PGPM - Financial Services

Accounting or financial managers are the people responsible for overseeing and maintaining the financial strategy and history of a company. The accounting manager is focused more on financial reporting, while the financial manager is focused on strategy and money management. Finance has been one of the more popular choices for MBA focus or concentration.

A finance MBA can offer numerous possibilities and can be an effective tool to help with promotions in the professions discussed below. Most prospective jobs for finance MBAs fall within investment banks, corporations, and securities firms. Many finance MBA graduates also follow careers in the consulting industry.

Post Graduate program in Financial Management is an intensely structured program aimed at building a workforce with necessary skillsets for a career in Finance. Participants graduating from here can be involved in various professions like Banking, Non-Banking Finance Companies, Distribution Houses, Brokerage Firms, Insurance Brokers, Life and General Insurance, Health Insurance and Pensions Funds, KPO, Actuarial Departments, Mutual Funds, Financial Planning, Asset Management Companies, and last but not the least Wealth and Investment Advisory Services.

Unitedworld has created one of the best academic resources for its students. Students can access a world of research archives under their mentor's supervision. This adds unparalleled value to the academic throughput of Unitedworld. Some of the resources are:

• Global best practice archive
• Industry intelligence assets
• Knowledge support to 'Vertical electives' and 'Centers of excellence'
• Content developed by 'Live content engine'
• Sponsored & In-house research archives

Teaching methods would be a mix of lectures, case studies, seminars, group discussions, role plays, simulation exercises, group assignment and field trips. This would be supplemented by branded projects and experiential learning activities.

PGPM - Financial Services (Foundation) (9 months)

The PGPM - Financial Services (Foundation) program is spread over three terms of about three months each. The core courses of management are are covered in this program. In the three trimesters, the focus is primarily on building the foundation of conceptual and analytical skills required for more specialized advanced courses in finance to be pursued in the advanced program.

The students have to take 18 courses along with other co-curricular labs and sessions. These core courses will enhance the capability to communicate, understand, critically analyze and take decisions using quantitative and qualitative approaches and techniques. This program will also help students to develop a holistic view of the different functional areas and the business environment. During this program, students will cover courses in general management and major functional areas, such as finance and accounting, marketing, economics, quantitative techniques, operations management, information technology, behavioral sciences, organization behaviour, and human resources.

Summer Internship

On successful completion of the PGPM - Financial Services (Foundation), the students will be given an opportunity for an industry internship with an organization in an area related to finance. The internship usually spans over an eight to ten-week period. It is designed to provide exposure to organizational working, to develop an understanding of business environment, and an opportunity to apply theory to real life business situations.

PGPM - Financial Services (Advanced) (9 months)

On successful completion of the PGPM - Financial Services (Foundation) program and obtaining completion certificate for Summer Internship, the students will be enrolled in PGPM - Financial Services (Advanced) program - which is over three terms of about three months each. In this program, the students have to opt for 6 electives in addition to the 7 core compulsory courses. This enables the students to pursue in-depth learning in the area of their specialization. The electives cover a variety of upcoming areas, which are presented below.

Besides, each student undertakes a project study under the guidance of a faculty member with the aim of studying a business problem or a situation to gain an insight into actual corporate realities. The project study is undertaken by the students at the beginning of the module and the final submission is at the end of the last term.

This program is designed to give an opportunity to students to specialize in one focus area, among the various sub-disciplines of the domain of finance. These areas are:

• Strategic Finance
• Banking
• Insurance
• Stock & commodities

Choice of specialization would be subject to a minimum number of students in each specialization areas.

Student exchange program with universities and institutions overseas promote a greater understanding of the multiple perspectives on cross-cultural managerial issues and challenges. These issues are global in nature and enhance the competencies of students so that they are able to work in an increasingly interdependent world. These exchange programs provide a unique opportunity to the students to enhance their global academic experience and widen their horizons. Unitedworld is in the process of formalizing student exchange arrangements with Universities and Business Schools from Singapore, United Kingdom & United States. Details of such opportunities will be made available to students when they join Unitedworld.

The evaluation system for the PGPFM has been designed to achieve the following:

• Help faculty to evaluate the progress of learning of each student.
• Prescribe and promote certain acceptable and uniform standards of comprehension.
• Encourage a healthy and constructive competition among the students.

Unitedworld believes in a system of continuous evaluation. Throughout the duration of the program, the student will be tested on his / her ability to understand concepts, learn techniques and apply them to problems in the real world. At each stage of the course, the student would be in a position to assess his / her performance and take measures to make improvement. In each course, a student is thus awarded a letter grade only. The weighted average for all courses taken by a student in the program is called the Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA).

On successful completion of PGPM - Financial Services (Foundation), Internship and PGPM - Financial Services (Advanced), a student will be awarded the Diploma in Financial Management.

Financial Managers or Financial Analysts

Financial analysts and managers use historical (accounting) data in their decision making, however the number one role of the financial manager is to oversee the production of financial analysis and reports to help the company with decision making, business development, strategic planning, and alliance management. Through the use of these reports, the financial analyst helps to shape the company's investment and business growth. Cash management strategies developed and implemented by the financial analyst help the company to grow efficiently and allow for maximum profitability in its investments. Financial analysts and mangers play an important part in mergers and global financing and expansion. Highly specialized knowledge in these areas is an important asset to the financial manager and his or her employer to maximize potential profit and reduce risk. Many companies utilize globally active consulting firms exclusively for these purposes.

Treasurers and Finance Officers

Finance officers other than the CFO and treasurers oversee and guide a company's financial objectives and budgets. The financial officer may formulate and implement strategies to raise capital, oversee cash management, or manage the company's capital investment activity. Financial officers also play a significant role in a company's merger and/or acquisition activities. The treasurer, while he or she may share some of the financial officer's duties, will usually have some banking experience.

Risk and Insurance Managers

Business operation and transactions involve a certain amount of risk. Risk managers and insurance managers work to minimize the amount of loss a company incurs and the amount of risk it is exposed to.

Management Consultants

Management consultants work to help companies with a wide variety of problems and issues. Everything from profitability improvement to corporate restructuring to financial strategy. The MBA going into this field should have either an expert understanding of a wide base of knowledge, or be highly skilled in two or more sub groups. The management consultant will also help companies with cash management and emerging market analysis.

Investment Bankers

An investment banker will work together with corporations needing capital to grow and institutions or investors who have money available to invest. An MBA is an enormous asset in this field as the investment banker will be giving investment advice to his or her clients regarding raising capital. Most investment banks have a corporate finance division that assists clients in structuring financial instruments such as stocks or bonds to raise capital.

Investment Banking Associates

People graduating with an MBA in finance often begin their career as an associate with an investment bank firm or investment firm. This is usually at least one level above the entry-level position as an analyst typically obtained by persons with only an undergraduate degree. Most analysts end up pursuing an MBA degree after a couple of years in the industry in order to obtain promotions. The mergers and acquisitions departments of investment banks provide consulting services to companies in the process of merging or acquiring other companies or organizations. Organizations wishing to acquire, dispose of, or invest in real estate will deal with the real estate division of an investment bank. Equities research and consulting for private clients are also frequently chosen as career paths for MBAs with focus in investment banking.