In 2024, Sheffield Business School launches a unique new degree apprenticeship in digital accounting and finance management. Students work in an accounting role in a business while learning the latest skills and knowledge from the University, gaining a BSc degree and invaluable experience.

We spoke to senior lecturer Glen Cookson and apprenticeships lead Michelle Hardy, who helped design the course with employers. Both worked in accounting before moving into lecturing at the University.

Who is this course for?

Michelle:

It’s for people working as accountants who want to upskill and prepare for the future way of working, and also school leavers who want a career in accountancy. ,

On completion of the course you gain a degree and you also receive exemptions from a qualification from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.

How is this course designed to help the accounting sector?

Glen:

This degree apprenticeship is leading the charge to futureproof accounting. The role of an accountant has changed as software has become able to do a lot more and businesses have become leaner. This has freed up time for accountants to add value to the business in terms of strategy and to solve problems on an operational level.

So someone working as an accountant or finance manager in a business now needs to be aware of IT and cloud computing, human resources, brand, marketing, and emotional intelligence. In this course we prepare students for what might be around the corner, the processes, the skills, and how they are likely to work in the future.,

Michelle:

The course has been designed by a trailblazing group of educationalists and leading industry figures. It’s very forward-looking — we teach the skills accountants will need in 5, 10, 15 years’ time.

It’s about making accountants more of a business partner which makes the whole organisation more successful. Finance is as much a driver of the business as everything else.

What do students learn on the course?

Glen:

If you’re on this course you’ll gain networks, connections and direct exposure to leading firms in the digital accounting sector.

At Sheffield Hallam, you learn by doing. So as well as working in your apprentice role, when you’re at university you’ll be introduced to a wide range of industry-recognised software and gain an awareness of how different apps interface with account ledger systems.

Michelle:

Alongside these digital skills you’ll learn the soft skills you need for a successful career — things like negotiation, presenting, interviewing, researching, critical thinking, and professional scepticism. We want our students to see the bigger picture.

Apprentices will have access to all our facilities including a SAP lab, Bloomberg terminals, and an immersive video room where you can practise your decision-making in a realistic work environment.

What sort of businesses could this course help?

Glen:

This course would be useful for firms in any sector — all businesses need someone doing accounting. It could be any size from an SME to a multinational, and for people new to the profession to people who are part-qualified.

Why should businesses choose Sheffield Hallam?

Michelle:

We have huge links with industry. We have an employer advisory board, and leading industry figures from places like the Bank of England and HSBC make sure our courses are teaching the skills employers will need in the future.

Glen:

As well as our strong links with employers, we were awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework, and we are a double AACSB-accredited business school.

What return on investment can businesses expect to see from this programme?

Michelle:

You will gain a much stronger employee who can think of the business as a whole and feel valued as an employee because they've been invested in. This leads to higher productivity, along with all the new knowledge they will bring to the business.

Glen:

You'll have an employee who will leave the apprenticeship with more drive, more ambition, more consideration of others' views, more resilience, and a greater willingness to make decisions.

Ultimately it will help them to lead change in your organisation.