Curriculum Information

In the ACCA Strategic Business Leader syllabus students are required to critically consider the theory and practice of business strategy, corporate governance, risk and ethics and make effective leadership decisions in an advanced practical case study context.

Indicative ACCA content, in summary:

· Leadership & ethics· Governance and agency systems· Evaluation of strategic position· Evaluation of risk profile· Technology and data analytics· Evaluation of internal control and audit systems· Evaluation (including financial) of strategic options and actions· Application of solution strategies· Innovation, performance excellence and change management · Professional skills

ACCA content - detail:

The ACCA Strategic Business Leader syllabus first covers leadership, professionalism & ethics and corporate governance, as these provide focus for the rest of the syllabus. Excellent leadership involves having a team of capable and responsible directors, setting an appropriate ‘tone from the top’ and embedding appropriate corporate and cultural values within the organisation. This is supported by a sound governance structure and effective management structures.

The syllabus begins by examining leadership and having in place responsible and ethical leaders, having an awareness of who they are responsible to This section also covers personal and professional ethics, ethical frameworks – and professional values – as applied to a senior manager or adviser’s role and as a guide to appropriate behaviour and conduct in a variety of situations.

Clearly linked to organisational leadership is the existence of an effective governance structure within organisations in the broad context of the agency relationship. This aspect of the syllabus focuses on the respective roles and responsibilities of directors, on the committee structures and on the effective scrutiny of the performance of senior management and their accountabilities, demonstrating this accountability by reporting more widely and holistically to stakeholders under an integrated reporting <IR> framework.

It is only once these fundamental organisational structures and values are in place that it is possible to explore strategy and assess the strategic position of the organisation and to effectively evaluate the options facing the organisation.

Evaluating strategic options, making strategic choices and implementing strategy requires the organisation’s leaders, or their advisers, to fully understand the risks involved so the syllabus then examines the identification, assessment, and control of risk as a key aspect of responsible leadership and management. The syllabus also includes a section relating to and applying IT and security controls at all levels of the organisation from strategic considerations including big data, cloud computing and e-business, through to using IT in the management of information, controlling organisations, and in financial and organisational operations. This section also focuses on the growing importance of ‘cyber security’.

To support the management of risk the syllabus also addresses organisational control in its wider context, including internal audit, review, internal control, and feedback to implement and support effective governance, including compliance issues related to decision making and decision-support functions. The syllabus includes financial aspects of managing an organisation, including key finance and management accounting techniques to analyse performance and to support decision making. Candidates need to be aware of legal issues and of the financial reporting and taxation implications of strategic and investment decisions.

The syllabus finally focuses on innovation, performance excellence and change management to enable organisational success and implement change through effective organisational processes, IT solutions and project management, including the role of new and disruptive technologies in transforming the nature of business analysis and transactions.

The last section, which links to all the others, is the Professional Skills section which indicates the range of professional skills that the candidate must demonstrate in the case study examination which will make them more employable, or if already in work, will enhance their opportunities for advancement.