Vergelijkbare opleidingen
Opleiding: Master in Accounting and Control
Learning purpose
In brief
You have a strong financial background and are familiar with the business world. But you want to go a step further. Enrich your knowledge and give well-founded management advice with self-confidence. The Master in Accounting and Control (MAAC) programme at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THU) offers you the opportunity to do this. It is a professional master's degree for ambitious students with a nose for financial, economic and organisational growth. Through a programme based on a strong international awareness, you will be trained for a top international financial position.
Broad and international
With the MAAC programme, you learn everything that a modern Financial Manager needs to know. Besides management accounting, financial management and information management, subjects such as professional ethics, risk management and people management are also included in the programme. It is a broad curriculum, tested in practice and optimally geared towards an international career. The language of instruction is English and your fellow students are multicultural. Thanks to this versatility, you learn to hold your own in a challenging work environment.
More than numbers
The MAAC programme expands the world of earnings, expenditures, loans and investments. Your area of work transcends the financial aspects. Checking, budgeting, analysing and advising come naturally to you. You understand perfectly how business processes work and you are able to translate your knowledge of the market, economy and organisation into a well-founded business strategy. In short, you are the conscience of the company, on whom the management blindly relies. With a MAAC degree, you can develop your career to become the Financial Director of an international company. You can follow this Master's programme on a full-time or part-time basis.
Why choose this programme?
Learning to look critically at business processes and results from different perspectives. That is central to the MAAC programme. You enrich your financial basis with knowledge and skills that are essential for a modern Financial Controller. The comprehensive curriculum is focused on the four PIOF areas: personnel, information, organisation and finances. Equipped with this all-round knowledge, you step into the employment market with boldness and self-confidence. In this way, you get the best out of yourself and for the company.
Focused on the future
There is a great need for Financial Controllers who have undergone a broad-based and international training. Especially these days where companies must continually innovate and work on tighter budgets due to the increasing competition. With this, the MAAC programme fills a gap in the market. It prepares you for an international career. You learn to comfortably do business with foreign groups, in various languages and with people from other cultures.
Personal growth
At the Academy for Master's & Professional Courses of The Hague University, the focus lies on you as a financial expert. You work on developing personal skills in the area of leadership, communication, teamwork and entrepreneurship. How do you manage an international team? Can we rely on the figures? Can we do business with this customer? These are the questions at stake. You discover where your strengths lies as well as your points of improvement. In this way, you grow not only in your position, but also as an individual.
Degree and recognition
MAAC is a professional master's degree and not a University Master of Science degree. After completion, you will receive a MAAC master's degree which has been accredited in 2006 by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organisation (NVAO). The MAAC programme is registered in the CROHO (Dutch Central Register of Higher Education). In order to ensure quality, the programme has been subjected to a strict quality test. You are assured a superior level of high-quality education. At the end of 2011, the MAAC programme is once again subject to the accreditation test.
Internationally recognised
The MAAC degree is recognised internationally. If you aspire to a job outside the Netherlands, you can get your degree legalised by the DUO (Education Department) of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Then you can prove worldwide that the document has been issued by a competent authority. For more information and the costs, please visit the website of DUO.
Further studies
The MAAC programme is not part of a continuous course of study. Despite this, you can study further, for example, to obtain your accountant's degree. The English (online) programme ACCA [link] is a valuable option for internationally oriented students. An ACCA graduate bears the title of 'Certified Chartered Accountant'. The MAAC degree also provides an excellent basis for the accountant's programme offered by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)
Costs
The costs for the complete MAAC programme amounts to € 16,500 for the academic year 2011-2012. This amount includes the Intranet, lectures and library facilities. And for the first phase of training, this includes books and course materials.
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Full-time MAAC in case of lump sum payment: € 16.500
- Full-time MAAC in case of payment in four instalments: € 16.650
- Part-time MAAC in case of lump sum payment: € 16.500
- Part-time MAAC in case of payment in six instalments: € 16.650
Tax benefit
The MAAC programme is exempt from VAT. In addition, your employer can deduct the entire cost from the profit as operating expenses. Even if you pay for the programme yourself, you can enjoy tax benefits. You can enter your training costs as a tax-deductible item on your income tax return. This will help you save up to half the price. For more information, please call the Tax Line: 0800 - 0543. Or download the brochure "Study costs or other educational expenses" issued by the Tax Authorities
More information
Would you like more information about the Master in Accounting and Control programme? Contact:
The Course Manager
Drs. Peter-Paul Baart RA
Tel (+31) (0) 70 445 8953
Email: P.P.L.A.Baart@hhs.nl
Open Day
In the meantime, would you like to get to know The Hague University, the lecturers and study programmes? Visit the Open Day. We are prepared to answer all your questions!
