At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
This certificate is designed to provide you with the skill sets to succeed in becoming a corporate accounting and financial management professional. Required coursework is aligned with topics covered by the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination. CMA certification demonstrates expertise in financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and professional ethics.
What is Financial Controllorship?
The financial controller holds a leadership position within an organization. The controller’s responsibilities include protecting and preserving the organization’s assets; making financial reports to executive leadership, the board of directors, stockholders, and taxing bodies; and involvement in financial decision-making.
You Might Like This Program If...
You are an Accounting or Finance major who aspires to a financial leadership position.
Program Requirements
To earn an undergraduate certificate in Financial Controllership, a minimum of 15 credits is required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Courses | ||
| ACCTG 340 | Cost Accounting | 3 |
| ACCTG 422 | Accounting Systems | 3 |
| ACCTG 426 | Financial Statement Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 420 | Investment and Portfolio Analysis | 3 |
| FIN 461 | Portfolio Management and Analysis | 3 |
Prerequisites
14 credits of prerequisites are required.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ACCTG 211 | Financial and Managerial Accounting for Decision Making | 4 |
| ACCTG 305 | Financial Statements and Management Decisions | 4 |
| or ACCTG 371 | Intermediate Accounting I | |
| ACCTG 312 | Accounting Technology Lab | 3 |
| FIN 301 | Corporation Finance | 3 |
Certificate Learning Objectives
- Critical thinking and problem solving:Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions. Graduates are able to objectively identify and prioritize accounting problems. Graduates are able to develop alternative solutions to an accounting problem. Graduates demonstrate sufficient skills to read, reason logically, and draw relevant conclusions.
- Technical Competency - Cost Accounting: Graduates will demonstrate technical competency in accounting skills in Cost Accounting.
- Technical Competency - Portfolio Management and Analysis: Graduates will demonstrate technical competency in Portfolio Management and Analysis.
- Technical Competency 2 - Accounting Information Systems: Graduates will demonstrate technical competency in accounting skills in Accounting Information Systems.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
Erie
Ash Deshmukh, Ph.D.
Professor of Accounting and MIS
286 Burke
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6438
avd1@psu.edu
Career Paths
The certificate in Financial Controllership can be pursued by students in most Black School of Business undergraduate degree programs. Penn State Behrend has a comprehensive support system to help you identify and achieve your goals for college and beyond. Meet with your academic adviser often and take advantage of the services offered by the Academic and Career Planning Center beginning in your first semester.
Careers
Course work in the certificate for Financial Controllership is aligned with topics covered by the Certified Management Accountant (CMA) examination. CMA certification demonstrates expertise in financial planning, analysis, control, decision support, and professional ethics.
Opportunities for Graduate Studies
Adding a certificate to your major degree program demonstrates to graduate school admissions committees your commitment to interdisciplinary thinking.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATE STUDIES
Professional Resources
Contact
Erie
BLACK SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
281 Jack Burke Research and Economic Development Center
Erie, PA 16563
814-898-6107
behrendbusiness@psu.edu