
The Professional Master’s in Applied Finance and Accounting (PMAFA) is a comprehensive program designed to develop finance professionals' expertise in core areas like accounting, financial planning, cost management, compliance, and risk assessment. Based on eight key functional domains, it combines practical skills with strategic thinking to prepare learners for effective financial management, reporting, auditing, and leadership in a dynamic business environment.
Apply NowThe Professional Master’s in Applied Finance and Accounting (PMAFA) is a comprehensive, industry-aligned program designed to equip finance professionals with the functional expertise, strategic thinking, and applied skills needed to drive financial performance and governance in modern organizations.
Built around eight core Functional Domains, the program integrates foundational accounting practices, advanced financial planning, cost management, regulatory compliance, and enterprise-level financial risk assessment. Each competency area is designed to reflect real-world finance roles and responsibilities, enabling learners to build mastery in both day-to-day financial operations and high-impact strategic decision-making.
Whether preparing financial statements, managing corporate budgets, performing internal audits, or assessing financial risk, this program empowers professionals to lead with confidence, insight, and integrity in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.
FD-1: Accounting Operations & Transactional Control
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This domain builds the foundation of accounting by focusing on core concepts, principles, and day-to-day functions carried out by accounting professionals. Learners will gain the technical and operational skills required to manage accounting cycles and support financial operations.
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AC-1: Fundamentals of Corporate Accounting
This competency introduces the foundational structure of accounting systems in a corporate setting. It focuses on the core components of the accounting cycle, helping learners understand how transactions flow from source documents to final trial balances.
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AC-2: Different Accounting Concepts
This area covers essential accounting concepts such as matching, consistency, going concern, and prudence. It ensures that learners can apply these principles appropriately in the preparation and interpretation of financial records.
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AC-3: Role and Functions of Accountant in Organization
This competency explores the evolving role of the accountant—from transactional processor to strategic business partner. It emphasizes how accounting functions integrate with financial planning, reporting, and compliance efforts across departments.
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AC-4: Recording and Classifying Business Transactions
Focusing on technical accuracy, this competency teaches learners how to systematically record financial transactions and classify them correctly across ledgers. It provides hands-on experience in double-entry accounting and ledger maintenance.
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FD-2: Financial Planning, Budgeting & Cashflow management
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This domain equips learners with tools and techniques for effective financial planning, resource allocation, and budget control. It bridges operational finance with long-term strategic goals.
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AC-5: Introduction to Budgeting
This competency introduces budgeting as a key financial management tool. Learners explore the types, purposes, and processes of budgeting to understand how it supports planning, coordination, and control within an organization.
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AC-6: Corporate Financial Planning
This area focuses on aligning financial plans with strategic objectives. Learners will explore how to create integrated financial plans that incorporate forecasts, assumptions, and department-level inputs to inform business decisions.
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AC-7: Managing Budget for Financial Planning Execution
This competency equips learners with skills to monitor, analyze, and adjust budgets during the execution phase. Emphasis is placed on variance analysis, resource reallocation, and performance tracking to improve financial discipline.
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AC-8: Managing & Controlling Cash Flow
This area teaches learners how to monitor and manage a company's cash flow to maintain liquidity and operational efficiency. It covers forecasting, working capital management, and the use of financial data to ensure short- and long-term solvency.
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FD-3: Financial Statement Preparation
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This domain focuses on the preparation of core financial statements—Balance Sheet, Income Statement, and Cash Flow Statement—ensuring learners can translate raw financial data into structured financial outputs.
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AC-9: Preparation of Financial Statements
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This competency focuses on compiling and presenting financial statements (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow Statement) that provide a true and fair view of the organization’s financial position. It includes classification, summarization, and period-end reporting procedures in compliance with accounting frameworks.
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AC-10: Accrual and Prepayments
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This competency focuses on applying accrual accounting principles to ensure financial statements reflect the correct accounting period. Learners will make end-of-period adjustments for accrued revenues/expenses and prepayments.
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AC-11: Bad and Doubtful Debts
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This competency develops the learner’s ability to account for irrecoverable debts and establish provisions for doubtful debts. It ensures accurate asset valuation and income reporting.
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AC-12: Bank Reconciliations
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This competency emphasizes the importance of reconciling the organization’s bank records with its cash book. It enhances accuracy in cash reporting and internal control over funds.
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FD-4: Cost & Management Accounting
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This domain introduces cost analysis tools and management accounting practices used to support operational efficiency, pricing decisions, and strategic resource utilization.
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AC-13: Introduction to Management Accounting
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This competency builds the foundation for management accounting as a tool for internal decision-making. It introduces learners to the distinction between financial and management accounting and the various types of costs and cost behavior critical to operational control.
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AC-14: Activity-Based Costing (ABC) and Activity-Based Management (ABM)
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This competency develops the learner’s ability to apply activity-based costing and management techniques. It focuses on identifying cost drivers, allocating overheads accurately, and using cost data for performance improvement.
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AC-15: Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis
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This competency focuses on the application of CVP analysis as a financial planning tool. Learners assess how changes in cost structures, volume, and pricing affect business profitability and break-even thresholds.
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AC-16: Strategic Cost Management
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This competency provides advanced tools for aligning cost structures with business strategy. It explores cost control mechanisms, benchmarking, and long-term cost reduction initiatives to enhance competitiveness.
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FD-5: Financial Reporting and Analysis
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This domain covers financial reporting principles and techniques to evaluate business performance. It includes the application of global standards and ethical practices.
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AC-17: International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
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This competency focuses on the understanding and application of IFRS in preparing and presenting financial statements. Learners will become familiar with core IFRS standards relevant to income recognition, asset valuation, liabilities, and equity disclosures.
