We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
James Weston

This short course surveys all the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course, but with a more intuitive approach on a very high conceptual level. The goal here is give you a roadmap and framework for how financial professional make decisions.

Read more

This short course surveys all the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course, but with a more intuitive approach on a very high conceptual level. The goal here is give you a roadmap and framework for how financial professional make decisions.

We will cover the basics of financial valuation, the time value of money, compounding returns, and discounting the future. You will understand discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation and how it compares to other methods. We also step inside the mind of a corporate financial manager and develop the basic tools of capital budgeting. We will survey the how, when, and where to spend money, make tradeoffs about investment, growth, dividends, and how to ensure sound fiscal discipline. Our journey then turns to a Wall Street or capital markets perspective of investments as we discuss the fundamental tradeoff between risk and return. We then synthesize our discussion of risk with our valuation framework and incorporate it into series of direct applications to practice.

This course requires no prior familiarity with finance. Rather, it is intended to be a first step for anyone who is curious about understanding stock markets, valuation, or corporate finance. We will walk through all of the tools and quantitative analysis together and develop a guide for understanding the seemingly complex decisions that finance professionals make.

By the end of the course, you will develop an understanding of the major conceptual levers that push and pull on financial decision making and how they relate to other areas of business. The course should also serve as a roadmap for where to further your finance education and it would be an excellent introduction of any students contemplating an MBA or Finance concentration, but who has little background in the area.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview and Basic Principles of Financial Valuation Discounting
Welcome to Finance for Non-Finance Professionals! In this section you will find general information about the course and instructions on how to navigate the course. For the first week of lectures, we will be covering the basics of financial valuation. We will start with the basics of compounding and discounting rates of return over time. Using these tools we will then move on to valuation using the discounted cash flow method. Along the way, we will demonstrate our valuation tools with a variety of practical examples and compare our analysis with other valuation techniques.
Read more
How to Spend Money (Capital Budgeting tools)
Welcome to the second week of Finance for Non-Finance Professionals! In this week of the course, we will build on the basic valuation tools from week one to start making capital budgeting decisions. Our capital budgeting review covers the basic tools like Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Payback period, and return on capital. Our discussion of the relative advantages of each different tool leads us into sensitivity analysis and the advantages of spreadsheet modeling.
Measuring Cash Creation and Flow
Welcome back to Finance for Non-Finance Professionals! In our third week together, we will go on a treasure hunt through the financial statements. Using discounted cash flows as our motivation, we search through the income statement and balance sheet for all the uses and sources of cash. Our search leads us to our primary measure of value creation: Free Cash Flow. Free cash flow will form the basis of most financial analysis and this module gives us a roadmap for estimating and forecasting cash creation within any organization.
How Much Does Money Cost? Evaluating the Cost of Capital
Welcome back everyone! In our final week together in this course, we switch gears and take an external view of the firm from a Wall Street, or capital markets, perspective. We think about the basic tradeoff between risk and return, how to measure risk, and how to put a risk premium on different kinds of investments. We then take our analysis of risk and return and use it to estimate a firm's cost of capital. Finally, we circle back to free cash flows, capital budgeting and valuation to tie together all four weeks and get ready for our capstone case analysis.
Capstone Case: Putting it All Back Together from Main Street to Wall Street
In this final part of the course we bring all of our analysis to bear on a realistic case study. We will evaluate the investment prospects of Sunrise Bakery. As their CFO considers a large capital expenditure, she needs to think about the tradeoff between spending money today and generating more free cash flow in the future. Our job in this case is to forecast the amount of cash generation the new equipment will produce, discount the cash flows, and use all of our capital budgeting tools to make a sound financial recommendation.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Examines core finance concepts, giving students the tools to understand financial decision-making at high levels
Covers the entire breadth of foundational finance, making it ideal for those looking for a broad overview of the topic
Uses an intuitive approach to a highly technical subject, making it accessible to a wide audience
Provides a strong foundation for further study in finance, such as an MBA program
Requires no prior knowledge of finance, making it suitable for beginners
Led by James Weston, an experienced instructor in finance

Save this course

Save Finance for Non-Finance Professionals to your list so you can find it easily later:
Save

Reviews summary

Well-received finance course

According to students, Finance for Non-Finance Professionals is a well-received course. Learners say that this course is worthwhile and provides engaging assignments. One student even remarked that they enjoyed the first week of the course.
Students appreciate the engaging assignments.
Students remark that this course is worthwhile.
"Its a great course, and i enjoyed the week 1 so far,"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Finance for Non-Finance Professionals with these activities:
Review high school level math concepts
Reviewing these concepts will give you the best chance to succeed in this course.
Browse courses on Algebra
Show steps
  • Review basic algebra and geometry concepts.
  • Make sure you have a solid foundation in trigonometry.
  • Refresh your knowledge of pre-calculus.
Go through online tutorials on discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation
These tutorials will help you understand the basics of DCF valuation, which is a key concept in corporate finance.
Show steps
  • Find a reputable online tutorial provider.
  • Choose a tutorial that is appropriate for your level of knowledge.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
  • Complete the practice exercises.
Solve practice problems on capital budgeting
Solving practice problems will help you develop the skills necessary to make sound capital budgeting decisions.
Browse courses on Capital Budgeting
Show steps
  • Find a collection of practice problems.
  • Solve the problems step-by-step.
  • Check your answers against the provided solutions.
  • Review the problems you got wrong.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Develop a financial plan for a small business
This project will give you hands-on experience in applying the concepts of finance to a real-world scenario.
Browse courses on Financial Planning
Show steps
  • Choose a small business to develop a financial plan for.
  • Research the business and its industry.
  • Develop a financial forecast.
  • Identify potential risks and opportunities.
  • Write a financial plan report.
Attend a finance industry networking event
Networking with professionals in the finance industry can help you learn about career opportunities and gain valuable insights.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Find a finance industry networking event.
  • Prepare an elevator pitch.
  • Attend the event and network with professionals.
  • Follow up with the people you met.

