Elective Courses

The primary focus of this course is to explore the integration and application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies within the accounting profession. As the field of accounting continues to evolve with the rapid advancements in technology, AI has become a crucial component in streamlining and enhancing various accounting processes. This course aims to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to harness the potential of AI in the accounting landscape effectively. Throughout the course, students will gain insights into the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and its implications on accounting functions. By examining real-world case studies and engaging in hands-on exercises, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of how AI-driven tools can improve efficiency, reduce human error, and facilitate decision-making in the accounting profession.

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the various forms of risks associated with the use of blockchain-based digital assets (with a focus on cybersecurity) so that one may successfully manage, mitigate, or analyze these risks. Topics covered will include the technological elements of blockchains and smart contracts, cybersecurity and software engineering, case studies of blockchain and smart contract hacks, financial frauds and market manias, social coordination and engineering, risk modelling and analytics for Web3, InsurTech for Web3, and future opportunities for innovations in Web3.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MSBA7031.

This course focuses on how future accounting professionals can prepare for how new technologies will change the nature of their work. These lessons will apply for accounting, finance and other related professions. An improved understanding of the impact of new technologies is critical because accounting is frequently included as one of the industries with a high likelihood of being impacted due to new technologies. To help students better navigate this process of change, the course will begin by introducing artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, bots, OCR and other relevant technologies so students can develop comprehension and appreciation of such technologies. Building on this foundation, the course will then explore specific applications of such technologies, their potential impact and the relevant business opportunities they present. The course will be augmented by interaction with a number of accounting professionals, entrepreneurs and others who can share insight on how technological innovation provides an opportunity and not just a threat, as accounting evolves. Beyond learning new technologies and their business application, students should also develop additional career insight through the course. 

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7018. 

This course aims to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of data mining and text analysis techniques, emphasizing their application in various industries and research domains. We will explore the fundamental concepts, algorithms, and methods used to extract valuable insights from large-scale, unstructured data sets. Throughout the course, students will learn how to preprocess, analyze, and visualize data using various data mining and text analysis tools.

Deep learning being the core of artificial intelligence, has become more and more important. This course provides a broad introduction to deep learning, including fundamental concepts, state-of-the-art algorithms for data analysis, and their application to real cases.

This course aims to introduce the Hong Kong tax system. It provides students with knowledge of property tax, salaries tax, profits tax, tax depreciation allowance, personal assessment, and tax administration. The course will develop students’ analytical ability to solve technical tax problems in a systematic way. It will prepare students so that they can demonstrate generic skills and develop an ethical outlook and sense of professional integrity when dealing with tax-related issues. This course further imparts students with an understanding of global tax planning considerations and strategies, including China Tax, for the relevant tax regulations and planning techniques.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7004. 

This course introduces corporate finance topics, including capital budgeting techniques and financial and risk management. It identifies and provides a framework for analyzing the major financial decisions made by a firm. Issues addressed include asset valuation models, investment decision making, analysis of risk, financial planning, dividend policy, working capital management, sources of long-term finances and the cost of capital, and the financial mix for the firm.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7016.

This course introduces the basic topics of management. It provides the students with an understanding of what the job of a manager involves. In addition to covering the basic theoretical concepts, the course also allows the students to have some hands-on practice as an effective manager. Furthermore, this course has a strong emphasis on learning through real world examples. Upon finishing this course, students should have a solid understanding of (a) the contemporary issues faced by most managers today, and (b) the roles managers play in the process of attaining organizational goals.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7015.

Investors and other corporate stakeholders are increasingly calling for high-quality reporting by companies on sustainability performance and environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters. This course offers an in-depth and comprehensive discussion of ESG reporting with an emphasis on its practical application in the corporations and business world. Major topics include ESG reporting standards, corporate disclosure of various ESG matters, ESG rating, ESG scandals, and auditing of ESG reports. Issues on carbon emission trading and the development of carbon markets will also be discussed.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7024 or PMGM7035.

This course will provide tools for managers so that they can make better decisions and more successfully compete for customers, suppliers, employees, and so forth. Good managerial accounting is a competitive tool. Because a managerial accounting system is (or can be) a competitive tool, the practice of managerial accounting involves innovation, experimentation, risk management, diversity, success, and failure as businesses tinker with their managerial accounting systems to create superior information for decision-making. Certainly, there are “best practices” in managerial accounting which will be covered in this course. Importantly though, we will incorporate flexibility into our decision-making-- a good business is always re-examining its internal information system to see whether the system can be coaxed into providing better, timelier data.

This course is designed to help students develop strategies to create and extract value from applying social media analytics. Techniques covered will include web scraping, data management, machine learning, social network analytics, text analytics, natural language processing, sentiment analysis, and knowledge mining. Students will also learn how to carry out a business analytics project from beginning to end.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7022 and MSBA7012. 

The ability to store, retrieve, and manipulate data using modern database systems is essential to the success of data analytics. Besides relational databases that have been widely used in transactional systems and dimensional databases that have been the core of data warehouses, non-relational databases have also gained much popularity nowadays because of their flexibility in handling semi-structured and unstructured data. This course aims to introduce the fundamental principles of the design, development, and administration of various database models. Students will learn the basic concepts involved in the design and management of relational databases, dimensional databases, and NoSQL databases.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7020 and MSBA7024.

Advanced Financial Reporting continues to address accounting theories beyond the foundation level. This course aims to provide students with sound theoretical and practical knowledge of recognition, measurement, and disclosure issues in compliance with international financial reporting requirements. Further to financial statements for single entities, we will also examine the preparation and interpretation of consolidated financial statements for business groups. Case studies are used to illustrate the application of accounting standards in the real-world setting. Students are expected to analyze and integrate conceptual and technical financial accounting knowledge in different business scenarios, and to demonstrate their ability to make strategic business reporting decisions.

Managers and executives today must have a solid understanding of some core legal principles and ethical reasoning skills in the business context. This course will provide each student with a solid legal foundation, especially in a global context. We will discuss broad legal principles and how they affect business today, analyzing several cross-border business transactions and court cases. Simultaneously, we will pay specific attention to the ethical frameworks that can affect such scenarios, study various professional ethical perspectives, leadership and engage in personal reflection to determine how best to operate ethically in a complex business environment.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7005.

This course is designed to provide students an opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge of international business environment. Experiential learning and knowledge exchange will be applied throughout the study field trip to develop students’ understanding of international business environment in a different cultural context and help them construct a global perspective. Firm visits and cultural related activities will be arranged during the study field trip to arouse students’ awareness in cultural diversity and enhance their understanding of how culture can impact international business strategy.

Note: This course is not open to candidates who have taken or are taking MACC7025, ECON6100, MFIN7057, PMGM7016, MSBA7034 or MSMK7020.