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Join the only postgraduate degree in New Zealand combining the vital business disciplines of accountancy and finance.
Find out more about entry requirements, fees and courses in the planning section.
Whatever your accountancy career ambitions are, this qualification will help you get there.
The Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance (MPAF) is the only professional master’s degree in New Zealand where the two popular disciplines of accountancy and finance have been combined. It is open to graduates with a bachelor’s degree in any discipline.
Completion of this master’s allows you to gain entry to key professional accountancy organisations in Australia and New Zealand.
The MPAF meets the academic requirements of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CAANZ), Certified Practising Accountants (CPA) Australia and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). It is accredited by all three organisations. The MPAF is also endorsed by the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) Institute.
The Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance shows a commitment to gaining the business capabilities that are sought-after by potential employers. It will build on your previous study and/or practical work experience to help you develop an excellent understanding of accountancy and finance principles and practical applications. It is the only master’s qualification where your study covers both these disciplines.
Whether or not you come from a background in accountancy and finance, the MPAF will help build on your skills to help you move into more senior roles.
The Massey Business School is one of the country’s leading and largest business schools and is AACSB accredited.
Massey University’s School of Accountancy has accreditation from national and international professional institutions including the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK). It was also awarded the AACSB accreditation for the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degree programmes. The School is one of only two institutions in New Zealand and Australia awarded this prestigious accreditation. There are very few institutions outside of the USA that have achieved this distinction.
Massey University’s accountancy and finance programme ranks in the 200 universities in the world by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) rankings and our business and management studies are ranked in the top 250. We are ranked No.1 in New Zealand and in the top 150 universities worldwide for our business administration and finance programmes by ShanghaiRanking.
Our lecturers are actively researching, bringing the most relevant developments in accounting theory and practice to your study.
Our uniquely broad range of study modes means you can fit your study around your life. You can study towards this qualification on our Auckland campus, via block courses. Or you can study via distance, from wherever you are, whenever it suits you. Massey has the largest and longest-running distance learning courses in New Zealand, giving you access to our expertise and world-leading tools.
Postgraduate study is hard work but hugely rewarding and empowering. The workload of the Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance replicates the high-pressure environment of senior workplace roles and high-level research. Our experts are there to guide but if you have come from undergraduate study, you will find that postgraduate study demands more in-depth and independent study.
Postgraduate study is not just ‘more of the same’ undergraduate study. It takes you to a new level in knowledge and expertise especially in planning and undertaking research.
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
“I am definitely confident in saying that MPAF has laid very solid foundations for me to step into the workforce…”
"I completed my Master of Professional Accountancy and Finance (MPAF) in 2015 and started in a graduate role at Audit New Zealand straight away. I am confident in saying that MPAF has laid very solid foundations for me to step into the workforce. What I gained from my study was not simply the extensive knowledge, but also the soft skills that employers are looking for. The things I learned from these two years have really held me in good stead in my work."
“I got a job offer only two months after I completed my MPAF degree…”
As a first year student at Massey University, I was deeply impressed with its cultural atmosphere and historical significance. I was delighted that I got the chance to complete Massey’s MPAF programme with its first class technology and very experienced professors. During my two-year degree, I had opportunities to discuss academic questions with fellow students from different nationalities, to get answers from experienced professors, spend time on research reports that were realistic, and experience exam questions where I could apply academic knowledge as well as real world experience. The MPAF at Massey is a very popular degree in New Zealand and it attracts international students from all over the world. I got a job offer only two months after I completed my MPAF degree. Now, I am working at a NASDAQ listed company in a group accountant role. I believe any student who chooses the MPAF programme will greatly enjoy studying at Massey University.
International trends are for employers to reward postgraduate study well, especially in larger enterprises. The skills you learn are increasingly recognised as setting you apart from other potential employees.
A 2017 Ministry of Education publication The post-study earnings and destinations of young domestic graduates, found that in New Zealand:
Massey’s accountancy and finance staff are internationally renowned for their research and teaching and learning methods. You will be working with recognised specialists, for example:
Alison is a taxation specialist and has undertaken research in a variety of areas of taxation law and corporate law. Prior to joining Massey, Alison’s corporate experience includes as a tax adviser for KPMG and Crowe Horwath and as an international tax adviser for Shell London.
Hedy specialises in teaching Management Accounting courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research expertise is in areas including auditing, corporate governance, sustainability and management accounting issues related to Chinese capital markets and New Zealand not-for-profit sector. She has published in, and regularly reviews, research papers for high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
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