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Financial Analysis of Organizations

Gies College of Business, University of Illinois

This course focuses on adopting and implementing a financially analytic mindset when analyzing organizational activities, position and performance.

This course begins with an overview of an organization’s financial statements, including the balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, as well as the transactions that comprise these statements. You will learn about tools and ratios that help analyze these financial statements and transactions. Financial statement analysis will help you understand how the company has performed in the past and its current position. This analysis - as well as course content on forecasting both short- and long-term performance - enables you to draw inferences, make predictions about the organization's future performance and value.

Ultimately, this course provides a "deep-dive" into the multi-dimensional nature of financial analysis and how it used to assess the value of organizations.

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Syllabus

Course Introduction and Module 1: Financial Statements - A Deeper Dive Into Company Position

This module will explain the basics of the balance sheet, provide a working definition of assets, and give you an overview of assets typically presented on the balance sheet. You will then be introduced to the concept of liabilities and explain what they are and how they can arise. This module will then build an intuition for what equity represents. It will also explain how the components of the balance sheet relate to one another.

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Offers an accessible entry point for beginners seeking to build a firm understanding of financial analysis

Lays a strong foundation for learners to progress to more advanced financial analysis courses

Provides practical knowledge and skills that are highly relevant in the finance industry

Introduces key financial concepts such as liquidity, leverage, and profitability through the use of examples and real-world data

Provides a comprehensive overview of financial statements, their components, and their interrelationships

Covers a wide range of topics, from basic financial concepts to advanced financial forecasting techniques

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Reviews summary

Practical organizational financial analysis

According to learners, this course offers a strong foundation in financial analysis, fostering a financially analytic mindset crucial for organizational insights. Students praise its clear explanations of financial statements. The emphasis on financial statement ratios and the use of practical data are often cited as highly practical. The module on forecasting financial statements is a particular strength, enabling predictions of future performance. While largely beneficial for professionals, some note that prior accounting knowledge is helpful, suggesting it's best for those with some background or a strong drive. Overall, it's a valuable course for developing key financial skills.

Teaches valuable models for predicting future performance.

"The forecasting modules were the most valuable, teaching how to predict future financial needs."

"I particularly appreciated the deep dive into capital expenditures and future financing strategies."

"This section alone justified the course for me, providing actionable forecasting models."

Emphasis on applying concepts to real-world data.

"Working with actual company data to calculate ratios was incredibly insightful."

"I can now confidently apply financial tools and ratios to analyze businesses."

"The hands-on approach to forecasting financial statements was a game-changer."

Provides robust understanding of financial statements.

"I gained a robust understanding of financial statements and how they interrelate."

"The course built my knowledge from the ground regarding company position and performance."

"It's an excellent starting point for understanding organizational finance deeply."

Benefits learners with some existing accounting background.

"As a complete beginner, I found the initial modules quite fast-paced and challenging."

"It's a great course if you have a basic understanding of financial terms already."

"I would recommend reviewing basic accounting principles before diving in."

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 Financial Analysis of Organizations with these activities:

Organize Your Course Materials

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Keep your course materials organized so you can easily find what you need.

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Create a system for organizing your notes, assignments, and quizzes.
Review your materials regularly to identify any gaps in your understanding.

Review Intermediate Financial Accounting

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Review the basics of financial accounting before starting this intermediate course.

Browse courses on Financial Statements

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Review your class notes and textbooks.
Take practice quizzes and tests.
Do research on relevant topics.

Learn about Financial Modeling

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Learn about the basics of financial modeling to better understand how financial statements are used to make business decisions.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

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Find online tutorials or courses on financial modeling.
Follow along with the tutorials and complete the exercises.
Apply what you've learned to real-world examples.

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Discuss Financial Analysis with Peers

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Gain different perspectives on financial analysis by discussing with your peers.

Browse courses on Financial Analysis

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Find a study group or online forum where you can connect with other students.
Discuss the concepts you're learning in this course.
Share your thoughts and insights.
Learn from others and expand your understanding.

