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David Standen, MBA

Impact your financial decisions and learn how to affect the performance of your unit's profitability and of your organization. In this course gain a basic understanding of finance and accounting concepts to drive your organization's growth. Upon completion of this course, you will have gained general financial knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the impact of your decisions outside your functional area. Content of the course includes selected aspects of finance from a non-financial specialist perspective. Specific topics include: financial analysis; planning, forecasting, and budgeting; cash flow, and strategic financing. This class will be interactive and will require the active involvement of the participants in finance related activities.

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Impact your financial decisions and learn how to affect the performance of your unit's profitability and of your organization. In this course gain a basic understanding of finance and accounting concepts to drive your organization's growth. Upon completion of this course, you will have gained general financial knowledge and an in-depth understanding of the impact of your decisions outside your functional area. Content of the course includes selected aspects of finance from a non-financial specialist perspective. Specific topics include: financial analysis; planning, forecasting, and budgeting; cash flow, and strategic financing. This class will be interactive and will require the active involvement of the participants in finance related activities.

Upon completing this course, you will be able to:

1. Explain the importance of finance and interpretation of financial information

2. Apply the concepts of accounting and finance to analyze financials

3. Learn about key accounting and finance terms

4. Examine financial statements by using key ratios

5. Explain the importance of budgeting process

6. Learn about key components needed to improve profitability

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What's inside

Syllabus

Foundations of Finance and Accounting
Costing
Financial Ratios
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Valuation

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Improves financial acumen and organizational decision-making
Introduces core financial and accounting concepts
Emphasizes understanding the impact of financial decisions beyond one's own role
Interactive and engaging with finance-related activities
Instructor David Standen, MBA brings industry expertise

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Reviews summary

Finance for non-finance professionals

Learners say this course is largely positive and provides a good overview of finance for non-finance professionals. The engaging assignments and clear explanations from the knowledgeable instructor make the material easy to understand, even for those with no prior finance background. However, learners should note that this course is a basic introduction and may not provide enough depth for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of finance.
Learners appreciate the interactive quizzes and practical exercises that reinforce the concepts taught in the lectures.
"Excellent course. Thanks to all."
"Good content for non-finanical managers"
"The instructor teaches very well. Kudos. "
"Very clear and inspiring explanation"
The instructor presents complex financial concepts in a clear and simple manner, making them easy to grasp even for learners with no finance background.
"The instructor teaches very well. Kudos. "
"Clear explanations, simple written slides"
"This course was very interesting and easy "
"Very clear and inspiring explanation"
Learners praise the instructor for their expertise in finance and their ability to explain complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand.
"Excellent Course. Thanks to all."
"The instructor is very knowledgeable, and engaging, he used simple easy to understand language that simplifies the course and makes it interesting"
"The concepts are coherent and neatly presented for a non-finance professional to get a grip over it.Thank you so much professor and coursera platform."
There are a few learners who found the course to be too basic or lacking in depth.
"It was simpler than I expected. "
"A bit too basic. Not all dettails were explained well."
Learners should note that this course is a basic introduction to finance and may not provide enough depth for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the subject.
"BEST COURSE FOR LEARNING FINANCE."
"It was simpler than I expected. "
"A bit too basic. Not all dettails were explained well."