Target audience
You have a Bachelor's degree in finance or business economics and at least two years of relevant work experience, for example, as a Manager. You have strong analytical skills and are able to critically examine the interaction between staff, information, organisation and finances from various angles. Your interest in operational management is not just limited to the flow of funds. It is your ambition to become the Financial Director of a modern, international company.
Multicultural experience
If you are looking for a multicultural experience, the MAAC programme is just the place for you. You get to meet students from the United States, South America and the Far East and teachers with multiple backgrounds. A source of inspiration. Through role plays, you can immediately test in practice the international modes of behaviour you learn in this course. All kinds of international issues interest you, whether it involves taxes, laws and opportunities for innovation. Do you aspire a career abroad? The MAAC degree is internationally recognised.
Full-time or part-time?
You can follow the MAAC programme on a full-time or part-time basis. The contents of the two programmes are completely identical. If you follow the master studies alongside your regular job, you are assured of a direct link to your personal work situation. But the full-time master's programme also offers a lot of opportunities for practically-oriented cases. In addition, you follow interactive lectures, work in groups and receive skills trainings. In both study options, you cover a lot within a short period of time. Hence, the ability to learn, work and think independently is essential.
Programme
The MAAC consists of five phases. In the first four phases, you follow different modules and in the fifth phase, you complete your studies with a research report (thesis). Two streams of study run through each phase: management accounting and information management. These form the core of the programme. At the end of each phase, you work individually or in a group on a phase project where you get the chance to apply what you have learnt. You follow two of the modules together with students from the Master of Business Administration (MBA) programme.
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Phase 1 |
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This module offers you insight in the dynamics of the business world. You explore changes in market, policy and culture. You analyse the behaviour of organisations from sociological, psychological and business economic viewpoints. |
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You are taught about how accounting process works, including long-term planning, budgeting and forecasting. You also learn more about the history of this field and key accounting concepts. |
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In this module, you concentrate on writing a good business plan. How can you increase your chances of obtaining finances from banks and/or private investors? |
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The focus is on the relationship between business capital and the market. You learn more about financial instruments such as securities, dividends, warrants, bonds and options. |
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You become familiar with different organisational structures and procedures. You also study all the activities in the value chain, so that you become well-versed in business strategy. |
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Research skills are of crucial importance for a Master's student. In this module, you learn more about the different methods and techniques of collecting, processing, interpreting and presenting research data. Statistics is essential for analysing large amounts of data. |
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In this project, you focus on drawing up a sound business plan. You systematically translate all your ideas into a long-range budget/financing model and expected cash flows. This must also include practically feasible actions. Among others, the following topics are discussed: SWOT analysis, business planning, marketing plan and financial basis. |
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Phase 2 |
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Short-term planning and control issues related to the latest developments in Management Accounting and an ever-changing business environment. |
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This module helps you increase your analytical skills through data analysis, results analysis and functional analysis. Which systematic approach can you take to solve administrative problems and improve business processes? |
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This is a three-day workshop programme which teaches you, in a practical manner, to deal with international professional ethics, communication and leadership. The workshops are held off-campus, in the countryside. |
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Partly because this is a position involving confidentiality, high ethical standards are expected from a Financial Controller. You must also always have the courage to come up with an independent assessment. In this module, you learn about various aspects of (international) professional ethics. |
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In this project, you work on developing your interpersonal communication, conflict management and team building skills. This helps you develop an agreeable, effective and goal-oriented manner of interaction with both customers and employees. |
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Phase 3 |
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This module examines the features and tools of strategic cost management. How do you convert the cost outline into a strategic recommendation that is useful both internally and externally? |
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You explore the various aspects of corporate finance at a broader and more international level. How can you manage financial risks, optimise returns and innovate internationally? |
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The emphasis lies on financial accounting and external reporting. You are given guidelines for drawing up proper annual reports and monthly reports and you study the international differences in reporting. |
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How does information systems design impact decision-making? This is the main question of this module. You look at decision models, business-to-business communication, databases and the impact of technological developments. |
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In this project, you combine the various aspects of Information Management in practice. You sharpen your management skills, as well as your social skills and your knowledge of accounting systems and ERP software. |
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Phase 4 |
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You step into the shoes of a Finance Director and find out how customer-driven the market is. This modules deals with strategy formulation, control systems and the role of the Financial Controller in a dynamic internal and external work environment with a strong focus on the future value of the company. |
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This module includes seven aspects of the control process: international audits, the audit market, the audit process, professional ethics, customer acceptance, internal controls and audit reports. |
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Central to this module are international policy developments. You learn more about self-regulation, arbitration and treaties. Extra attention is given to European regulations. |
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You gain insight into the different tax systems in the world. You learn about the tax burden and international tax competition, enforcement issues and corporate taxes on profits and capital. |
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This module introduces you to all the tasks and responsibilities of a Financial Controller. You develop your teamwork, leadership and communication skills to the highest level. |
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This project gives you an idea of how accounting and controlling come together in the office of the CFO. You meet a real CFO and hear about the day-to-day problems from him. |
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Phase 5 |
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In this module, you work on the planning and research questions for your research report. You learn how to choose a topic that is as close as possible to your actual work and what the assessment criteria are. At the end of the module, you must submit a detailed proposal. |
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Based on your proposal, you write a research report of approximately fifty pages. In this, you analyse a management-related topic and show that you have gained mastery over all the knowledge acquired during the MAAC programme. You will be assisted by a personal supervisor. After approval of the report, you will be required to defend this verbally. |
Entry Requirements
In order to enrol in the MAAC, you must have a Bachelor's degree (from an institute for higher professional educational or university) in finance or business economics. You must also have at least two years of relevant work experience, for example, as Assistant Controller or Manager. An interview is part of the admission procedure. During this interview, we test your motivation and basic qualifications. We also see whether the MAAC programme matches your own ideas about your future.
