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. Accounting and finance are indeed intertwined. Sometimes people that are not experienced in the area even mix them up. But most often emphasis in accounting is on numbers. Still, the deep understanding of key accounting concepts helps reveal the interests and actions of people behind these numbers. And the human dimension of accounting adds invaluable insight in the potential of successful project implementation. This Course discusses core ideas and concepts of both financial and managerial accounting. It by no means pretends to be comprehensive to any extent. But, being rather an accounting overview, it focuses on the issues that are most relevant and important for effective valuation of investment projects. The learners will gain insight into the essence of accounting. They will be able to use the obtained knowledge and skills to successfully advance in their career at a financial institution, as well as in the area of financial management at non-financial businesses. To pursue a career in accounting, a more detailed study is strongly recommended.
This course is part of the Understanding Modern Finance Specialization
Core Concepts of Accounting – Numbers and People
Offered By
About this Course
100% online
Course 3 of 5 in the
Flexible deadlines
Intermediate Level
Approx. 18 hours to complete
English
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
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. Then we move on to the basic accounting principles, standards, and approaches – from double-entry bookkeeping to GAAP. Equipped with the general understanding of the financial accounting approach, we apply accounting procedures to transaction analysis. Then we study revenue and expense recognition, and focus on accounts receivable and bad debts. Finally, you will learn how financial accounting deals with inventories.
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. Then we discuss how financial investments in securities – stocks and bonds – are treated in accounting dependent upon goals and time horizon of holding and/or issuing of these securities. You will see how financial concepts (present values) are used in accounting for bond premium/discount amortization. Finally, an overview of the accounting approach to taxes is provided. On an example, you will study the core idea of deferred taxes.
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. Then we briefly discuss the analysis and use of financial statements as a powerful tool in the overall assessment of performance, financial stability, and future development of a company or investment project. Finally, wrapping up the first part of the Course, we draw conclusions about the role of financial accounting in financial valuation in the world of uncertainty.
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. Then the core idea of managerial accounting – cost – is introduced and discussed. You will learn why it is so important to identify the total cost of any product, project, or division. We will study cost behavior, fixed and variable costs, and break-even point. The last part of Week 3 discusses cost tracing and allocation as a major task of any in-depth cost analysis. We study an example and come up with the tracing and allocation roadmap.
Top reviews from Core Concepts of Accounting – Numbers and People
Good course bringing context to Accounting numbers.
Instructor
Konstantin Kontor
Director and Professor of Finance and Strategy
14,854 Learners
6 CoursesOffered 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. Основой образования в МФТИ является уникальная «система Физтеха», сформулированная Петром Капицей: кропотливый отбор одаренных и склонных к творческой работе абитуриентов; участие в обучении ведущих научных работников; индивидуальный подход к отдельным студентам с целью развития их творческих задатков; воспитание с первых шагов в атмосфере технических исследований и конструктивного творчества с использованием потенциала лучших лабораторий страны. Среди выпускников МФТИ — нобелевские лауреаты Андрей Гейм и Константин Новоселов, основатель компании ABBYY Давид Ян, один из авторов архитектурных принципов построения вычислительных комплексов Борис Бабаян и др.
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.
About the Understanding Modern Finance Specialization
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