1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Continuing education
  3. CAS
  4. Accounting & Tax
See table of contents See table of contents

Accounting & Tax

Do you understand the principles of international accounting standards? The CAS in Accounting & Tax provides you with the basis for a goal-oriented career in financial management.

Do you want to be proficient  in value-based management, profitability calculations and optimal financing?

  • You will learn the principles of international accounting standards
  • We will introduce you to the Swiss corporate and value added tax system
  • You will deepen your knowledge of corporate finance and planning processes
  • You will become familiar with methods of economic efficiency calculation
  • In addition, you will receive a certificate of Certified Accounting Specialist from the ACCOVALIST Institute for Accounting & Finance SE

Factsheet

  • Degree/Certificate Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS)
  • Duration 21 study days
  • Schedule Thursday, Friday, Saturday
  • Application deadline 3 weeks before start, later registration also possible if places are available
  • ECTS credits 12 ECTS credits
  • Costs CHF 8,500
  • Teaching language German
  • Location Bern, Schwarztorstrasse 48
  • School Business School
  • Next session Please visit the German website for more information

Contact

Downloads

To register, please visit the German website. 

Content + structure

Portrait

Market-oriented and understandable . Are you in a management position and must guarantee compliance with current accounting standards? Do you want to ensure a robust and accurate  valuation in your company according to the "True and Fair View" concept? In the CAS Accounting & Finance you will learn the principles of international accounting standards in a transparent and insightful way.

Do you want to structure the financial management of your company in the best possible way and lay a strong foundation with value-based management, profitability calculations and optimal financing? Expand your horizon with current topics such as corporate taxes, value added tax, working capital management, forensics and money laundering.

Course objectives

Are you interested in going to the next level as a specialist in international accounting? In the «IFRS (International Financing Reporting Standards)» module  you will learn all the essential standards and apply them in a practice-oriented manner. You will understand how different values in annual financial statements and the recording of entries (business transactions) in income statements influence the success of a company. You can also attend the various topics  individually as an IFRS seminar.

In an introduction to the Swiss corporate and VAT system, you will gain a complete overview and sharpen your approach to the implementation of strategic decisions in your company. On the basis of corporate financing and planning processes , you will recognise the trend that finance and accounting are becoming increasingly interdependent in owner- and capital market-oriented corporate management.

You will learn the important methods of economic efficiency calculation and transfer them into practice. You will analyse control mechanisms that you use in your company to comply with legal regulations and prevent criminal behaviour.

The CAS in Accounting and Finance is offered in cooperation with the ACCOVALIST Institute for Accounting & Finance SE. You will also receive an additional qualification as a «Certified Accounting Specialist» from ACCOVALIST upon successful completion of this CAS. 

The various modules ensure a future-oriented financial management in your company.

International Accounting an Taxes Module

  • Exposure to selected International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
  • Accounting compliant with IFRS
  • Creative Accounting
  • Direct taxes
  • Value Added Tax

Corporate Finance & Compliance Module

  • Optimal financing
  • Working Capital Management
  • Value orientation and profitability calculation
  • Governance and risk / planning processes
  • Compliance

Introduction and quality assurance

On the first day you will develop a common understanding of the applicable rules with the CAS Director of Studies and define the practical application . You will evaluate the quality of the lessons by means of online surveys and in direct exchange with the Director of Studies. We will gladly take time to answer your question or address your concerns.

Teaching

In class you will deal with the various topics  and essential questions  in depth. It is expected that you actively participate in input lectures, individual and group work, presentations and plenary discussions.

Transfer-oriented report

You will engage in a well-founded follow-up of the lessons by writing transfer-oriented reports. In doing so, you always focus on the transfer of practical experience. Your resulting transfer reports must meet the quality standards of the Berne University of Applied Sciences.

MS Teams is available as a supplementary instrument to provide you withaccess to documents, notifications and information.

