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Mergers and Acquisitions

Accounting Principles

Jeffrey Hooke and Ashley B

Week 1 - Consolidation Equity methods of consideration and the cost method, its sub-categories, and consolidation Week 2 - Purchase Accounting and Special Topics Explore purchase accounting in detail and other areas like Internal Revenue Code Section 338, tax deductible goodwill and intangibles Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is ideal for financial analysts and associates. It is also suitable for directors and managers who have transitioned, or hope to transition, to mergers and acquisitions from other areas, such as equities or fixed income. To get the most from this course you will need solid MS Excel skills and an understanding of financial accounting and of mergers and acquisitions concepts and structures.

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Reviews summary

M&a accounting: principles & practical application

According to learners, this course provides a solid foundation in Mergers and Acquisitions accounting principles, particularly excelling in detailed explanations of purchase accounting, goodwill, and consolidation methods. Students praise the highly practical examples, often involving MS Excel applications, which they can immediately apply to professional roles. The instructors are consistently highlighted as knowledgeable and clear. While largely positive, some caution that the pace can be fast and strongly recommend meeting the stated prerequisites in financial accounting and Excel skills to maximize learning outcomes.

Success depends on meeting stated prerequisites.

"I think the course benefits from solid financial accounting background."

"It definitely requires strong Excel skills and financial accounting background as stated."

"The MS Excel skills recommendation is spot on."

"It assumes a certain level of prior knowledge, so come prepared."

Maintains a high standard, with recent positive feedback.

"Excellent course! The detailed explanations... highly recommend for finance professionals."

"A must-take for anyone working in M&A. I gained a practical understanding... apply immediately."

"Outstanding course that perfectly blends theory with practical application."

Led by highly knowledgeable and engaging instructors.

"The instructor truly knows their subject and articulates complex topics clearly."

"The instructors are very knowledgeable."

"The instructor's expertise is evident throughout."

"I found the instructor to be incredibly knowledgeable and engaging."

Provides clear, detailed coverage of key M&A topics.

"The detailed explanations of purchase accounting and goodwill were incredibly helpful."

"The deep dive into IRC Section 338 was eye-opening."

"The section on tax-deductible goodwill was extremely clear and provided actionable knowledge."

"The content on consolidation and purchase accounting is top-notch."

Offers highly practical M&A accounting insights.

"I found the practical examples in Excel very applicable to my daily tasks."

"I gained a practical understanding of accounting principles I apply immediately."

"Outstanding course that perfectly blends theory with practical application."

"The practical examples and detailed explanations made complex topics like tax-deductible goodwill easy to grasp."

Pacing can be fast, challenging some learners.

"Some parts felt a bit fast-paced, especially for someone new to M&A concepts..."

"Disappointed with the pace. As someone with limited prior M&A experience, I found myself struggling to keep up."

"The pace was inconsistent. I had to rewatch a few lectures."

Some found it lacking advanced depth or hands-on practice.

"Too theoretical in parts, not enough hands-on for my taste."

"I felt some sections lacked the depth I was hoping for, especially regarding real-world complexities."

"It's fine for foundational knowledge but probably not sufficient for complex M&A scenarios."

"Could use more advanced case studies."

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