Do I need an accounting background?

No advanced accounting is required for this financial analysis course. You need a basic understanding of business or finance concepts and comfort with straightforward numbers. Accounting principles, IFRS standards, and analyst techniques are introduced as you go. The course is set at intermediate level, so some prior exposure to financial statements will help.

How does this course help you become a financial analyst?

It teaches a skill every financial analyst needs, reading financial statements closely enough to know when the numbers don't tell the full story. It's part of the Financial Analyst Academy Specialization, so think of it as your starting point rather than the whole path into the role.

Do I get a certificate for this financial analysis course?

Yes. You get a shareable career certificate once you complete the graded work, which you can add to your LinkedIn profile or CV. One thing worth knowing: a course certificate shows you completed the training. A professional credential like the CFA is different - that's a separate qualification with its own exams.

How long does it take?

About six hours across three modules, roughly two hours each, at your own pace. The course was last updated in June 2026 and is included with Coursera Plus, with financial aid available for eligible learners.

What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Is financial aid available?

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

Foundations of Financial Analysis

Ce cours n'est pas disponible en Français (France)

Nous sommes actuellement en train de le traduire dans plus de langues.

Foundations of Financial Analysis

Ce cours fait partie de Spécialisation "Financial Analyst Academy "

Instructeurs : Manish Gupta

Inclus avec En savoir plus

Demander à Coursera

3 modules

Obtenez un aperçu d'un sujet et apprenez les principes fondamentaux.

niveau Intermédiaire

Expérience recommandée

6 heures à compléter

Planning flexible

Apprenez à votre propre rythme

3 modules

Obtenez un aperçu d'un sujet et apprenez les principes fondamentaux.

niveau Intermédiaire

Expérience recommandée

6 heures à compléter

Planning flexible

Apprenez à votre propre rythme

Ce que vous apprendrez

Apply financial statement analysis to assess company performance and detect misrepresentations.
Use financial ratios analysis and valuation methods to evaluate financial health and market value.
Forecast performance and manage risk using strategic frameworks, capital budgeting, and stress testing.
Build integrated financial models, visualizations, and narratives with financial analysis tools that drive data-backed decisions.

Compétences que vous acquerrez

Catégorie : Business Risk Management
Catégorie : Income Statement
Catégorie : Financial Modeling
Catégorie : Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
Catégorie : Market Analysis
Catégorie : Financial Reporting
Catégorie : Analysis
Catégorie : Business Valuation
Catégorie : Revenue Recognition
Catégorie : Balance Sheet
Catégorie : Risk Management
Catégorie : Financial Accounting
Catégorie : General Accounting
Catégorie : Financial Statement Analysis
Catégorie : Financial Statements
Catégorie : Accounting
Catégorie : Risk Management Framework
Catégorie : Financial Analysis
Catégorie : Standard Accounting Practices
Catégorie : International Financial Reporting Standards

Détails à connaître

Certificat partageable

Ajouter à votre profil LinkedIn

Récemment mis à jour !

juin 2026

Évaluations

3 devoirs

Enseigné en Anglais

Découvrez comment les employés des entreprises prestigieuses maîtrisent des compétences recherchées

En savoir plus sur Coursera pour les affaires

logos de Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G et L'Oreal

Élaborez votre expertise du sujet

Ce cours fait partie de la Spécialisation "Financial Analyst Academy "

Lorsque vous vous inscrivez à ce cours, vous êtes également inscrit(e) à cette Spécialisation.

Apprenez de nouveaux concepts auprès d'experts du secteur
Acquérez une compréhension de base d'un sujet ou d'un outil
Développez des compétences professionnelles avec des projets pratiques
Obtenez un certificat professionnel partageable

Il y a 3 modules dans ce cours

Build a strong foundation in financial analysis by learning how to interpret, connect, and evaluate the three core financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. This financial analysis course introduces key accounting principles, IFRS standards, and the analyst techniques used to assess financial performance, identify risks, and improve comparability across companies and industries.

Learners will explore revenue recognition, depreciation and amortization, inventory accounting, consolidation, provisions, and the major IFRS vs. US GAAP differences relevant to financial analysis. Through practical examples, mini case studies, and hands-on exercises, you will learn how accounting policy choices affect metrics such as EBITDA, ROIC, earnings quality, and cash flow. The course also examines common financial misrepresentation tactics, including revenue manipulation, expense classification issues, capitalization practices, and non-recurring adjustments. By the end, you will be able to apply financial statement analysis with greater confidence, detect red flags, and perform normalized financial analysis for informed business and investment decision-making.

Build a solid foundation in the three financial statements and how they interconnect. Learn common principles, how statements flow, and how to read them with an analyst’s eye.