Successful participation in the programme requires regular attendance and passing the tests. You will need to complete the following:

  • A written exam covering all teaching units (excluding IFRS). which The exam includes open knowledge questions and the work on smaller case studies.
  • Transfer report: A transfer report is an in-depth, structured examination of your own practice, either individually or in relation to the company/institution in which you work. Your findings will be reported in writing.
  • Participation in the written examination of the IFRS seminar is voluntary . IFRS lessons include the processing of tencase studies before the start of the course, which are then dealt with in class. You will be awarded Certified Accounting Specialist diploma by ACCOVALIST Institute for  Accounting & Finance SE Upon successful completion of the IFRS examination

Qualification + title

Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) of the Bern University of Applied Sciences in «Accounting & Finance»
(12 ECTS credits)

Lecturers

Our lecturers are proven experts with extensive practical and theoretical knowledge in their subject areas. They have at least a university degree plus many years of experience in higher education. 

Partner

ACCOVALIST
Partner ACCOVALIST Institute, D-Rottenburg
Partner: ACCOVALIST Institute, D-Rottenburg

Requirements + admission

Are you an experienced professional with a demanding position in accounting and finance and hold a management position and have an affinity with accounting and finance. This l professional further training in Accounting & Finance will drive your personal career forward.

University degree

You will be admitted to the programme with a degree from a university, university of applied sciences, university of teacher education, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, or an equivalent foreign university and at least two years of professional experience.

Higher vocational training

If you have a qualification from a higher vocational education institution (Diploma Höhere Fachschule HF, Federal Diploma, Federal Certificate of Proficiency) and several years of professional experience, you will also be admitted to the programme. However, you will be required to attend our Introduction to Academic Study before starting the CAS. Completion of this module is a prerequisite for admission to the CAS.

Exceptions

In exceptional circumstances applicants may still  be admitted. The head of the degree programme will make a decision based upon your application and extenuating circumstances. Please contact us. If you are admitted, you will in any case attend the course «Introduction to Academic Writing» (in German) before the first CAS.

Professional requirements and language skills

Several years of professional experience in this field and knowledge of accounting. German and English for technical terms and short texts.

For all students of our CAS programmes we offer a half-day course Effective Learning. Attendance is recommended and is free of charge for CAS students. At this event, you will learn about the practice-oriented learning style used at universities of applied science.

Organisation + Registration

The duration of the programme is 21 study days and takes place every fortnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30-16:30. The number of participants is limited to a maximum of 24.

To register, please visit the German website. 

Documents required for registration

You can register online via registration form. For registration we require following documents (in PDF format, max. 1 MB per document): 

  • Diplomas 

  • Curriculum Vitae 

  • Passport-sized photo (in JPG format) 

Please upload these documents even if you have already submitted them for another application. 

Organisational aspects of the CAS

Every fortnight on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 8:30-16:30.

The timetable is published here six months before the start of the programme.

The registration deadline for the programme is 3 weeks before the start. If places are still available, later registration is possible.

CHF 8,500

All required literature, course materials and the costs of the certificates of competence and the Certified Accounting Specialist examination are included in the CAS fee.

The continuing education regulations of the Bern University of Applied Sciences and the implementation regulations for the continuing education regulations apply. The right to make changes is reserved. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations shall prevail.

Continuing Education Regulations of Bern University of Applied Sciences (WBR) (PDF, 81 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations WBR in the Business School (PDF, 81 KB)
Implementation Provisions for the Continuing Education Regulations (PDF, 77 KB)
Framework Study Regulations at Bern University of Applied Sciences (PDF, 127 KB)
Regulations on Scientific Integrity at Bern University of Applied Sciences (WissIR) (PDF, 140 KB)
Legal foundations

Advice and information events

Study Counselling

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Head of the degree programme

Administration

Information events

In addition to the information events we offer you our personal advice. By telephone or directly online via MS Teams.

Please contact us!

E-mail: weiterbildung.wirtschaft@bfh.ch 
Phone: 031 848 34 02

Location + Facilities

Bern Schwarztorstrasse 48