What is it about?

The specialization “Accounting & Taxation” focuses on the main aspects of tax systems, international tax management, consolidated financial reporting, and auditing. In a globalized world many companies are part of a multinational group, and it is therefore important to be acquainted with the tax and accounting ramifications of various countries. Such knowledge is crucial for management decisions on location, investment, finance, and on the use of management judgment for financial statements.

What are career prospects?

Our graduates have excellent job prospects and are in very high demand as top qualified accounting and tax experts. The majority of our graduates works in “Big 4” and “mid-tier” consulting firms, and proceed to be certified tax consultants and/or certified auditors. Graduates also follow a career in the corporate world (accounting, tax function), as a starting point for a business executive carreer (CFO, head of accounting, head of tax). Finally, the specialization “Accounting & Taxation” also prepares for a career in the public sector, government authorities and international organizations.

Students who wish to continue their education may consider WU’s master programs focusing on accounting and taxation in German language, with several courses taught in English. Internationally, any other master program in accounting and tax is equally useful.

• “Master in Steuern und Rechnungslegung” (https://www.wu.ac.at/studium/master/steuern-und-rechnungslegung/ueberblick)

• “Master in Finanzwirtschaft und Rechnungswesen” (https://www.wu.ac.at/studium/master/finanzwirtschaft-und-rechnungswesen/ueberblick)

Who will teach you?

• Prof. Harald Amberger, PhD

• Prof. Dr. Ewald Aschauer

• Prof. Dr. Klaus Hirschler

• Prof. Dr. Katrin Hummel

• Prof. Dr. Matthias Petutschnig

Course I - Taxation of corporate income

The first course focuses on the key principles of business taxation and their implications for decision-making. More specifically, the course covers, among other:

• Different types of taxes and their relevance for tax revenue.

• Key concepts of (business) taxation such as statutory, effective, average, and marginal tax rates, questions of tax incidence, etc.

• Key principles of business taxation, including neutral tax systems, the taxation of different legal forms (e.g., sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations), the relevance of financial accounting for the determination of the tax base, the tax treatment of losses, and the taxation of corporate dividends.

• The impact of taxes on business decisions. 

Course II – Financial Statements

This course is separated into two parts. The first part provides an introduction into the current state of sustainability reporting standards in Europe which play an essential role for companies in the preparation of sustainability reports. With the growing importance of sustainability and the increasing legal requirements, it is becoming necessary for companies to publish not only financial but also sustainability information.

• Most common voluntary reporting standards

  • Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)

  • Value Reporting Foundation

  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Mandatory reporting regulations

  • EU Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD)

  • Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

  • EU Taxonomy Regulation

  • European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS)

The focus of the second part is to understand the preparation of group financial statements. In a globalized world, many entities act as part of a multinational group. Students therefore need an understanding of how the most important techniques of consolidation, and their reflection and interpretation in group statements:

• Business combinations (IFRS 3)

  • What is a business combination?

  • Who is the acquirer, who is the acquiree?

  • When does the acquirer gain control in accordance with IFRS 10?

  • How to account for a business combination?

• Preparation of consolidated financial statements (IFRS 10);

  • Capital consolidation, debt consolidation;

  • Income and expense consolidation;

  • Intragroup profit elimination.

• Joint arrangements (IFRS 11);

  • Joint venture vs joint control.

• Investments in associates and joint ventures (IAS 28)

  • What is an associate and what is significant influence?

  • What is the equity method and how does it work?

Course III – International Tax Strategy

The second tax course covers basic issues of international tax strategies, business taxation and tax law. Particular the course deals with:

• Tax planning in multinational enterprises, and anti-avoidance rules

• Differences in tax systems and alternative approaches to business taxation

• Effective tax rates

  • their use in comparing different countries

  • their use for locational decisions

• Taxation of cross-border dividends

Course IV – Auditing

The focus of this course is on the financial analysis and the auditing process of group financial statements. Students learn how an in-depth analysis of group statements helps to evaluate the economic performance of the businesses, to judge on investment opportunities. Topics in auditing include generally accepted auditing standards; tests of compliance; the concepts of audit risk, materiality, and evidence; and ethical conduct.

• Financial analysis

  • Key figures, ratios and cash flow.

• Regulatory audit environment

  • EU regulations and directives

  • Professional regulation regarding independence

  • Professional scepticism

• International Standards on Auditing (ISA)

  • Codes of conducts and ethics in auditing

• Planning and conducting an audit

  • Risk assessment

  • Evidence and testing

  • Digitalisation

• Completion and reporting

  • Audit opinion and auditors’ report

  • Reporting to those charged with governance

Course V: Seminar in Accounting and Taxation

The Seminar focuses on current topics in Accounting and Taxation. Participants will learn how to formulate and answer a research question based on existing literature. The main goal of the course is to research, write and present a small research paper. The course will prepare the participants for their future work on a bachelor or master thesis. The topics will include various aspects of the other four courses. 

Admission Procedure

Students can start our BBE specialization either in the winter or summer term.

Access to the specialization is based on a “first-come-first-served” principle. More specifically, students planning to start our specialization in the upcoming winter term 2024 are required to:

• register for the course “1422 Access to Specialization: Accounting and Taxation”. Registrations starts on August 29^th at 2pm.

• confirm their spot in the specialization. To this end, students will receive an email from the administration of the specialization after the registration deadline.

Contact Information

Prof. Matthias Petutschnig

sbwlacctax@wu.ac.at