Financial Accounting Toolkit for Decision Making from Coursera

This course gives you a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting for general management, corporate planning, sales, and other functional areas, as well as broad exposure to some of the most important principles of financial decision-making. We’ll cover topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping you make smarter financial choices for your organization. You’ll learn how to determine the value of an asset by the level and the riskiness of its expected after-tax cash flows. We’ll also cover techniques used to discount cash flows and determine the value implications of investment decisions, as well as the guidelines used to construct after-tax cash flow forecasts. Additionally, you’ll learn to estimate risk in the context of modern portfolio theory and talk about the impact of capital structure (your firm’s mix of debt and equity) on the riskiness of financial instruments issued by your firm. In the accounting portion of the course, we’ll give you a basic introduction to financial accounting, including overviews of financial statements, income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows. You’ll learn about LIFO vs. FIFO accounting, accounting for inventory, and the valuation of long-term assets. When you complete this course, you’ll understand how to utilize financial concepts to make better-informed financial decisions, apply finance principles to valuing capital investments, apply decision-making criteria for multi-period cash flows, and learn how to construct cash flow forecasts.

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Develops foundational knowledge and skills in finance and accounting principles, suitable for beginners in these areas

Provides a solid understanding of financial decision-making, enabling learners to make well-informed choices for their organizations

Taught by Paul Chaney and William G. Christie, industry-recognized experts in finance and accounting

Covers a wide range of topics in finance and accounting, providing a comprehensive foundation in these fields

Provides practical applications of finance and accounting principles, making them relevant to real-world business scenarios

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Financial acctg toolkit: well-received

The "Financial Accounting Toolkit for Decision Making" course is well-regarded by its students, boasting a 100% 5-star rating. Students find the materials applicable to business decision-making and praise the explanations for their clarity and thoroughness.

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 Accounting Toolkit for Decision Making with these activities:

Review basic accounting concepts

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This activity will refresh your knowledge of basic accounting concepts, which will be helpful for understanding the financial statements that are covered in the course.

Browse courses on Accounting

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Review the accounting equation.
Identify the different types of financial statements.
Understand the basic principles of debit and credit.

Review Financial Management by Brigham and Houston

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This book will provide a strong foundation in corporate finance, which will be essential for applying the concepts covered in the course.

View Fundamentals of Financial Management on Amazon

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Read the first five chapters of the book.
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises.
Create a summary of the key concepts covered in each chapter.

Review Corporate Finance by Brealey, Myers, and Allen

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This book will provide you with a comprehensive overview of corporate finance, which will be essential for applying the concepts covered in the course.

View Connect Access Card for Principles of Corporate... on Amazon

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Read the first five chapters of the book.
Complete the end-of-chapter exercises.
Create a summary of the key concepts covered in each chapter.

Five other activities

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Watch video tutorials on financial analysis

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Watching video tutorials will provide you with a clear and concise explanation of the concepts covered in the course.

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Identify the topics that you need to review.
Find video tutorials that cover these topics.
Watch the video tutorials and take notes.

Complete the practice problems in the textbook

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Working through practice problems will help you develop a deeper understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

Browse courses on Asset Valuation

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Identify the relevant concepts for each problem.
Develop a step-by-step solution for each problem.
Check your answers against the provided solutions.

Join a study group and discuss the course material

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Discussing the course material with other students will help you to understand the concepts more deeply.

Browse courses on Finance

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Find a study group to join.
Meet with your study group on a regular basis.
Discuss the course material and ask questions.

Write a blog post on a topic covered in the course

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Writing a blog post will help you to synthesize your knowledge of the course material and share it with others.

Browse courses on Finance

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Choose a topic that you are interested in.
Research the topic and gather information.
Write a blog post that explains the topic clearly and concisely.
Publish your blog post online.

Develop a financial plan for a small business

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Creating a financial plan will allow you to apply the concepts covered in the course to a real-world scenario.

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Identify the business's financial goals.
Analyze the business's financial situation.
Develop a financial plan that outlines the steps that the business will take to achieve its goals.
Monitor the business's financial performance and make adjustments to the plan as needed.

Career center

Learners who complete Financial Accounting Toolkit for Decision Making will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use their knowledge of accounting principles and financial analysis techniques to make sound investment recommendations for their clients. This course may be useful for aspiring Financial Analysts as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers provide financial advice to corporations and governments. They help their clients raise capital, make acquisitions, and manage their investments. This course may be useful for aspiring Investment Bankers as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

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Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers manage investment portfolios for individuals and institutions. They make investment decisions based on their clients' financial goals and risk tolerance. This course may be useful for aspiring Portfolio Managers as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families plan their financial futures. They provide advice on a variety of topics, including retirement planning, investment planning, and estate planning. This course may be useful for aspiring Financial Planners as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Auditor

Auditors examine the financial records of organizations to ensure that they are accurate and compliant with applicable laws and regulations. This course may be useful for aspiring Auditors as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of accounting. The course covers topics such as financial statements, income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Tax Accountant

Tax Accountants prepare tax returns for individuals and businesses. They also advise clients on tax planning strategies. This course may be useful for aspiring Tax Accountants as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of accounting. The course covers topics such as financial statements, income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants advise businesses on how to improve their operations and achieve their strategic goals. This course may be useful for aspiring Management Consultants as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

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Corporate Controller

Corporate Controllers are responsible for the financial reporting and internal control of their organizations. This course may be useful for aspiring Corporate Controllers as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of accounting. The course covers topics such as financial statements, income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flows.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Controller

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) are responsible for the overall financial health of their organizations. They oversee the financial planning, budgeting, and reporting of their organizations. This course may be useful for aspiring CFOs as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

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

Budget Analyst

Budget Analysts prepare and manage budgets for their organizations. They also analyze financial data to identify trends and make recommendations for cost-saving measures. This course may be useful for aspiring Budget Analysts as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

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Financial Risk Manager

Financial Risk Managers identify and manage the financial risks faced by their organizations. They develop and implement strategies to mitigate these risks. This course may be useful for aspiring Financial Risk Managers as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Risk Manager

Credit Analyst

Credit Analysts assess the creditworthiness of borrowers. They make recommendations on whether or not to approve loans and set interest rates. This course may be useful for aspiring Credit Analysts as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Actuary

Actuaries use mathematical and statistical techniques to assess and manage financial risks. They work in a variety of industries, including insurance, finance, and healthcare. This course may be useful for aspiring Actuaries as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help organizations make informed decisions. This course may be useful for aspiring Data Analysts as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

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Business Analyst

Business Analysts help organizations improve their business processes and achieve their strategic goals. This course may be useful for aspiring Business Analysts as it provides a firm grounding in both the theory and practical application of finance and accounting. The course covers topics such as asset value, financial performance evaluation, financial theory, and financial accounting, all with a focus on helping students make smarter financial choices for their organization.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst