Whenever the word “accounting” is pronounced, it is immediately associated with the need to memorize endless boring numbers. However, it is the common financial statements that contain important information that provides inputs for valuation of investment projects. The only challenge is how to properly extract them.
Offered By
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
American Institute of Business and Economics
Understanding Modern Finance SpecializationMoscow Institute of Physics and TechnologyAbout this Course
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Intermediate Level
Approx. 26 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Shareable Certificate
Earn a Certificate upon completion
100% online
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Course 1 of 1 in the
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Intermediate Level
Approx. 26 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
Offered by
Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology
Московский физико-технический институт (Физтех) является одним из ведущих вузов страны и входит в основные рейтинги лучших университетов мира. Институт обладает не только богатой историей – основателями и профессорами института были Нобелевские лауреаты Пётр Капица, Лев Ландау и Николай Семенов – но и большой научно-исследовательской базой.
American Institute of Business and Economics
The American Institute of Business and Economics (AIBEc) offers a wide variety of business courses in finance, accounting, marketing, strategy, HR, business law, economics, general management, business psychology, as well as course projects and the Field study. AIBEc provides for flexibility and customization of programs and schedules.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
5 hours to complete
Financial Accounting – Basic Principles. Transaction Analysis. Income Recognition. Accounting for Current Assets
In Week 1 we discuss the scope of accounting and its two major areas – financial and managerial accounting. In the first part of the Course – Weeks 1 through 3 – we talk about financial accounting (FA). First, the key financial statements – the Balance Sheet (BS), the Income Statement (IS), and the Statement of Cash Flows (SCF) – are introduced, and the accounting equation is analyzed.
5 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 145 min), 11 readings, 2 quizzes
12 videos
1.1. Why study accounting?11m
1.2. What is accounting? Financial vs. managerial accounting11m
1.3. Key financial statements – BS, IS, SCF17m
1.4. Accounting principles. GAAP14m
1.5. Double-entry bookkeeping6m
1.6. Transaction analysis – an example15m
1.7. Revenue and expense recognition16m
1.8. Cash and accounts receivable14m
1.9. Accounting for inventories (1) – cost travel13m
1.10. Accounting for inventories (2) – cost of goods sold9m
1.11. Accounting for inventories (3) – FIFO, LIFO, LCM9m
11 readings
Konstantin Kontor2m
AIBEc. The American Institute of Business and Economics2m
Grading2m
Handouts – an important comment2m
1.1. Financial accounting basics5m
1.2. Accounting record-keeping5m
1.3. Transaction analysis – an example5m
1.4. Revenue and expense recognition – an overview10m
1.5. Accounting for uncollectibles10m
1.6. Accounting for inventories (1) – cost travel10m
1.7. Accounting for inventories (2) – basic concepts. FIFO, LIFO, LCM10m
2 practice exercises
1 (Practice)20m
1 - Basic accounting procedures for current assets1h
4 hours to complete
Operational Assets. Depreciation. Short-Term Investments. Long-Term Liabilities. Shareholders’ Equity. Some Tax Issues
Week 2 is devoted to long-term assets and liabilities. We start with operational assets and see the role of depreciation and amortization in financial accounting and compare it to the way depreciation is used in valuation of investment projects.
4 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 129 min), 5 readings, 2 quizzes
12 videos
2.2. Depreciation11m
2.3. Depreciation tax shield8m
2.4. Intangible assets – accounting and amortization7m
2.5. Short-term investments in bonds10m
2.6. Short-term investments in stocks12m
2.7. Bonds (1) – parameters and accounting approach10m
2.8. Bonds (2) – amortization of premium/discount13m
2.9. Equity (1) – accounting for common and preferred stock11m
2.10. Equity (2) – treasury stock and stock dividends12m
2.11. Accounting for taxes – an overview9m
2.12. Deferred taxes – an example8m
5 readings
2.1. Operational assets1m
2.2. Depreciation tax shield1m
2.3. Accounting for long-term liabilities10m
2.4. Accounting for shareholders’ equity10m
2.5. Accounting for income taxes – an overview1m
2 practice exercises
2 (Practice)8m
2 - Depreciation, amortization, and deferred items1h
4 hours to complete
The Statement of Cash Flows. Analysis and Use of Financial Statements. Financial Accounting and Project Valuation
In Week 3 of the Course we discuss the idea and format of the Statement of Cash Flows and use examples to delve deeper in its role and importance. Special attention is paid to the use of financial accounting inputs – cash flows, net income, and investments – in valuation.
4 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 118 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes
12 videos
3.2. SCF – Example 114m
3.3. SCF – a more advanced Example 2 (1)12m
3.4. SCF – a more advanced Example 2 (2)8m
3.5. Valuation revisited – cash flows, net income, and FCF7m
3.6. Comparison of interest treatment in SCF and FCF9m
3.7. The big question – why use earnings?10m
3.8. Analysis and use of financial statements – an overview12m
3.9. Ratio analysis (1) – current position and performance6m
3.10. Ratio analysis (2) – capital structure5m
3.11. Ratio analysis (3) – operating performance11m
3.12. Financial accounting and valuation – conclusions8m
3 readings
3.1. The statement of cash flows (1) – the idea and format10m
3.2. The statement of cash flows (2) – an example10m
3.3. Analysis and use of financial statements – an overview10m
2 practice exercises
3 (Practice)8m
3 - SCF inputs and ROI ratios1h
5 hours to complete
Managerial Accounting – Core Ideas. Cost Behavior. Direct and Indirect Costs. Indirect Cost Allocation
Weeks 4 through 6 of the Course are devoted to the issues of managerial accounting. First, we introduce the key ideas of managerial accounting, and compare it to the financial accounting. We focus on the much closer link of managerial accounting to people.
5 hours to complete
12 videos (Total 145 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
12 videos
4.2. Managerial vs. financial accounting – a comparison11m
4.3. Systems of managerial accounting13m
4.4. Introduction to costs – major terms12m
4.5. Cost behavior12m
4.6. Total cost – concept and information12m
4.7. Direct and indirect costs14m
4.8. Indirect cost allocation11m
4.9. Cost allocation example (1) – initial cost allocation13m
4.10. Cost allocation example (2) – cost re-allocation11m
4.11. Cost allocation example (3) – cost allocation rates10m
4.12. The tracing and allocation roadmap9m
4 readings
4.1. The nature of managerial accounting10m
4.2. Cost behavior10m
4.3. Total cost (1) – the concept. Direct and indirect costs10m
4.4. Total cost (2) – direct costs measurement and overhead allocation10m
2 practice exercises
4 (Practice)20m
4 - Cost behavior and cost allocation1h
About the Understanding Modern Finance Specialization
This Specialization is designed for a wide audience of those interested in finance either professionally or just of curiosity, including managers of different levels specializing in finance, accounting, business planning, strategy, consulting, and project management, IT specialists engaged in the area of finance, fin-tech, big data, and valuation, etc.
Through four courses and the final Project, you will cover the theory and practice of capital markets and financial institutions, corporate finance and project valuation, financial and managerial accounting as applied to finance, as well as the M&A market as the ultimate judge of financial efficiency and value creation.
The Specialization will prepare you to understand and use the applications of financial ideas, concepts, models, strategies, and tools to build a successful career in finance and in business, as well as to take advantage of opportunities offered by financial markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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