Education Relevance and Quality Agency (HERQA), now FDRE Education and Training Authority (ETA); Regular, Extension and Distance.

The degree awarded after successful completion of the program is known as: English: “Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting and Finance “Amharic version is: “የአርት ባችለር ዲግሪ በአካውንቲግ ና ፋይናንስ”

The standard study period to complete the program is eight semesters (four years) at Regular program, twelve terms (four years for distance learners) and nine to ten semesters ( for extension students) and about 146 Credit hours would be taken to complete the degree program.

GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

This program is designed to prepare students for careers in Accounting and Finance in all economic sectors such as business, not-for-profit, and government organizations. The areas of Accounting and Finance study are financial Accounting, cost and managerial Accounting, tax Accounting, Accounting information systems, Government and non-profit Accounting, Finance, and auditing. In addition to the above mentioned input of the program, it combines and applies several supporting subject fields including law, information technology, quantitative techniques and economics pertinent to the accounting and finance agenda. The graduate and professional profile that a learner would achieve from this degree program in Accounting and Finance are provided here under.

Graduate Profile

Upon graduate from the program, the graduate from BA degree in Accounting and Finance should have accounting and finance knowledge and understanding that enable them to:

• Prepare, analyze, and interpret financial statements competently;
• Audit financial statements and the underlying accounting systems, controls and records, and express an independent professional opinion about them;
• Identify, measure, gather, analyze, interpret and communicate cost and other types of information to management for planning, control, performance measurement, and decision making related to pricing, operating, investing, and financing activities;
• Identify and anticipate control risks both in manual and computerized accounting systems, and to suggest and establish better controls to safeguard business resources from risk exposures of illegal acts;
• Analyze and design accounting information systems, and use computer applications in business transaction cycles;
• Develop the specific skills, modes of analysis and institutional background useful to work in finance areas for profit-making businesses or not-for-profit enterprises
• Start and run their own business;
• Manage financial resource and risk exposures of business firms, manage financial institutions, analyze investment opportunities and execute professional services in investment institutions,   brokerage & dealer firms and in investment banks;
• To conduct accounting and finance related research and to form linkage with various accounting and finance oriented and research based institutions both locally and abroad.
• Work clerical activities like, keeping general accounts, records and reports; payroll processing and billings.
• Prepare tax return and perform tax plan
• Internalize an appreciation for the role of ethics in both the profession and the business world.
• Be prepared for graduate studies, professional certification and advanced trainings in accounting, auditing, finance, and management.

Professional Profile

With additional training and work experience, the graduates of the department can pursue careers and render professional services in the areas of accounting and finance in various forms of organizations ranging from private, governmental and non-profit entities. After successful compilation of the three years’ undergraduate program of accounting and finance, students will be able to be: –

• Accounting clerks: Keeping general accounts, records and reports; payroll processing and billings; Perform cost and managerial accounting and control, data generation and supervisions; Disbursement voucher process and control; and bank reconciliation and banking activities;
• Cost analysts: keep accounts of product costing and provide other relevant cost information
• Auditor both internal and external: Work as an assistance auditor (both internal and external); Pre-audit inspection and investigation; Operational audit, partial financial audit, cash audit, compliance audit, branch audit, interim reports audit, advance clearance;
• Tax specialists- prepare tax return, work as internal revenue agents and tax administrator.
• Information system designer and Manipulator-Generating information which is of financial and non-financial in nature necessary for management; and analyzing, designing and installing accounting systems (manual or computerized).
• Financial management –running revenue and expenditure management capital investment decisions; risk and insurance management and budgeting
• Financial analyst: financial planner, investment advisor, project coordinator; rendering financial consultancy services.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and Finance program must satisfy any of the following criteria:

• A successful completion of two year preparatory program with minimum University Entrance Examinations result set for admission, by Ministry of Education, for the entry year.
• Completion of Diploma program as per the requirement set by Ministry of Education (12⁺² and 10⁺³), Level 4 TVET Program with one year relevant work experience after graduation, Occupational Competency Assessment (COC) Certification , and pass the College’s entrance examination.
• A degree program student from other accredited Higher Education Institutions with legal withdrawal beyond disciplinary breach, and/or transferred increase of institutional preference or field choice.
• A first degree graduate in any field of study from accredited Higher Education Institutions
• For international students anyone who wishes to join the BA program in Accounting and Finance is required to meet the entry requirements of higher institutions stated by Ministry of Education and the FDRE Education and Training Authority requirement.

Graduation Requirements

To graduate from the program, the student should take all courses offered in the program, a total of 146 credit hours and earn a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 2.00 or better by the end of the program, and earn no ‘F’ grade in any course. The student is also required to have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.00 in all major courses by the end the program.

DURATION OF THE PROGRAM

The normal duration of the BA degree in Accounting and Finance will be 8 semesters (4 years) for regular program and 12 terms (4 years). A total of 146 credit hours of course work and graduation research project over the period mentioned above is normally regarded as a full load for both regular and extension students.

DEGREE NOMENCLATURE

The degree awarded after successful completion of the program is known as: English: “Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting and Finance” Amharic version is: “የአርት ባችለር ዲግሪ በአካውንቲግ ና ፋይናንስ”