About Controlling & Financial Management (m.a.) in CBS - Cologne Business School

Specialised knowledge base for a career in controlling & finance

Financial figures and how they change show what a company is really like – understanding this is a challenging task in a complex global financial and economic world. Financial managers on the corporate or financial services provider side determine company-related key figures and classify results, value developments and risks in order to make sustainable and strategic decisions.

Are you aiming for a career in this area? A master’s degree in “Controlling and Financial Management” enables you to advise management on various financial issues as a business partner in the controlling & finance department of companies or as an external consultant. Here you will learn theoretical and practical knowledge and improve your business skills in order to achieve your career goal as a junior, specialist or manager in financial management. The prerequisite for admission to the German-language master’s programme is a first academic degree in the field of economics or alternatively a completed bachelor’s programme with economics components.

Master`s Controlling & Financial Management: Controlling companies effectively and increasing their value

How is information obtained from internal and external sources? What forms of cost accounting are available? And which instruments of operative and strategic controlling are used for which purpose? In the first semester, you will deal in particular with concepts and instruments of controlling, e.g. in the context of value-oriented corporate management, which will be clearly conveyed using many practical examples. You will deal intensively with the following learning contents:

• Role understanding, tasks and processes of controlling
• Key figure-based management of companies
• Value-oriented integration of planning, control and management remuneration
• Value-oriented concepts and key figures
• Measures to increase the market value of equity

Expert in controlling & financial management: Focus on company valuations and financing options

In the second semester, you will deal intensively with the subject area of “company valuation”. This includes, in particular, the various methods of company valuation that financial experts use in the run-up to IPOs or company acquisitions. You will also learn the important tools of financial management, learn the basic possibilities of corporate financing and learn to assess the respective effects on investment decisions. You will cover the following course contents in detail:

• Classification of company valuation in the context of the capital market; introduction to the basic procedures of company valuation; consideration of tax effects in company valuation
• Forms of financing and capital costs
• Fundamentals of the capital markets: bond and equity markets
• Investors’ understanding of risk and diversification strategies

Versatile career opportunities after the Master`s in Controlling & Financial Management

Experts in financial management often work on the company side, in management consultancies or with auditors. With a master’s degree in “Controlling & Financial Management,” you qualify for the following tasks, among others:

• in financial departments of companies (cross-industry): controlling, accounting, corporate treasury, risk management
• in consulting: auditing of annual financial statements, tax consulting, M&A consulting, strategic consulting, restructuring
• in financial services companies: investment banking, fund management, asset management
• in public administration and NGOs: controlling, accounting, risk management

You would like to do a doctorate later and possibly pursue an academic career? This option is also open to you after successful completion of your studies.

Academic qualification equivalents

• Bachelor's degree from a university or technical college

English language requirements (one of the below):

• IELTS     :   6.5
• TOEFL   :   92

Cologne Business School, Germany Highlights

Cologne Business School Average Tution Fees And Other Expenses

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