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AC-18: Fair Value Accounting
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This competency develops the learner’s ability to apply fair value measurement principles for assets and liabilities. It emphasizes valuation techniques and the impact of fair value adjustments on financial statements.
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AC-19: Financial Analysis
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This competency covers financial ratio analysis, trend evaluation, and performance measurement. Learners will use financial data to assess organizational health, compare performance over time, and support decision-making.
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AC-20: Ethical Standards in Financial Reporting & Compliance
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This competency highlights the ethical considerations and regulatory expectations in financial reporting. It reinforces the importance of integrity, transparency, and professional ethics in maintaining stakeholder trust.
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FD-6: Strategic Accounting & Corporate Finance Decisions
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This domain focuses on the strategic aspects of accounting and financial decision-making, preparing professionals to lead in high-level financial planning, investment analysis, and corporate finance.
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AC-21: Operating and Financial Leverage
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This competency introduces the concept of leverage and its impact on a firm’s profitability and risk profile. Learners will explore the relationship between fixed costs, variable costs, and earnings volatility, enabling them to assess risk implications tied to cost structures and financing decisions.
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AC-22: Foreign Exchange Accounting & Impact Analysis
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This competency equips learners to manage and account for the effects of foreign currency transactions, exchange rate fluctuations, and currency translation in financial statements. It emphasizes risk analysis and strategic response in international operations.
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AC-23: Dividend, Policy, and Decision Making
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This competency explores corporate dividend policy and its influence on capital allocation and shareholder wealth. Learners will analyze the strategic trade-offs between retention and distribution of profits and their long-term implications.
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AC-24: Investment Decision Rules
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This competency focuses on capital budgeting techniques used to assess the viability and value of long-term investment projects. It covers practical application of financial appraisal tools to support high-stakes investment decisions.
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FD-7: Internal Control, Audit & Regulatory Compliance
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This domain develops capabilities in designing, implementing, and auditing internal control systems, while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and ethical frameworks.
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AC-25: Audit, Control & Compliance
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This competency introduces the broader governance landscape, emphasizing the role of internal control systems, audit compliance, and regulatory obligations in corporate environments. Learners will grasp how audit systems support financial transparency and reduce risk.
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AC-26: Introduction to Internal Audit
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This competency explores the internal audit process, including audit planning, scoping, and execution. Learners will understand the role of auditors in identifying control gaps, recommending improvements, and ensuring organizational accountability.
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AC-27: Internal Control & Fraud Detection
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This competency emphasizes the design of effective internal controls to detect and prevent fraudulent activities. Learners will explore case-based examples and implement control procedures that safeguard organizational assets and maintain financial integrity.
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AC-28: Audit Evidence & Documentation
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This competency focuses on the collection, organization, and analysis of audit evidence in line with professional standards (e.g., ISA, AICPA, IIA). It trains learners in audit documentation techniques that support transparency and accountability.
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FD-8: Financial Risk Management
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This domain addresses the identification, assessment, and mitigation of financial risks in a corporate environment. It prepares learners to build resilience through structured risk management strategies.
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AC-29: Introduction to Financial Risk Management
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This competency sets the foundation by introducing the concept of financial risk, its types, and how it impacts strategic and operational decisions. Learners explore the frameworks and tools that support proactive risk identification and governance.
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AC-30: Credit Risk
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This competency focuses on credit risk analysis and management. It trains learners to assess counterparty creditworthiness, manage exposure, and apply credit risk models to lending, investment, and customer relationships.
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AC-31: Operational Risk
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This competency explores risks arising from internal processes, systems, people, or external events. It emphasizes proactive controls, risk mapping, and mitigation strategies to protect the business from operational disruptions.
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AC-32: Regulatory Risk & Compliance Oversight
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This competency addresses financial compliance requirements and the implications of failing to meet regulatory obligations. Learners gain knowledge in compliance monitoring, reporting, and policy development to manage legal and reputational risks.
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Course overview:
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1. Who is this program designed for?
This program is ideal for finance managers, accountants, auditors, budget officers, financial controllers, analysts, and mid- to senior-level professionals aiming to strengthen their applied finance and accounting expertise and transition into strategic leadership roles.
2. Is this qualification internationally recognized?
Yes. The PMAFA is endorsed by NQual, a UK-based awarding body regulated by Ofqual (UK's Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). This ensures high credibility, global recognition, and compliance with international quality standards.
3. What are the entry requirements?
Typically, applicants should have:
4. How is the program delivered?
The program is delivered in a flexible format to accommodate working professionals, including:
5. How long does the program take to complete?
The standard duration is 12 months, depending on the learner pace. Accelerated pathways may be available for professionals with prior qualifications or experience.
6. Will I receive a certificate after completing the program?
Yes. Upon successful completion, you will receive a Professional Master’s Certificate in Applied Finance & Accounting, endorsed by NQual (UK), along with a transcript of achievement covering all competency domains.
7. Can this qualification help me advance my career?
Absolutely. PMAFA equips finance professionals with advanced technical and strategic skills, helping them transition into impactful leadership roles such as:
• Finance Manager
• Financial Controller
• Internal Auditor
• Strategic Business Partner – Finance
• Head of Finance & Accounting
• Budgeting & Planning Manager
• Compliance & Risk Lead
8. Are there assessments and assignments?
Yes. The program uses:
9. Is this program equivalent to general masters program?
No, this is not equivalent to academic master’s program. This is a professional level qualification.
10. What is the level of this program and how many ECT?
This is UK Level-7 program and total 72 ECT.
Length | 1 Years |
Live Chat | Enabled |
Regular Fee | $ 2000.00 |
Special Fee | $ 1000.00 |
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