Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE ACC3922

 
TITLE Digital Skills for Accountants

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Accountancy

 
DESCRIPTION The unit exposes accountancy students to practical uses of Microsoft Excel, Python programming and Power BI, amongst other technologies and invites them to harness the learning and adaptive mindset in order to remain competitive and efficient.

The study-unit will provide accountancy-related skills in the use of:
Microsoft Excel;
Microsoft Power BI;
Python.

Moreover students will be provided with essential background in the accountancy-related aspects of Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit aims to provide students with the practical and theoretical knowledge of the digital skills they need to flourish and develop further in their future accounting careers. In particular this study unit will focus on:
i) Microsoft Excel and its use in performing complex data manipulations;
ii) Python and its use in data cleaning, automation and analysis in accounting contexts;
iii) Microsoft Power BI and it use in generating dashboards and reports for visual data storytelling;
iv) Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence and their impact on accounting processes.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) Recognise how digital tools can improve the generation, analysis and presentation of accounting information;
b) Identify how emerging technologies will impact accountants and accounting information;
c) Evaluate the potential for applying digital solutions and emerging technologies in real-life accounting settings.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a) Perform financial modeling and analysis using Microsoft Excel;
b) Employ Python functionalities and libraries for accounting tasks;
c) Implement best practices in data visualisation for accounting purposes using Microsoft Power BI;
d) Assess the applicability of Robotic Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence in accounting-related scenarios.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Practice-based materials will be provided by lecturers throughout the study unit.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Kirstie Alice Asciak
Christian Calleja
Isaac Cutajar
Francis Debono
Jake Farrugia
Corinne Gatt
Mark Anthony Micallef

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit