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There are 4 modules in this course
This course is for non-financial professionals, managers, and business leaders seeking to understand core finance and accounting concepts to drive organizational growth and impact financial decisions. You will gain a basic understanding of finance and accounting principles, enabling you to analyze financial information and assess the impact of your decisions across functional areas. Specific topics include financial analysis, planning, forecasting, budgeting, cash flow management, and strategic financing. You will learn to apply these concepts through practical exercises, potentially leveraging tools like Microsoft Excel for financial analysis and forecasting.
Upon completing this course, you will be able to:
1. Explain the importance of finance and interpretation of financial information.
2. Apply accounting and finance concepts to analyze financials.
3. Understand key accounting and finance terms.
4. Examine financial statements using key ratios.
5. Explain the importance of the budgeting process.
6. Learn key components needed to improve profitability.
To be successful in this course, no prior finance or accounting background is required.
What's included
5 videos3 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
5 videos•Total 38 minutes
Introduction •4 minutes
1.1 The Building Blocks of Accounting•5 minutes
1.2 Overview of the Finance Principles•4 minutes
1.3 The Four Financial Statements •9 minutes
1.4 The Practice of Accounting •16 minutes
3 readings•Total 30 minutes
About this Course•10 minutes
Finance Quick Reference Guide•10 minutes
Module 1 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 33 minutes
Module 1 Quiz•18 minutes
Module 1 Review•15 minutes
Cost Management
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 20 minutes
2.1 Costing Methods •6 minutes
2.2 Cost Allocation •3 minutes
2.3 Break-Even Analysis•7 minutes
2.4 Pricing •3 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Module 2 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Supplemental Reading•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 2 Quiz•30 minutes
Financial Ratio Analysis
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 assignment1 peer review
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 20 minutes
3.1 Liquidity Ratios •6 minutes
3.2 Asset, Profitability, and Debt Ratios •9 minutes
3.3 DuPont Pyramid •2 minutes
3.4 Earnings and Dividends •3 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Module 3 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Financial Statement for Gap (for Peer Review)•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 22 minutes
Module 3 Quiz•22 minutes
1 peer review•Total 120 minutes
Optional: Perform a DuPont Analysis•120 minutes
Valuation Principles
Module 4•1 hour to complete
Module details
What's included
4 videos2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 33 minutes
4.1 Market Methods•7 minutes
4.2 Valuation Methods•9 minutes
4.3 NPV and IRR •15 minutes
4.4 Course Summary•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 20 minutes
Module 4 Lecture Slides•10 minutes
Course Wrap-Up•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Module 4 Quiz •30 minutes
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Learner reviews
4.6
4,590 reviews
5 stars
67.53%
4 stars
25.08%
3 stars
5.84%
2 stars
0.93%
1 star
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Showing 3 of 4590
A
AN
5·
Reviewed on May 8, 2020
The course was really good and interesting. I got good hold on the basics of finance. Prof David Standen taught the course really well in a practical way. I enjoyed the learning experience.
R
RV
5·
Reviewed on May 23, 2017
Great Course, I'm a IT Network / System Engineer and this course gave me much needed insight in the finance / accountancy 'world'. I will definitely recommend this course to my colleagues.
A
AP
5·
Reviewed on May 21, 2016
This course is very well presented and the content has been made easy to follow through the use of simple succinct language and examples that are easy to relate to. An excellent place to start.
What will I actually learn in this finance and accounting course?
You'll learn how to interpret business financial information and use it to make better decisions, even if finance isn't your main role. It starts with accounting basics and the main financial statements, then builds into cost and ratio analysis, and later valuation. In the practice work, you'll apply those ideas to tasks like break-even questions and reading financial statements.
Do I need any finance or accounting background before starting?
No, you don't need prior finance or accounting experience. The course explains core terms, the accounting equation, and how financial statements work before asking you to interpret ratios or valuation ideas. Comfort with basic arithmetic will help, since you'll be working with costs, margins, and financial metrics.
Is this course beginner-friendly for finance and accounting?
Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you want finance explained from a business perspective. The lessons start with the difference between accounting and finance and the four main financial statements, then move into costing, ratio analysis, and valuation. If you're looking for advanced accounting detail or heavy financial modeling, this course will feel more introductory.
How long does it take to complete this course?
Expect about 7 hours in total. For many learners, that's manageable in a weekend or a few shorter study sessions, with time split across short lessons, readings, and quizzes. The course includes lessons, readings, quizzes, and an optional peer review exercise.
Are there hands-on exercises or projects in this course?
Yes, but the hands-on work is guided rather than project-based. You'll complete quizzes and assignments where you interpret financial statements, calculate ratios, and work through break-even or valuation questions. There's also an optional peer review using Gap's financial statements for a DuPont analysis, so you apply the ideas as you learn them.
What skills and topics are covered in this course?
The course centers on financial statements, cost and pricing decisions, and the ways managers use financial analysis to judge performance. You'll learn tools such as ratio analysis and break-even analysis, along with core ideas in accounting, profitability, and valuation. By the end, you should have a clearer view of how financial information supports everyday business decisions.
What can I actually do after finishing this course?
After finishing, you should be able to read the main financial statements, use key ratios to assess performance, and take part in business discussions with more financial context. You can work through straightforward tasks such as estimating a break-even point, comparing liquidity or profitability measures, or explaining what a valuation method is showing. It's a practical level of skill aimed at informed decision-making, not expert-level finance work.
Is this course more conceptual or hands-on?
It's more concept-first than project-heavy. Most of the learning comes through lessons and readings, with quizzes and assignments reinforcing how to interpret financial information rather than asking you to build full financial models.
Why would I choose this course over other finance basics courses?
This course is a strong choice if you want finance explained for managers and other non-financial professionals rather than as a technical accounting class. Instead of stopping at terminology, it connects financial statements, costing, ratio analysis, and valuation to everyday business decisions through short lessons and guided practice. If you want a broad, approachable course that helps you interpret numbers and their business impact, this is a better fit than a more technical accounting course.