Complete ACCT-510
Explore Accounting with Finance
Enhance your career by combining the in-depth accounting expertise of a Master’s in Accounting with advanced financial knowledge through a finance graduate certificate. This dual-focus program equips you with essential skills in both accounting and finance, preparing you to navigate complex financial environments with confidence. Our program emphasizes integrating cutting-edge technologies like AI, blockchain, and cloud computing into financial processes, while the finance component enhances your ability to manage financial portfolios, assess risks, and drive organizational growth.
Invest in Your Future
Distinguish yourself with an accredited online master’s degree in accounting that offers:
- Advanced Accounting Skills: Gain expertise in financial statement analysis, auditing, and forensic accounting, ensuring you can effectively manage and interpret financial data.
- Financial Proficiency: Develop a strong foundation in key finance principles, including valuation, risk management, and portfolio management. Apply these skills to real-world scenarios in financial markets, capital budgeting, and capital markets.
- Technological Proficiency: Master the integration of AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and advanced financial strategies into accounting processes, enhancing your ability to make informed financial decisions.
- Certifications Preparation: Prepare for advanced certifications like CPA, CMA, and CIA while also gaining finance credentials that will set you apart in the job market.
Take the next step
Academic Excellence and Recognition
Regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education
Ranked among the Best Online Bachelor’s Programs by U.S. News & World Report
Designated as a Military Friendly School for our commitment to the military community
Named the among the best schools with accelerated bachelor's degrees by Intelligent.com
How Can an MS in Accounting with a Finance Certificate Help Your Career?
The combination of accounting and finance expertise positions you to excel in a wide range of high-level roles. As businesses navigate an increasingly complex global landscape, the demand for professionals who can blend financial analysis with strategic financial management is projected to grow 8 percent from 2022 to 2032. This dual focus can lead to positions such as financial controller, financial analyst, risk manager, and portfolio manager with an average income of $99,010.*
Graduates of this program are well-prepared to pursue professional certifications in both accounting and finance, making them highly competitive in various industries.
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 2024
Top Jobs for MS in Accounting Graduates with Finance Expertise
- Financial Controller
- Financial Analyst
- Forensic Accountant
- Financial Risk Manager
- Chief Financial Officer
- Investment Analyst
Program Details
Champlain's online accounting courses encompass the top skills needed by today's business professionals.
Professional Courses (21 Credits)
Graduate Certificate (9 Credits)
Required Courses
Advances your understanding of how to use financial information to value and analyze firms. Uses an understanding of a firm's strategy, what is contained in financial reports, why firms report certain information, and how to be a sophisticated user of this information. Evaluates current performance and its future sustainability, forecasts future profitability and risk, and values businesses using earnings and book value data. Develops a foundation to effectively communicate financial information.
Investigates and evaluates techniques for identifying and measuring business risk and for devising strategies incorporating risk analysis into strategic planning. Ties strategic objectives, risks, internal controls and critical success factors to business performance measurements to evaluate an entity's progress toward achieving strategic goals. Includes both quantitative and qualitative measurements and emphasizes effective communication of financial information.
Examines major international dimensions of financial and managerial accounting. Discusses national and cultural influences on accounting and on the accounting profession. Investigates financial regulation and IFRS accounting and financial reporting standards. Investigates corporate decisions related to methods of currency translation and accounting for gains and losses from exchange rate fluctuations. Explores managerial accounting issues raised by international organizations.
Prerequisites
Students will explore how technologies like cloud computing, blockchain, and non-generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing the field of accounting by automating accounting processes, enhancing accuracy and efficiency in financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with evolving regulations. The course also addresses critical issues like cybersecurity, data privacy, and ethical considerations specific to the accounting profession. Future trends will also be explored.
Focuses on complex frauds (including financial statement fraud, tax fraud and money laundering), and on non-fraud forensic accounting engagements (including cases of patent infringement, commercial damages and anti-trust.) Covers related investigation methods and legal issues, valuation models, reporting and communicating findings, testifying as an expert witness and other litigation advisory services.
Prerequisites
Complete ACCT-520
Students will focus on the application of technologies in auditing and how the technologies change the audit processes and the audit profession. The course covers data-driven audit methods, the use of AI and machine learning in the audit processes.
Students explore organizational finance with emphasis on investments, financial health, and corporate finance. Through practical application, accurate real-world simulations, and situational analyses, students build a grounding in finance in preparation for more advanced courses in the finance program.
In this course, students will explore the pivotal concepts of corporate finance and their application in contemporary business settings, as well as the intricacies of the capital structure of publicly traded companies, the principles that guide valuation, the investments made by these corporations, and the rationale behind such financial decisions.
Prerequisites
Take FINC-501
In this course, students will embark on a comprehensive exploration of investment theories and practices. The course provides students with a theoretical grounding for investments and teaches them about important issues that all investors need to consider, such as the economy, valuing securities, different types of assets, and the subtleties of modern portfolio theory.
Prerequisites
Take FINC-501
Graduates of the master of accounting online program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- Interpret financial information and integrate that information, using relevant technologies where appropriate to support decision making by internal and external stakeholders.
- Assess an organization’s accounting and IT internal controls to ensure the management and protection of sound financial information, reduce financial risks, and meet strategic goals.
- Communicate financial information that promotes sound financial decision making.
- Merge traditional accounting practices with technological tools to enhance financial decision-making, reporting, and auditing.
Graduates of the finance online graduate certificate program will demonstrate the following industry-specific skills, knowledge, and competencies:
- Analyze valuation and behavior of investment markets.
- Measure corporate financial performance by analyzing and assessing financial information and annual reports.
- Incorporate ethical issues into decisions about financial and markets from the perspectives of issuer and investor.
Tuition & Costs
Graduate Tuition Fall '23 - Summer '25
$595
per credit
$1,785*
per course
$450**
PER CREDIT FOR ALUMNI WHO EARNED A DEGREE FROM CHAMPLAIN, ON-CAMPUS or online
$450
per credit military service members (family members see truED tuition)
$150
One-time graduation fee
*Based on a 3-credit course; cost will vary if course is a different number of credits
** Starting Summer 2024, not retroactive
See the graduate cost of attendance and fees here
Upcoming Information Sessions
Meet the Program Director
Albert Orbinati, PhD
Department Chair and Assistant Professor, CCO Business Programs
Oversees
- Business (A.S., B.S., M.S., Certificates)
- Human Resource Management (B.S., Certificates)
- Leadership (M.S.)
- Management Information Systems (B.S.)
- Organization Development & Human Relations (M.S.)
About
Albert Orbinati, PhD, is Assistant Professor and Department Chair for the undergraduate and graduate business programs at Champlain College Online.
Prior to Champlain, Dr. Orbinati's roles have included Assistant Vice President of Online Learning and Continuing Education at Medaille University in Buffalo, NY; Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at Russell Sage College in Albany, NY; and Director of Online and Non-Traditional Programs at Utica University in Utica, NY. In addition to his career in higher education, Albert is a member of the U.S. military, and currently holds the rank of Major in the Vermont Air National Guard.
Dr. Orbinati holds a B.A. in Urban Planning from Binghamton University, an M.A. in Adult Education from Central Michigan University, an M.B.A from Champlain College, and a Ph.D. in Adult Education from Capella University.
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