Career center

Learners who complete Finance for Non-Finance Professionals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Stockbroker
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course is a great way to learn the basics of financial valuation, which is a key skill for Stockbrokers. The course covers the basics of financial valuation, the time value of money, compounding returns, and discounting the future. This knowledge will help you to understand how to value stocks and make informed investment decisions.
Financial Analyst
The syllabus for the Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Financial Analysts, such as financial valuation, capital budgeting, and risk management. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Investment Banker
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course provides a comprehensive overview of the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as an Investment Banker.
Portfolio Manager
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Portfolio Managers, such as financial valuation, risk management, and investment analysis. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for CFOs, such as financial planning, capital budgeting, and risk management. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Corporate Treasurer
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Corporate Treasurers, such as financial planning, capital budgeting, and risk management. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Venture Capitalist
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course provides a comprehensive overview of the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Venture Capitalist.
Hedge Fund Manager
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course provides a comprehensive overview of the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Hedge Fund Manager.
Financial Planner
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Financial Planners, such as financial planning, investment analysis, and risk management. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Financial Risk Manager
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Financial Risk Managers, such as risk management, financial modeling, and data analysis. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Private Equity Investor
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course provides a comprehensive overview of the major topics covered in a full semester MBA level finance course. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed as a Private Equity Investor.
Commercial Banker
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Commercial Bankers, such as financial analysis, lending, and risk management. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Business Analyst
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Business Analysts, such as financial analysis, data analysis, and problem-solving. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Credit Analyst
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course covers a variety of topics that are essential for Credit Analysts, such as financial analysis, credit risk assessment, and lending. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.
Accountant
The Finance for Non-Finance Professionals course may be useful for Accountants who want to develop a better understanding of financial valuation, capital budgeting, and risk management. This course will help you to develop the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in this role.

Reading list

We've selected 45 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Finance for Non-Finance Professionals.
This detailed and comprehensive account of the financial crisis of 2008 is very helpful for understanding the causes and consequences.
Provides a comprehensive overview of corporate finance, including topics such as financial analysis, capital budgeting, and risk management. It would be a useful reference for students who want to learn more about the financial decision-making process.
By legendary investor George Soros provides his unique perspective on the financial markets.
This classic memoir of a legendary stock trader provides valuable insights into the psychology of investing
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of investments, including investment analysis, portfolio management, and risk management. It is written in a clear and concise style, making it accessible to non-finance professionals.
Classic textbook on corporate finance that has been used by generations of students. It provides a clear and concise overview of the financial decision-making process, and it valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the theory and practice of corporate finance.
Classic guide to value investing. It provides a clear and concise overview of the principles of value investing, and it valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how to invest wisely.
This classic book provides a comprehensive overview of security analysis, including how to analyze financial statements, how to value stocks, and how to make investment decisions.
Classic textbook on security analysis. It provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of security analysis, and it valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how to analyze stocks and bonds.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of accounting principles, including how to prepare financial statements, how to analyze financial ratios, and how to make investment decisions.
Practical guide to building a successful startup. It provides a step-by-step process for developing and validating a business idea. The book is full of insights and practical advice from a successful entrepreneur.
Collection of interviews with successful traders. The book provides insights into the minds of some of the world's most successful traders. It valuable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about trading.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of financial economics, including the theory of asset pricing, the theory of portfolio choice, and the theory of financial markets.
Provides a clear and concise overview of financial statement analysis. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how to analyze financial statements.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the principles of common sense investing. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how to invest wisely.
Personal finance book that provides insights into the financial habits of successful people.
Comprehensive handbook on finance that covers a wide range of topics, including financial theory, financial markets, and financial institutions. It would be a useful reference for students who want to learn more about the theory and practice of finance.
Comprehensive encyclopedia of finance that covers a wide range of topics, including financial theory, financial markets, and financial institutions. It would be a useful reference for students who want to learn more about the theory and practice of finance.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the financial markets. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how the financial markets work.
Provides a clear and concise overview of the financial markets. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how the financial markets work.
Provides a clear and concise overview of corporate finance for non-financial professionals. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about the theory and practice of corporate finance.
Provides a clear and concise overview of financial intelligence for non-financial managers. It valuable resource for students who want to learn more about how to understand financial statements and make sound financial decisions.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2024 OpenCourser