Inclus

11 vidéos2 lectures1 devoir1 évaluation par les pairs1 sujet de discussion

11 vidéosTotal 77 minutes

Intro Video to Course 2 minutes
Module Introduction 2 minutes
Intro to Financial Statements 9 minutes
Interconnections Between Statements 8 minutes
Common Principles and Assumptions 5 minutes
Standard Formats & Policies 8 minutes
Revenue Segmentation 6 minutes
Earnings Per Share & Comprehensive Income 7 minutes
Assets & Liabilities Breakdown 11 minutes
Equity & Provisions 9 minutes
Cash Flow Categories: Operating, Investing, Financing10 minutes

2 lecturesTotal 10 minutes

Welcome to the Course: Course Overview5 minutes
Beginners' Guide to Financial Statements5 minutes

1 devoirTotal 20 minutes

Understanding Core Financial Statements20 minutes

1 évaluation par les pairsTotal 10 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Build a Mini Three-Statement Link 10 minutes

1 sujet de discussionTotal 10 minutes

Identifying High-Impact Opportunities for Financial Process Automation10 minutes

Build the policy “building blocks” that materially affect metrics and valuation—depreciation & amortisation, revenue recognition, inventory, consolidation, and provisions—plus a focused comparison of IFRS vs. US GAAP for analysts.

Inclus

10 vidéos1 lecture1 devoir1 évaluation par les pairs1 sujet de discussion

10 vidéosTotal 55 minutes

Module Introduction 2 minutes
Depreciation & Amortisation Policies: IAS 16/IAS 386 minutes
Revenue Recognition under IFRS 15 4 minutes
Policy Red Flags & Analyst Adjustments 5 minutes
Inventory (IAS 2) 6 minutes
Consolidation (IFRS 10) 6 minutes
Provisions & Contingencies (IAS 37) 6 minutes
High-Impact Differences 7 minutes
Policy Choices → Misrepresentation Pathways 7 minutes
Mini Case Snapshots 5 minutes

1 lectureTotal 5 minutes

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers: IFRS Foundation5 minutes

1 devoirTotal 20 minutes

IFRS Accounting Policies & Analyst Implications20 minutes

1 évaluation par les pairsTotal 10 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Policy Benchmark & Adjust 10 minutes

1 sujet de discussionTotal 10 minutes

Communicating the Business Value of Predictive Analytics10 minutes

Now that learners know the policy backbone, we examine the “cracks”—how financials get bent, how to spot red flags, and how to adjust for clean comparability.

Inclus

11 vidéos1 lecture1 devoir2 évaluations par les pairs

11 vidéosTotal 45 minutes

Module Introduction 2 minutes
Premature Revenue Recognition 5 minutes
Channel Stuffing 4 minutes
Case Snapshots 4 minutes
Expense Classification Issues 5 minutes
Capitalization Tricks 5 minutes
Understating Liabilities 4 minutes
Non-Recurring Items 5 minutes
Policy/Estimate Changes 6 minutes
Adjusting for Comparability 4 minutes
Course Wrap-Up2 minutes

1 lectureTotal 5 minutes

Estimating Cash Flow 5 minutes

1 devoirTotal 20 minutes

Detecting Financial Misrepresentations20 minutes

2 évaluations par les pairsTotal 70 minutes

Hands-On-Learning: Rebuild Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income 10 minutes
Project: Uncovering the True Story: Financial Statement Detective 60 minutes

Obtenez un certificat professionnel

Ajoutez ce titre à votre profil LinkedIn, à votre curriculum vitae ou à votre CV. Partagez-le sur les médias sociaux et dans votre évaluation des performances.

Instructeurs

Manish Gupta

Starweaver

19 Cours70 694 apprenants

Offert par

Starweaver

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Foire Aux Questions

The fundamentals come down to reading the three core financial statements - income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement and understanding how they connect. From there you learn how accounting policy choices shape the reported numbers, how to compare companies fairly, and how to spot when figures have been manipulated. This Foundations of Financial Analysis course covers exactly that ground across three modules.

Module 1 covers the three statements, how they interconnect, revenue segmentation, EPS, assets and liabilities, equity and provisions, and cash flow categories. Module 2 covers IFRS accounting policies that move the numbers, including depreciation and amortisation, revenue recognition under IFRS 15, inventory, consolidation, provisions, and key IFRS versus US GAAP differences. Module 3 covers misrepresentation tactics such as premature revenue recognition, channel stuffing, expense misclassification, capitalisation tricks, understated liabilities, and non-recurring items, plus how to adjust for clean comparability.

Yes. Alongside 32 videos there are four peer-reviewed exercises: building a mini three-statement link, benchmarking and adjusting accounting policies, rebuilding adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, and a 60-minute capstone project where you work through a real set of statements to uncover the underlying story.

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.