Train as an expert professional in accounting and finance, and specialize in Corporate Finance, Controlling or International Finance with a program for international students.
The main objective of the 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 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 for customer management, treasury and long-term financial management. 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.
In addition, in the Corporate Finance specialization, you will have the opportunity to obtain a double degree with Montpellier University - MOMA (France).
The 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.
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 as well as in Spanish.
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 co-ordinate 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 specialization 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 graduate 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.
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 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 Master 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 decisions
- 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.
Note on the Curriculum
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 Supplement: Initial preparation course for participants who may need to take it depending on their previous education: Introduction to Accounting.
- International mobility: The UPF Barcelona School of Management offers you the possibility of expanding your training and international vision through different programmes and activities:
- 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.
- Study Trip: optional trip to a European city in which conferences and visits to companies will be scheduled so as to expand knowledge and acquire a global vision.
- 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:
- Màster 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.
- Màster 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.
- Màster 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.
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 Management, 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.
Academic directors
Faculty
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 (UPF - IDEC). - Ricardo Blasco Mínguez
Financial Manager with consolidated experience in multinational environments and transformational projects. He has developed most of his professional career in the multinational firm COTY. He currently works in PEPSICO.
Master in Financial Management from EADA. - 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.
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 Vilà
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. -
Juan Pablo Mejía
Industrial Engineer and MBA from the London Business School.
He has more than 11 years of experience in investment banking, capital markets, entrepreneurship and providing advice related to blockchain and crypto assets. He is also a professor of topics related to Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies since 2017 in universities, corporate workshops, events, and through his YouTube channel "Juan en Cripto" and the podcast "Tune into the Block". - 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). - Xavier Subirats Alcoverro
Master in International Business at ESCI - UPF
Degree in Business Administration from the Universitat Barcelona.
Partner at Amsel Assessors and professor of Business Administration at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. -
Tatiana Torres i Morè
Degree in Business Administration and Management from Pompeu Fabra University and Executive MBA from ESADE.
Economist with more than 11 years of experience in financial auditing at the international consulting firm PwC. Throughout her professional life, she has been a project manager for financial and control auditing and a member of the Technical Department. She has also been involved in capital market projects. Currently, she teaches university and post-university in the field of Economics and Business. - Víctor Vera Vinardell
Financial Director at Orange Catalunya.
Economist and Chartered Accountant. International Business Development at Essec. - Carlos Vivas Urieta
Director of Budgets and Fiscal Policy at Barcelona City Council.
Degree in Economics and Businesses Sciences from the University of Barcelona.
Methodology
The program has a very practical and professional approach. Theory and practice are combined with a very participatory methodology. Added to the presentation of theoretical concepts by the teachers is the interaction and active intervention of the students.
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.
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.
Participate in a Challenge
A business challenge of a real case will be proposed and you must present the resolution to first level professionals (e.g. Sanofi, Henkel). There will be a recognition award.
International vision
You will learn about the current reality of the most important financial institutions in London, through seminars given by their professionals. Elective offered in the Corporate Finance and International Finance specialities.
Evaluation
The evaluation of the program is continuous and will be carried out based on:
- Practical cases, exercises, and work oriented to business reality
- Tests of the different subjects
- Class participation and presentations
- Class attendance (minimum 80%)
- Master's Final Project
The evaluation activities will be carried out individually and also in a group, promoting teamwork..
Tools
The On-Campus&Live methodology allows you to follow the program in person and also remotely.
In this modality, two stable subgroups are opened that will coexist throughout the course: one face-to-face and the other with 100% remote students. The remote students (a maximum of 15 places per course) will follow the program in a synchronous way with the face-to-face students. That is, they will share the same school calendar and schedule as the face-to-face students.
Project-oriented learning and the combination of lectures and active methodologies such as case studies, flipped learning, solving real problems, and professional simulations allow the student to connect theory and practice, acquire advanced skills, and achieve learning which is transferable to the job. The face-to-face modality is enriched with elements of online programs (virtual learning environment, multimedia resources, among others) so that the learning experience of the two subgroups is equally satisfactory.
You will have:
- Master's or postgraduate work to learn by doing
- A personal mentor to monitor your Master's Final Project (TFM) or Postgraduate Final Project (TFP)
- Digital resources to achieve transversal skills
- Interdisciplinary activities and workshops
- Digital resources and audiovisual blocks for online learning
- Active methodologies for transferable learning
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, control management, and responsibilities in this area of vital importance in any company.
Student profile
The master's degree brings together young professionals from the fields of accounting and finance, economics or business administration for each course.
The participants come from different countries, but they all have a common goal: to access quality training and live an academic experience that prepares them for their professional future.
Average age
Number of years of average professional experience
International students
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.
- 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
- Financial Controller
- Director of finance
- General Director