Master of Applied Finance

The aim of this course is to make the students aware of the qualitative and quantitative analysis of financial and monetary phenomena.

• Understanding and using relevant tools in monetary economics;
• Understanding and using relevant tools related to monetary and fiscal policy;
• Understanding and using basic tools in DSGE (Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium) modeling.

Students will gain knowledge and skills to analyze and evaluate investments in portfolios consisting of capital market instruments.

• Collect, manipulate and analyze financial markets data;
• Calculate and interpret the indicators for assessing the return and risk of investments in financial assets/portfolios of financial assets;
• Analyze and formulate the decision to allocate capital between various categories of financial assets;
• Formulate investment strategies depending on the risk profile of the investor;
• Apply the fundamental models regarding the management of financial asset portfolios, as well as to evaluate the performance of these portfolios.

The general objective of the course is developing and applying methods, techniques and instruments of quantitative analysis in the context of portfolio management and for predicting the evolution of economic and financial phenomena.

• Investigating the stylized facts of asset returns in order to select the most suitable quantitative models;
• The use of quantitative methods for modeling the returns and the volatility of financial assets and of financial assets portfolios;
• Measuring market risk in order to improve investment decisions on financial markets.

The course ensures knowledge of the concepts of risk quantification and management techniques in the field of investment and company valuation, as well as the explanation and interpretation of the models underlying the decisions in the field of business and investment evaluation.

• Examine and differentiate approaches to valuation as well as distinguish and assess the basic of risk in evaluation;
• Estimate Risk free rate, equity risk premium, estimate Risk Parameters and Costs of Financing;
• Examine and apply basic models in business valuation.

The main objective of the course is creating the necessary decision-making skills in the management of an enterprise and in the analysis
financial decision and investment decision on the financial market through mechanisms specific to the company’s
finances.

• Use and interpret the annual financial statements in making financial decisions for the company;
• Analyse the company performance and risk;
• Substantiation of the direct investment decision. Abilities to use modern tools in assessment investment projects;
• Substantiation of the financing policy of the enterprise in correlation with the capital market;
• Substantiation of the company’s dividend policy in correlation with the capital market.

The aim of this course is to get a first-hand understanding of financial statements and to apply the tools to decipher and make sense of them.

• Grasp the key elements of the three types of financial statements: Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss Statement, Cash Flow Statement;
• Acquire and assimilate the principles of double-entry accounting (debit-credit);
• Focus on learning the correct methods to evaluate company performance;
• Understand and evaluate the risk associated with financial accounts.

The aim of this course is developing financial management skills taking into account strategic elements related to mergers and acquisitions (Strategic Financial Management).

• Learn to accurately value companies during mergers and acquisitions using advanced financial models and assess the impact of these transactions on market behavior;
• Analyze the financial and strategic implications of leveraged buyouts (LBOs), joint ventures, and other restructuring activities to optimize corporate performance;
• Develop strategies for managing cross-cultural differences and adapting to macroeconomic conditions that affect the success of mergers and acquisitions;
• Explore the dynamics of corporate governance and control during M&A activities, including the role of shareholder interests and market reactions.

The aim of this course is to identify and analyse key issues and problems arising in banking.

• Provide institutional features of the banking sector;
• Introduce the key economic concepts required to analyse important issues of the banking sector;
• Illustrate how economic principles can be applied to address the key issues identified;
• Show how the institutional features address problems in the banking sector.

The aim of this course is analysis of portfolios of institutional investors in the field of insurance, private pensions and the capital market.

• Analyze the structure of the financial system in Romania and the world, as well as master the basic mechanisms of the operation of authorized entities on the insurance, private pension and capital markets;
• Analyze the main types of investments accessible to these categories of institutional investors and calculate and interpret indicators specific to portfolio management for these entities;
• Operate with different portfolio management strategies adapted to the risk profile of each category of institutional investors among those listed and to measure their performance.

The study and practical application of aspects related to Behavioral Economics, banking psychology, contextual elements of investment decision-making incorporating psychological factors of the investor (personal, cultural, family, environmental and educational, affective-emotional, life cycle and financial security, financial and economic constraints, etc.), the practical application of investment and individual wealth management based on the concepts of applied modern psychology, to understand the behavioral drivers in relation to financial risk.

