By Prof. Dr. Imke Keimer & Prof. Dr. habil Stefan Hunziker

Data driven decision making is now a defining skill in Accounting and Finance. To support this, the MSc International Financial Management offers the opportunity to earn the joint certificate “SAS Business Analytics Specialist” in cooperation with SAS, one of the world’s leading providers of analytics software. This partnership allows students to complement their financial training with a widely recognised analytics qualification that is highly relevant for modern finance roles.

The specialisation enables students to develop strong analytical capabilities that go far beyond traditional accounting and finance competencies. Participants learn how to interpret complex data, apply statistical and modelling techniques, and work with modern analytics platforms used in industry. This combination of financial expertise and data literacy is increasingly essential for positions in controlling, financial planning and analysis, reporting, auditing, and risk management. Completing the SAS specialisation signals to employers that graduates can translate data into insights, support decision making, and navigate the growing technological dimension of finance.

Students who complete the programme receive a jointly issued certificate and digital badge from HSLU and SAS, demonstrating internationally recognised skills. The specialisation can also be credited as a 6 ECTS elective and is free of charge for our students. It is a flexible learning journey that can be started at any time, making it easy to integrate into the Master’s studies.

For questions or registration, students may contact Markus Grau (markus.grau@sas.com).

The SAS specialisation offers an excellent opportunity to strengthen your professional profile and to position yourself for a successful career in the increasingly data-driven world of Accounting and Finance, providing better career prospects, faster entry into data-oriented roles, and a clear competitive advantage in the job market.

Autorin: Prof Dr Imke Keimer

Prof. Dr. Imke Keimer is Professor of Business Analytics at the Institute of Financial Services Zug (IFZ) at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. She holds an MSc in Business Mathematics from TU Dortmund and a doctorate in Management Accounting from the University of Bern. Before entering academia, she worked as Senior Risk Controller at Zürcher Kantonalbank. She co-heads the MSc in International Financial Management and co-leads the annual Controller Tagung Schweiz. Her research focuses on digitalisation, AI, agile finance, and the evolving competencies in management accounting.

Autor: Prof Dr habil Stefan Hunziker

Prof. Dr. habil. Stefan Hunziker is Professor of Risk Management and Head of the Competence Centre for Risk & Compliance Management at the Institute of Financial Services Zug (IFZ) at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts. He holds an MSc in Business Administration from the University of Bern, a doctorate from the University of St Gallen, and a habilitation with venia legendi in management and organisational studies. He has many years of experience in teaching and research. He co-heads the MSc in International Financial Management and several further education programmes in governance, risk, and compliance. In addition, he advises executives on risk management and internal control systems and served for six years as President of the Swiss Enterprise Risk Management Association (Swiss ERM).