Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Available to students on NN14 only

Co Requisite Comment

None

Aims

•       To provide work experience at PwC suitable for a Stage 2 student;
•       To introduce students to work in a professional accountancy practice environment;
•       To provide opportunities to apply learning to practical problems and situations, thereby reinforcing and extending learning;
•       To provide work experience consistent with the approved technical work experience required by the ICAEW;
•       To develop professional skills relating to audit, assurance, financial reporting or taxation;
•       To develop key skills through working in a team and liaising with colleagues and client staff;
•       To develop the attitudes required of a Chartered Accountant;

Outline Of Syllabus

N/A

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Through work experience developing:

•       A knowledge of the business context within which accounting and finance operate;
•       A greater knowledge and understanding of UK financial reporting and in particular of how assigned audit areas impact on financial statements and disclosure notes;
•       A greater understanding of the context of audit and assurance work;
•       Other knowledge depending on the placement.

Intended Skill Outcomes

•       Develop understanding of audit risk and analysing control systems in simple audit areas;
•       Developing the professional attitudes required of a Chartered Accountant.

Others depending on the nature of the placement e.g.:
•       Recording and summarising transactions;
•       Interviewing client staff to gather information;
•       Performing walkthrough, control and substantive tests;
•       Gaining an understanding of clients’ businesses.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Each student's personal tutor can also offer support whilst on placement. They can maintain contact via email and telephone.

Students will be required to maintain a learning portfolio during the placement in a form established by the University in conjunction with PwC, where they will record their work experience and what they have learned.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Method (s) and Timing of Assessment

In order to pass this module, students must be able to demonstrate two things. Firstly, that they have maintained satisfactory performance during their placement in professional practice. Secondly, that they have completed a learning portfolio to a satisfactory standard by the end of the Placement. The learning portfolio will contain written evidence of their performance along with evidence of the knowledge and skills developed during the placement. The module will be assessed by the University in consultation with PwC staff based on the accumulated evidence of student achievement and performance contained in the learning portfolio. In addition to the formal assessment, students will gain plenty of formative feedback on their performance and on their development needs.

In order to pass the placement, students must also complete all placement eligibility checks and associated tasks prior to the start of the placement training and in compliance with publicised deadlines agreed between PwC and the University.

There is no opportunity to resit the work placement.

General Notes

1.We will continue to work on the understanding that a student engages in a short placement as part of these modules.
2.The placement is a mandatory part of this degree programme and is offered by one placement provider only, PwC.
3.The placement forms part of the ICAEW training contract and students are expected to make progress towards this as part of their degree. Parameters for the work experience element of the ICAEW training contract are set out in the programme Protocol document (Protocol between University, ICAEW and PwC). Students will then have completed up to 250 days of their technical work experience, providing that they have gained technical work experience for the whole work experience period. After graduation they will need to complete at least another 200 days of technical work experience to meet the total ICAEW training contract requirement of 450 days.
4.As the conditions of the training contract will not be completed until approximately 1 year after the student graduates, there is a degree of flexibility in terms of the work placement hours taken as part of the degree to accommodate any period of sickness or absence for personal reasons required by the student in consultation with PwC and the DPD. Depending on the duration of this absence, students may be allowed to complete any missing hours either over the summer vacation or as part of a training contract post-graduation. Circumstances will be discussed on a case by case basis in consultation with the DPD, PwC and PEC process.
5.Placements are expected to take place in person but can be completed virtually should a placement be affected by a further national or local outbreak (including periods of self-quarantine that might be required for more localised issues).
6.Students can start counting hours as soon as they start their placement.
7.Assessment approach will remain the same: firstly, that they have maintained satisfactory performance during their placement in professional practice (this is confirmed by the employer) and secondly, that they have completed a learning portfolio to a satisfactory standard by the end of the Placement (completed by the student). Assessment submission is at the end of the placement. Canvas materials for module start will be available before the start of each placement and a briefing will be provided by the Module Leader. Students are also required to complete all placement eligibility checks and associated tasks prior to the start of the placement training.