Practice Financial Statement Analysis

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Reinforce your understanding of financial statement analysis by completing practice drills.

Browse courses on Financial Statements

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Find practice drills online or in textbooks.
Complete the practice drills.
Review your answers and learn from your mistakes.

Analyze a Company's Financial Statements

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Apply the concepts you learn in this course to a real-world company by analyzing their financial statements.

Browse courses on Financial Statements

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Choose a company to analyze.
Gather the company's financial statements.
Analyze the financial statements using the techniques you learn in this course.
Write a report on your findings.

Develop a Financial Analysis Presentation

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Demonstrate your understanding of financial analysis by creating a presentation.

Browse courses on Financial Analysis

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Choose a topic for your presentation.
Research your topic and gather data.
Develop a presentation that is clear, concise, and engaging.
Present your findings to your classmates or instructor.

Contribute to Open Source Projects Related to Finance

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Gain practical experience in financial analysis by contributing to open source projects.

Browse courses on Financial Analysis

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Find open source projects related to finance.
Identify ways to contribute to the project.
Make your contributions and get them reviewed.

Career center

Learners who complete Financial Analysis of Organizations will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts help plan long-term financial goals and develop strategies to achieve them. By taking this course, you will learn the basics of financial statement analysis, which is a core skill for Financial Analysts. This course will also teach you how to forecast financial statements, which is essential for developing long-term financial plans.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and advise them on mergers and acquisitions. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Investment Bankers. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for evaluating the financial health of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers manage investments for individuals and institutions. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Portfolio Managers. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for evaluating the financial performance of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify and manage financial risks for companies. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Risk Managers. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for assessing the financial impact of risks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Auditor

Auditors examine financial statements to ensure that they are accurate and reliable. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Auditors. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for evaluating the financial health of companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Credit Analyst

Credit Analysts assess the creditworthiness of borrowers. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Credit Analysts. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for evaluating the financial health of borrowers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families plan for their financial future. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Financial Planners. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for developing long-term financial plans for clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Management Consultant

Management Consultants help companies improve their performance. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Management Consultants. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for evaluating the financial impact of different management strategies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and analyze data to identify trends and patterns. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Data Analysts who work with financial data. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for identifying future trends and patterns.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Accountant

Accountants prepare and maintain financial records for businesses. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Accountants. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for helping businesses plan for the future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Accountant

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

CFOs are responsible for the financial health of their companies. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for CFOs. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for developing long-term financial plans for companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

COOs are responsible for the day-to-day operations of their companies. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for COOs. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for developing long-term operational plans for companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

CEOs are responsible for the overall success of their companies. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for CEOs. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for developing long-term strategic plans for companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Financial Controller

Financial Controllers are responsible for the day-to-day financial operations of their companies. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Financial Controllers. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for developing long-term financial plans for companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Controller

Treasurer

Treasurers are responsible for the management of their companies' cash and investments. This course will teach you the basics of financial statement analysis, which is essential for Treasurers. You will also learn how to forecast financial statements, which is important for developing long-term financial plans for companies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Treasurer

Reading list

We've selected 13 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 Financial Analysis of Organizations.

The Intelligent Investor, 3rd Ed.

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This classic book by Benjamin Graham must-read for anyone who wants to learn about value investing. It provides a framework for analyzing companies and making investment decisions.

The Intelligent Investor, 3rd Ed.: The Definitive...

Hardcover

Security Analysis, Seventh Edition: Principles and...

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This comprehensive book by Benjamin Graham and David Dodd classic in the field of security analysis. It provides a detailed overview of the principles and techniques of security analysis.

Security Analysis, Seventh Edition: Principles and...

Hardcover

$$$

Security Analysis, Seventh Edition: Principles and...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Accounting Principles

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Provides a comprehensive overview of accounting principles. It valuable resource for students and practitioners who want to learn more about the basics of accounting.

Financial Analysis of Organizations

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What's inside

Syllabus

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Save this course

Reviews summary

Practical organizational financial analysis

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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