In this course, participants will learn the foundations of accounting principles and financial analysis, develop an understanding of the links between these, and the measurement of value creation at the firm level. This is the first course in a four-course Specialization on the Essentials of Corporate Financial Analysis and Decision-Making, created in partnership between the University of Melbourne and Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon).
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This course is part of the Essentials of Corporate Finance Specialization
The Language and Tools of Financial Analysis
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About this Course
13,366
13,366Skills you will gain
Ratio AnalysisFinancial AnalysisFinancial RatioBalance Sheet
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
13 hours to complete
An Introduction to Accounting Principles: The Language of Capital Markets
This week we will define and explain the key financial statements produced by a company and reported to its shareholders. We will discuss the different core elements within those statements following basic accounting principles with the discussion framed in reference to excerpts from the actual financial statements produced by the US-listed food company Kellogg's.
8 videos (Total 40 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes
8 videos
The Language and Tools of Financial Analysis - Overview1m
1.0 Welcome and Introduction (It all begins with accounting)5m
1.1 The Balance Sheet 1: Assets (What the company owns)6m
1.2 The Balance Sheet 2: Liabilities (What the company owes)4m
1.3 The Balance Sheet 3: Equity (What the owners own)7m
1.4 The Profit and Loss Statement: Revenues (What the company earns)6m
1.5 The Profit and Loss Statement: Expenses (What the company spends)5m
7 readings
Course Syllabus10m
Your Teaching Team10m
Week 1 Outline10m
Start of Course Survey10m
Resources10m
Social Media10m
Study Tools and Tips10m
2 practice exercises
Week 1 practice quiz - This quiz does not contribute to your final grade20m
Week 1 graded quiz - This quiz contributes 10% towards your final grade20m
Week
22 hours to complete
An Intuition-based Introduction to Financial Analysis
Understanding the importance and the accounting principles underpinning the key financial statements of a company, we now turn our attention to synthesizing and condensing the financial statement information for the purpose of financial analysis. Specifically, we demonstrate how financial analysts use ratio analysis to measure relative profitability, leverage, efficiency and the liquidity of a company. Again, we utilise information from the financial statements of Kellogg's and its competitor Kraft to demonstrate these financial analysis techniques.
8 videos (Total 49 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
8 videos
2.1 Profitability Measures 1 (When is good really good?)10m
2.2 Profitability Measures 2 (When is really good, good enough?)4m
2.3 Leverage Measures (Creating value with other people‘s money)9m
2.4 Efficiency Measures (Are we doing more with less?)6m
2.5 Liquidity Measures (Staying ahead of the curve?)4m
Mid Course Check-in1m
A View from Industry with BNY Mellon2m
1 reading
Week 2 Outline10m
2 practice exercises
Week 2 practice quiz - This quiz does not contribute to your final grade20m
Week 2 graded quiz - This quiz contributes 10% towards your final grade20m
Week
31 hour to complete
The Links Between Accounting Principles and Financial Decision-making
Having established initial basic financial analyst's toolset in the first two weeks of this course, some caution is warranted as we turn our attention to some of the pitfalls associated with uncritical use of financial statements by analysts. Specifically, we highlight how the use of historical cost and accrual-based accounting might lead to sub-optimal corporate financial decision-making. We then discuss how the agency relationship between management and the owners of a company may also lead to poor corporate decision-making. We conclude with a cautionary tale of misleading accounting practices and the regulator's response to these cases.
6 videos (Total 37 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
6 videos
3.1 Limitations 1: Historical Cost And Market Value (The market is always right...)7m
3.2 Limitations 2: Accrual versus Cash Accounting (Money in the bank)5m
3.3 Limitations 3: Profit versus Wealth Creation (Raising the bar)3m
3.4 Accounting Scandals 1: The Fall-out From Enron (What to look out for…)5m
3.5 Accounting Scandals 2: Earnings Management (Smoke and mirrors)9m
1 reading
Week 3 Outline10m
2 practice exercises
Week 3 practice quiz - This quiz does not contribute to your final grade20m
Week 3 graded quiz - This quiz contributes 10% towards your final grade20m
Week
46 hours to complete
Value Measurement via Discounted Cash Flow Analysis
Having identified the key elements of a company's financial statements, and the way in which information from these statements can be utilized in financial analysis, we shift our focus this week to discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis. Sound financial decision-making by CFOs and investors, requires an assessment of future (uncertain) financial outcomes. DCF analysis allows the financial analyst to extrapolate the financial statement information in a forward-looking manner. The DCF technique provides an objective way in which we can evaluate financial decisions while overcoming many of the shortcomings associated with standard ratio analysis.
6 videos (Total 51 min), 4 readings, 5 quizzes
6 videos
4.1 Discounting Cash Flows (Not every dollar is equal)15m
4.2 Forecasting Cash Flows (Back to the future)8m
4.3 Fair Value Using Net Present Value (Finance meets accounting)9m
4.4 Caution When Using DCF Analysis (Rubbish in… rubbish out)7m
4.5 The Accountant Signs Off (A summary of the course)3m
4 readings
Week 4 Outline10m
Academic Integrity10m
Where to From Here? The Next Step.10m
End of Course Survey10m
4 practice exercises
Week 4 practice quiz - This quiz does not contribute to your final grade20m
Week 4 graded quiz - This quiz contributes 10% towards your final grade20m
Course Final Exam - This quiz contributes 40% towards your final grade20m
Peer Assessment Calculations - Worth 10% of your final grade12m
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Instructors
Paul Kofman
Dean, Faculty of Business and EconomicsSidney Myer Chair of Commerce
Sean Pinder
Associate ProfessorFaculty of Business and Economics
About The University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is an internationally recognised research intensive University with a strong tradition of excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement. Established in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest University.
About the Essentials of Corporate Finance Specialization
You will gain a firm understanding of corporate finance, including accounting principles and financial analysis, how value is created by global markets, the choices firms face when making financial decisions and defining attitudes towards risk. The Specialization concludes with a Capstone project that allows you to apply the skills you've learned throughout the courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
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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Is financial aid available?
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