Finance

The follow-up Master's programme in Finance provides students with advanced knowledge and competencies in the areas of corporate finance, accounting and taxation, financial markets and the functioning of financial institutions and technology. The aim of the study programme is to prepare professionals capable of independent methodological and analytical activities in the financial management of business corporations, banks, insurance companies and fintech applications. The programme prepares graduates for flexible employment in the labour market in both Czech and foreign companies in positions in the financial sector and business. The programme is taught in accordance with the requirements of international professional certifications (e.g. Chartered Financial Analyst Institute or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants).

After successfully completing his/her studies the graduate is able to:

• Formulate short-term and long-term decisions in the financial management of domestic and multinational business corporations.
• Critically assess the situation in financial markets and use analytical tools to predict the price of financial assets.
• Understand the functioning and governance mechanisms of financial institutions, their investment activities, sources of funding and risk management principles.
• Understand and design business and analytical process setups for financial technology applications.
• Apply the rules of recognition and measurement of items in the financial statements in accordance with the Czech Accounting Standards and International Financial Reporting Standards.
• Use accounting information for the management of business corporations, preparation and analysis of financial statements and for financial audit and financial control activities.
• Interpret the tax system of the Czech Republic and the EU and take active steps to optimise the tax burden on individuals and legal entities.
• Prepare to pass the basic level of international professional examinations confirming competence and integrity in financial analysis (specialisation A) or financial reporting (specialisation B).

Graduates find employment as professionals in financial institutions, especially in banks, insurance and investment companies, but also in financial and accounting departments of commercial corporations. They could work as financial analysts, risk managers, portfolio managers, auditors, tax advisors, consultants and managers.

An internship is not a compulsory part of the study. However, students can take the internship as an optional course.

The standard length of a thesis is 60 - 80 pages. The guidelines for the preparation of the thesis are modified by ESF Directive No. 9/2017 and further information can be found in the ESF student's manual accessible on http://www.econ.muni.cz/zaverecna-prace.

Students choose the topic within the Master Thesis course, in which they prepare the official thesis assignment together with the supervisor, including the aim of the thesis, the procedure of the thesis, the methods used and the basic professional sources. Students should demonstrate their ability to work independently with relevant professional sources (including foreign ones) and their application to the chosen problem in the thesis. According to the focus of the thesis, critical analysis of professional sources, independent work with legislative standards, formulation of own proposals and recommendations for solving the assigned problem are expected. Learners may also work with already published texts and data available for secondary analysis.

A graduate of a master's degree programme may (after meeting the admission requirements) continue in a doctoral programme.