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-Financial Professionals with these activities:
Read through the course textbook
This activity is invaluable because your course text provides an accessible entry point and complete overview of all the important topics in this course.
Show steps
  • Read every chapter and make a summary of each chapter
  • Review the glossary and locate the definitions for the key terms.
  • Recall the important concepts from each chapter and write a brief description of each.
Review notes from previous accounting and finance courses
Reviewing past knowledge will help to strengthen foundational knowledge, avoid relearning, and boost confidence.
Browse courses on Financial Analysis
Show steps
  • Find and gather notes, assignments, and study materials from past accounting and finance courses.
  • Go over and synthesize all of your past notes and materials to solidify your foundational knowledge.
Watch video tutorials on key concepts
This activity is useful because it provides students with an opportunity to learn about complex topics in a more interactive and engaging format.
Browse courses on Financial Analysis
Show steps
  • Identify the most relevant video to your knowledge and skill level.
  • Take notes or write down key concepts from the video.
  • Complete any quizzes or exercises that accompany the video.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Participate in a study group with other students
This activity creates a collaborative environment where students can share their ideas, ask questions, and learn from one another.
Show steps
  • Join a group with a few students in your class.
  • Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
  • Work together on practice problems and assignments.
Complete a series of practice problems
Completing a series of practice problems will help students test their understanding of course concepts and will help them to develop important problem solving skills.
Browse courses on Financial Ratios
Show steps
  • Start by identifying the key concepts in the problem and the type of problem.
  • Then, apply relevant accounting and financial concepts.
  • Finally, check and review your answer.
Create a financial analysis report for a particular company
This activity combines several important concepts from the course and allows students to apply their knowledge to a real world scenario.
Browse courses on Financial Analysis
Show steps
  • Choose a publicly traded company that interests you and research its financial statements.
  • Use the concepts you learned in class to analyze the company's financial performance.
  • Write a report that summarizes your findings and provides recommendations for the future.
Write a blog post on a topic related to the course
This activity is a great way for students to deepen their understanding of a topic and to improve their communication skills.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic that interests you and that is relevant to the course.
  • Research the topic thoroughly.
  • Write a clear and concise blog post that is informative to your audience.
Participate in a case competition on finance
Participating in a case competition is a great way to test your skills and knowledge in a competitive setting.
Show steps
  • Find a case competition that you are interested in.
  • Research the case and prepare a solution.
  • Present your solution to a panel of judges.
Contribute to an open-source financial modeling project
This is a great way to apply your skills and knowledge and also to give back to the open-source community.
Browse courses on Financial Modeling
Show steps
  • Find an open-source financial modeling project that you are interested in.
  • Read the project documentation and get familiar with the codebase.
  • Make a contribution to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Finance for Non-Financial Professionals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Financial Analyst
Financial Analysts use data to help guide crucial business decisions. They often use financial ratios to spot trends and make forecasts, so taking a course on financial analysis can help one improve their performance in this role and advance their career.
Management Consultant
Management Consultants help organizations to improve their performance. They may focus on a certain functional area of the business, such as finance. This course may help teach essential terms and concepts involved in helping businesses succeed. Gaining financial literacy is a valuable skill for anyone wishing to enter this field.
Investment Banker
Investment Bankers develop strategies to help raise capital for organizations. They may lead teams to recommend and execute mergers and acquisitions. This course may help build a foundation for those interested in this field and may help prepare them to work on financial analysis, planning, and forecasting.
Budget Analyst
Budget Analysts guide financial planning for organizations. This course can provide an understanding of the budgeting process as well as the financial terms and concepts relevant to this role. Completing this course may help one qualify for career advancement.
Financial Planner
Financial Planners help clients understand and plan for their financial futures. They assess clients' current situations and help them make smarter financial decisions. Those interested in this field may benefit from taking this course to gain financial literacy.
Accountant
Accountants manage the financial records of organizations and institutions. This course can provide an introduction to essential accounting and finance concepts and help build a foundation for a career in this field.
Compliance Officer
Compliance Officers make sure that their organizations stay up to date and in line with relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies. This course may help build a foundation of financial knowledge that can help one stay on top of the regulatory framework for doing business in different jurisdictions.
Risk Manager
A Risk Manager is in charge of managing the financial risks facing an organization. This course may help them understand the language of finance so they can be effective in their role. It may also help prepare them to protect and grow an entity's assets.
Operations Manager
Operations Managers oversee the day-to-day activities of an organization. They work to improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability. With this finance course, they may gain knowledge that can help them make informed decisions which can improve their performance in their role and their organization's bottom line.
Marketing Manager
Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns for their organizations. Having financial literacy can help them understand the financial implications of marketing campaigns and may help them work more closely with their finance counterparts to achieve business goals.
Sales Manager
Sales Managers motivate and lead sales teams to reach their goals. They are responsible for understanding customer needs and developing business strategies. This course may help them acquire and build on financial knowledge while also developing their forecasting and planning abilities.
Human Resource Manager
Human Resource Managers are responsible for the day-to-day activities of a human resources department. This course may help them gain financial literacy and improve their ability to work closely with the finance department to achieve their organization's business goals.
Information Technology Manager
Information Technology Managers are responsible for the day-to-day activities of an information technology department. Gaining financial literacy can help them stay on top of the costs associated with their projects and initiatives.
Project Manager
Project Managers lead projects and ensure their completion. This course may help them gain financial literacy and improve their ability to work closely with the finance department to secure adequate funding and stay within budget.
Business Development
Business Development professionals work to identify new business opportunities and grow an organization's business. This course may help them understand financial concepts and improve their ability to convey the business value of their initiatives.

Reading list

We've selected nine 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-Financial Professionals.
A comprehensive textbook suitable for a broad range of introductory level financial accounting courses. Great choice for students in need of a deeper grounding in accounting topics.
A shorter and more approachable work by Aswath Damodaran - an excellent choice for beginners looking to get started with valuation concepts.
This classic book provides a deep dive into stock market investing and value investing. Provides an excellent complement to the course's section on valuation.
Another popular accounting textbook. A solid choice for any student in the course looking to reinforce their understanding of accounting principles.
A book written as a simple guide to help readers understand basic accounting and finance terminology. Essential for learners who want to build on accounting and financial concepts from the course.
A beginner-friendly guide focusing on the fundamentals of finance. A top choice for learners who are completely new to the field of finance.

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