Financial Processes and Service Design (5cr)

Intro

This course explores how financial processes function within business environments and contribute to the overall organization. It focuses on the development of financial processes through the design of process flow charts, emphasizes the role of data quality in supporting accurate reporting and informed decision-making, and examines how emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) drive process improvement within the finance function. Through practical case studies and collaboration in diverse international teams, the course fosters a forward-looking mindset, emphasizing the application of process management and service design methods and tools to support the continuous improvement of financial processes. Hands-on experience with SAP, one of the world’s leading ERP systems, is also included. By the end of the course, participants will be prepared to support organizations in operating more efficiently, customer-centrically and sustainably.

Learning objectives

After having completed this course or attained an equivalent competence level, the student:
- is able to identify key financial processes as part of business operations; also in an international business context.
- is able to design financial processes and related data flows on process flow charts.
- is able to recognise the impact of data quality on reporting, decision-making and sustainable business process development initiatives.
- Is able to apply process management methods and a service design approach to identify development areas and create new services within financial processes, including a process development case study conducted in inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and responsible collaboration in multicultural teams.
- is able to understand the importance and impact of utilizing modern technology (RPA, AI) in developing processes.
- has gained hands-on experience on SAP ERP system by completed case studies.

Contents

- Financial processes; process flow charts, data flow diagrams
- Process development; process management methods (Lean, Six Sigma etc)
- Data, data quality
- Automation, RPA, AI
- Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system; SAP
- Service design

Implementation methods, demonstration and Work&Study

CONTACT / CONTACT BLENDED
VIRTUAL / VIRTUAL INSTRUCTED
DEMO

If you have acquired the required learning outcomes, you can show your competences with a demonstration. If you have any questions, please contact the responsible teacher.

More information and instructions regarding the recognition of learning: https://www.haaga-helia.fi/en/recognition-learning

Learning materials

Recommended reading:
-Vom Brocke, Jan (2015): Handbook on business process management. 1, Introduction, methods, and information systems.
- Loshin, David (2008): Master Data Management, Morgan Kaufmann.
- Smeets Mario, Erhard Ralph, Kaussler Thomas (2021). Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in the financial sector, Springer.
- Romney, Steinbart,Summers,Wood (2021): Accounting Information Systems, Pearson.

Other material informed by the course teacher

Lähtötaso ja sidonnaisuudet muihin opintojaksoihin

Following BBA key and common competence courses should be completed or similar knowledge and skills gained prior to this course:

ECO001HH1AE
ECO002TR1AE
ECO002AS2AE

Assessment criteria - grade 1

Attendance Requirement:
For CONTACT, ONLINE and BLENDED implementations of the course, attendance is required at the scheduled teaching sessions listed in the timetable. If a student is absent for more than 25% of the sessions, their final grade will be lowered by one grade point. If a student is absent for more than 50% of the sessions, the course will be failed.

Grading criteria - grade 1

All other grading criteria are based on the learning objectives of the course.
- Demonstrates basic, but limited understanding of financial processes.
- Produces flowcharts with limitations to the structure or data presentation.
- Shows limited understanding of data quality issues or their implications.
- Does apply basic methods and some limited development ideas.
- Demonstrates basic level of understanding of modern technologies or their relevance to financial processes with some limitations.
- SAP case studies completed at the minimum level.

Assessment criteria - grade 3

Grading criteria are based on the learning objectives of the course.

- Demonstrates basic understanding of financial processes.
- Produces basic flowcharts with mostly correct structure and data representation; some elements may be unclear or missing.
- Demonstrates basic understanding on data quality impacts; examples may be generic.
- Applies basic methods to identify process improvement needs. Evidence of collaboration in team working.
- Shows basic understanding of RPA/AI applications in finance; may give simple or generic examples.
- Completes most of the SAP tasks; demonstrates good understanding on working with an ERP system.

Assessment criteria - grade 5

Grading criteria are based on the learning objectives of the course.

- Demonstrates comprehensive understanding of financial processes; clearly articulates their role in business operations.
- Designs accurate, detailed, and logically structured process flowcharts with correct data flow representation.
- Demonstrates comprehensive understanding on how data quality influences reporting, decision-making, and process improvement.
- Applies process management and service design methods effectively; identifies relevant improvement areas and proposes innovative service ideas. Case study demonstrates inclusive, ethical, sustainable, and responsible teamwork in a multicultural context (when applicable).
- Demonstrates excellent understanding of how RPA/AI can be integrated into financial processes; proposes realistic, well-reasoned use cases.
- Completes all assigned SAP tasks accurately and independently; demonstrates solid understanding of ERP’s role in financial processes.