MBA. Petroleum Accounting & Finance

Welcome Message from the Coordinator

Welcome to the School of Graduate Studies at the University of Professional Studies, Accra. The MBA in Petroleum Accounting and Finance is one of the flagship master’s programmes offered by the Department of Accounting. This programme has been restructured over the years to meet the evolving demands of both the local and international petroleum industries.

During their studies at UPSA, students gain comprehensive knowledge in financial accounting and reporting for petroleum exploration and production, performance management in the petroleum sector, risk management strategies, environmental management and auditing, petroleum economics, and tax policies.

Our teaching ensures that students acquire both specialised and fundamental expertise, along with the skills and mindset required for success in the field of petroleum accounting and finance. Our graduates are well-versed in the latest practices and fully prepared to meet the challenges of this dynamic profession. We take pride in our achievements and look forward to a future filled with further advancements. We hope you share our vision and passion!

If you need any additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact the programme coordinator.

Philosophy of the Programme

The MBA in Petroleum Accounting and Finance programme is designed to meet high-level academic and professional needs of the public and private sectors of the economy, particularly the oil and gas sector. The programme will prepare students to assume a larger role in managing their organisations’ operations as well as develop their expertise in the key financial areas of the oil and gas industries. The curriculum places much emphasis on the improvement of the business manager’s ability to handle with professionalism the various financial problems confronting businesses in the oil and gas industry.

Programme Objectives

The objectives of the MBA in Petroleum Accounting and Finance are to:

• Provide students with requisite knowledge about the general characteristics of Accounting and Financial practices of the Oil and Gas Industry;

• Equip students with knowledge and skills to discuss the impact of the Oil and Gas industry on the environment and its management to develop strategic thinking of proactive mitigating preventive actions;

• Develop students’ knowledge and skills in financial reporting policies and practices applicable in the Oil and Gas Industry;

• Discuss the different regulations and standardizations applied to Oil and Gas industry.

• Equip students with knowledge and skills and to apply and interpret the requirement of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) relevant to the Oil and Gas Industry;

• Develop students’ skills to describe, apply and analyse performance management indicators in Oil and Gas Industry;

• Discuss the basic concepts involved in Petroleum Economics and tax policies;

• Develop students’ skills to design contemporary risk management strategies to combat the negative operational ramifications of the Oil & Gas Industry, its associated risks and how to offset these risks accordingly.

Programme Learning Outcomes

On the successful completion of the MBA Petroleum Accounting & Finance, graduates will:

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of basic characteristics of Oil and Gas operations;

• Account for downstream and upstream Oil and Gas operations;

• Demonstrate knowledge in Oil and Gas policies and legal frameworks;

• Examine the impact of Oil and Gas industry on the environment and its management;

• Examine the financial reporting policies and practices applicable in Oil and Gas industry;

• Apply the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards (including International Accounting Standards) relevant to Oil and Gas Industry;

• Identify the basic concepts involved in Petroleum Economics;

• Design contemporary risk management strategies to combat the negative operational ramifications of the Oil & Gas Industry, its associated risks and how to offset these risks accordingly.

Programme Structure

Programme Coordinator’s Profile

Ing. Dr. Nii Ayitey Akoto, R. is a Petroleum Reservoir Engineer, Economist, and Lecturer in the Department of Economics and Actuarial Science at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). With over a decade of industry experience and more than five years in academia, he combines expertise in teaching, research, and administration.

Ing. Dr. Akoto’s professional journey began at Schlumberger, where he worked as a Reservoir Engineer, followed by his role as Principal Technologist and Head of the Oil and Gas Unit at the Institute of Industrial Research, CSIR. He holds a PhD in Petroleum Engineering from BIU and the AGH University of Science and Technology Consortium and is a UNESCO/AGH UST Chair Fellow in Engineering.

At UPSA, he teaches courses in petroleum valuation modeling, mathematics, and statistics, while his research focusses on petroleum valuation, nano-enhanced oil recovery, and mechanical systems dynamics. His scholarly contributions include publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at prestigious international conferences.

In addition to his academic responsibilities, Ing. Dr. Akoto coordinates three graduate programmes at the UPSA School of Graduate Studies. They include MBA Petroleum Accounting and Finance, MSc Risk Management and Insurance, and MSc Pensions Management.

He is a professional member of both the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), underscoring his commitment to advancing the fields of engineering and petroleum economics.

Contact the Coordinator via:

email:   [email protected]

Phone Number: +233 209978020