• Understand and apply structured management techniques for individual institutional management;
• Identify and adapt financial management techniques specifically for individual investment portfolios;
• Learn prudent management of individual assets and liabilities through efficient allocation strategies.

The course on Organizational Behavior and Governance aims to develop competencies that are widely recognized and utilized both management professionals and academics. These Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) are transferable and highly relevant to the finance and investment sectors. The competencies gained are applicable both within organizations and on a global scale, ensuring professionals are competitive and effective in diverse financial business environments. The course emphasizes practical application in a generalist context while maintaining a focus on ethical conduct and professional standards.

• Acquiring technical competence in applied organizational behavior and governance and promoting a clear understanding of how the instruments and financial market work for the benefits of public investments;
• Planning and organization of human resources within a group or organization, raising awareness for responsibility for professional results;
• Recognition of the importance for continuing education as a prerequisite for career progress and adaptation professional and managerial skills to the competitive dynamics of economic environment.

The course contributes to the development of knowledge, skills and attitudes in the process of understanding the key elements of corporate strategy and becoming a good leader, respectively of improving leadership skills, increasing the level of concerns regarding the responsibility of professional results, stimulating the importance of continuing education as a prerequisite for career progress, professional adaptation and managerial skills towards the competitive economic environment.

• Understanding, defining, analyzing and implementing the general framework regarding a company’s strategy (vision, mission, and company values);
• Understanding the role of the leader and the positioning towards the manager;
• Identifying the key skills for a leader and configuring their development paths;
• Identifying the role and mission of the leader to ensure organizational dynamics according to its culture.

The course offers an introduction to scientific research in the financial industry but also to the most general way of doing business, with the intention of a solid scientific training of studies with emphasis on compliance with strict conditions for recognition of citation sources and anti-plagiarism rules, reference databases used, to the sources of factual information or articles and other cited works.

• Knowledge of the fundamental principles and concepts of the field of scientific research, of ethical and professional behavior in each field of professional research activities and publication of results.
• Familiarizing students with problems, theoretical concepts, practical solutions and aspects of scientific research, investigation, statistical and econometric modeling, critical analysis of results and their interpretation.

This course offers knowledge of how to write scientific articles, research papers, bachelor’s theses or master’s dissertations, how to present, both in written and spoken form in public presentations, in strict compliance with the standards of academic ethics and avoidance of plagiarism.

• Acquiring problems, concepts and aspects regarding ethics and professional deontology
• Knowledge of the main concepts in the field of ethics and professional deontology;
• Understanding the special role of ethics for personal, social and professional development;
• Students will be able to form and clarify their own opinions and options regarding the role and importance of ethics at a personal, social and professional level.

The aim of this course is to apply the acquired skills in a real business context.

• Identify company issues;
• Find diagnosis and solutions;
• Present the internship workbook;
• The internship document will be accompanied the internship documents;

• Operating ability with mathematical, financial, statistical, and econometric functions
• Sourcing, compilation, processing, analysis, and synthesis of financial information
• Evaluation and quantification of financial risk management

• Analysis, profiling, and modeling of the behavior of investors in financial markets
• Analysis and modeling of decision-making processes at the micro and macroeconomic levels

• Application of the rules and values of professional ethics in the decision-making process
• Planning and organization of human resources within a group or organization, with an emphasis on responsibility for professional results
• Recognition of the importance of continuing education as a prerequisite for career progress and the adaptation of professional and managerial skills to the competitive dynamics of the economic environment

1. Students have to read the lists with the proposals of topics for the dissertation thesis.
2. They have to contact potential scientific coordinators in order to be advised them regarding the proposed topic(s).
3. By mutual agreement, the professor and the student can propose new topics for the graduation thesis.
4. Until november, send the application for the chosen topic, signed the coordinator’s. The centralized list will be uploaded on the fabbv.ase.ro site.
5. In case of collaboration divergence between the scientific coordinator and the student, the dean may appoint, at
   the request of the coordinator or the student, another scientific coordinator, consulting with the head of
   department.
6. The final list of students will be displayed before the anti-plagiarism check.