Preparation
Are you a student from outside the European Union? Then in order to prepare properly for the programme, you need your English language skills to be tested by the independent testing institute IELTS or TOEFL.
Application
You can apply by completing the Registration Form in full. You must send this (including relevant attachments) at the latest within one month before the start of the programme for European students and for foreign students not later than 1 June of any year,to The Hague University. We will handle the applications in the order in which we receive them.
Additional information
For more information on residence permits, visa, insurances, scholarships, grants and other international matters, please contact the International Office of The Hague University.
Opleiding kerngegevens
"I am now back in my native country, China, but I could have worked anywhere in the world. It was just a coincidence that I got the chance to go to Shanghai via Philips Eindhoven. The Master in Accounting and Control is truly an international programme. Both the students and the teachers come from all corners of the world.
What appealed to me was that one could work in small groups and therefore learn a great deal from one another and from the teachers. I am still using what I've learned every day in practice, which also proves that this programme is useful throughout the world. My tip for prospective students: try to get all the knowledge that can be useful for you from the teachers. That's what they are there for!"
Philips Shanghai
Some students are justly proud of having earned one Master degree. Others go the extra mile and take a second Master's. Mu Tian (33) is in the second category. In 2002 he received his MBA at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THU). He followed this with the part-time Master in Accounting and Control (MAAC). "Throughout my second degree I remained focused on general management and project management skills," he says. "In China there is no clear division. To make it in any industry, specialized knowledge is not enough. You have to combine it with a background in both finance and management."
Private vs. state-owned
Positive feedback from friends who had studied in The Hague gave Mu the confidence to follow them to Europe. "The MBA went well, and when I saw the calibre of the students enrolling for the MAAC, I decided to join them." For his individual business report, which concluded the programme, he analysed the financial formalities for private companies working in China. "For state-owned companies it's easy to get funding from the banks. But they're not so forthcoming for private firms. The contrast is quite stark. In my report, I presented my analysis and suggested solutions."
Taking charge
In the six years that have passed since Mu's graduation, his knowledge of banking and internal and external accounting has stood him in good stead. When it proved impossible to get a work permit to stay in the Netherlands, he decided to try his luck in Beijing. He applied to Condor, a family-run design and construction company for golf courses. "In China, members of the owner's family are often nominally in charge but don't necessarily have the right educational background. During my first talk with the owner/president of Condor, he didn't seem satisfied with my experience. So I went home, checked out the industry and sent him an analytical three-page report. I got a job offer the next day."
Other opportunities
A fast learner, Mu was soon promoted from sales manager to vice general manager. He even developed golf courses overseas. But the economic crisis drastically reduced the capital available for investment, and Mu started to look for other opportunities. As an ambassador for THU at the Beijing education fair, he had befriended the director of the Netherlands Education Support Office (NESO), which enabled him to broaden his knowledge of the education systems of both Holland and China. In July 2009, with the help of NESO, he opened the first overseas representative office of Rotterdam's Erasmus University in Beijing.
Creating a bridge
"The office had to be registered according to the procedures laid down by the Chinese government. There were problems to solve and differences to reconcile. I initially spent most of my time creating a bridge between research programmes in China and the Netherlands. Erasmus University has a good reputation in China, so it's not hard to recruit students. But because the Dutch government is cutting the budget, Erasmus is now looking for new channels to attract students who can pay their own way."
Voluntary work
A large university by Dutch standards, Erasmus comprises nine faculties, each with its own regulations, research projects and decision-making procedures. The faculties which take up most of Mu's time are the medical faculty, the business school and the Hague-based Institute of Social Studies. In addition to this heavy workload, Mu also does some voluntary work: he leads THU's Chinese Student Union and is an executive committee member of The Netherlands Alumni Network in China.
Strong point
Mu's broad work experience and impressive educational qualifications point to a successful future in Asia, Europe or elsewhere. "My international experience is my strong point. I want to further expand my network in China. And in the future I'd like to establish my own consulting firm to coach people who want to start up a business in China."