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There are 10 modules in this course
This course provides in-depth knowledge of financial planning, focusing on forecasting, capital management, and business valuation. You'll learn essential skills to assess financial health, make investment decisions, and manage risk to drive business growth.
Throughout the course, you will gain practical tools for managing capital, forecasting future performance, and making capital investment decisions. The strategies covered are designed to help you optimize financial performance and manage risks effectively.
What sets this course apart is its combination of theory and real-world case studies, ensuring you can apply the concepts directly to your business or financial role.
The course is designed for professionals in finance, investment, and business management who are looking to deepen their financial expertise. Some basic understanding of financial concepts is recommended, but even beginners can start building their knowledge from scratch.
This course is part three of a three-course Specialization designed to provide a comprehensive learning pathway in this subject area. While it delivers standalone value and practical skills, learners seeking a more integrated and in-depth progression may benefit from completing the full Specialization.
This module explores the key drivers of revenue growth, including both organic and acquisition-based strategies, and introduces essential forecasting techniques. Learners will analyze revenue trends using multiple perspectives and key performance metrics, while also examining the relationship between gross margins and pricing power. By the end, participants will be equipped to interpret revenue data and assess business performance more effectively.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 30 minutes
Introduction•6 minutes
Improve Revenue Forecasting Process•4 minutes
Prepare Multiple Views of Revenue Detail•6 minutes
Gross Margins and Relative Pricing Strength•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Revenue and Gross Margin Fundamentals•16 minutes
Operating Expenses and Effectiveness
Module 2•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module explores how businesses manage operating expenses to drive effectiveness and profitability. Learners will examine key performance measures, asset utilization, the impact of R&D and quality, and how external factors influence cost structures. By the end, you'll understand how these elements contribute to sustainable value creation.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 28 minutes
Introduction•3 minutes
Overall Measures of Operating Effectiveness•5 minutes
Factory or Asset Utilization•5 minutes
New Product Development Process•5 minutes
Quality•6 minutes
Other Measures•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Evaluating Business Operations and Financial Metrics•16 minutes
Capital Management and Cash Flow (1st Mention)
Module 3•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module explores the fundamentals of operating capital management, focusing on optimizing accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable to enhance cash flow and efficiency. Learners will examine key performance indicators such as Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) and inventory turnover, and discover practical tools for assessing and improving capital utilization. By the end, participants will be equipped to identify balance sheet risks and drive better financial outcomes.
What's included
1 video7 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
7 readings•Total 32 minutes
Introduction•5 minutes
Operating Capital Management•4 minutes
Accounts Receivable•4 minutes
Key Performance Indicators for the Revenue Process and Accounts Receivable•4 minutes
Tools for Assessing and Improving Revenue Process and Accounts Receivable•4 minutes
Inventories•4 minutes
Key Performance Indicators for Supply Chain Management and Inventory•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Cash Flow and Working Capital Fundamentals•16 minutes
Capital Management and Cash Flow (2nd Mention)
Module 4•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module explores how companies manage and evaluate their capital assets, including both tangible and intangible resources. Learners will discover methods for conducting asset inventories, assessing utilization, and interpreting key performance indicators to gauge capital efficiency and long-term financial health.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 18 minutes
Introduction•6 minutes
Asset Inventory and Utilization Review•3 minutes
Key Performance Indicators for Capital Intensity•4 minutes
Capital Management and Cash Flow Fundamentals•16 minutes
Risk, Uncertainty, and the Cost of Capital
Module 5•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module introduces the foundational concepts of the time value of money and demonstrates how to calculate present and future values, especially when dealing with uneven cash flows. Learners will also explore how to estimate and interpret the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and examine key performance measures related to financial leverage and capital structure. By the end, you will be equipped to assess the drivers and implications of capital costs in real-world financial decisions.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 18 minutes
Introduction•5 minutes
Present Value of Uneven Cash Flows•5 minutes
WACC Computation•5 minutes
Performance Measures•3 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Financial Risk and Capital Cost Analysis•16 minutes
Capital Investment Decisions (1st Mention)
Module 6•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module guides learners through the capital investment process, from identifying potential projects to evaluating their financial viability using key decision criteria. Learners will gain practical skills in estimating relevant cash flows and applying investment decision rules to support strategic business choices.
What's included
1 video4 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
4 readings•Total 19 minutes
Introduction•4 minutes
Estimate Relevant Cash Flows Associated with the Project•4 minutes
Measure the Project's Expected Performance against Investment Decision Rules•6 minutes
Accept or Reject the Project•5 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Evaluating Capital Investment Projects•16 minutes
Capital Investment Decisions (2nd Mention)
Module 7•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module explores strategies for managing risk and uncertainty in capital investment decisions. Learners will examine techniques such as risk-adjusted discount rates, scenario analysis of financial projections, and the use of real options to enhance decision-making. Practical examples and case studies will help solidify understanding of these advanced evaluation methods.
What's included
1 video3 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
3 readings•Total 15 minutes
Introduction•4 minutes
Analysis, Evaluation, and Flexing of Financial Projections•5 minutes
Decision Tree for Procrastination Pharmaceutical•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Capital Investment Decision Analysis•16 minutes
Business Valuation and Value Drivers
Module 8•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module introduces key business valuation methods, including discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis and the use of valuation multiples. Learners will explore how to estimate firm value, understand the role of terminal value, and identify the main drivers of shareholder value. Practical challenges and limitations of each approach are also discussed.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 31 minutes
Introduction•5 minutes
Estimate the Terminal or Post-Planning Horizon Value•6 minutes
Estimating the Value of Firms by Using the Valuation of Similar Firms: Multiples of Revenues, Earnings, and Related Measures•5 minutes
Building Shareholder Value in a Multiples Framework•5 minutes
Problems with Using Multiples•3 minutes
Value Drivers•7 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Business Valuation and Value Drivers•16 minutes
Analysis of Mergers and Acquisitions
Module 9•1 hour to complete
Module details
This module explores how to assess the value and success of mergers and acquisitions by examining stock market reactions, valuation methods, and best practices. Learners will gain practical skills in evaluating acquisition opportunities and understanding critical factors that drive successful deals.
What's included
1 video6 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
6 readings•Total 34 minutes
Introduction•6 minutes
Methods and Metrics for Valuing an Acquisition•4 minutes
Comparable or Relative Pricing Methods: Multiples of Revenues, Earnings, and Cash Flow•8 minutes
Comparative Summary of Valuation Methods•6 minutes
Best Practices and Critical Success Factors•4 minutes
Understanding Seller Best Practices•6 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Mergers and Acquisitions Analysis•16 minutes
Summary and Where to From Here?
Module 10•25 minutes to complete
Module details
This module reviews essential strategies for enhancing Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) and performance management, focusing on best practices, effective KPIs, and robust financial projections. Learners will summarize key transformation points and explore actionable next steps for continuous improvement in finance teams.
What's included
1 video2 readings1 assignment
Show info about module content
1 video•Total 1 minute
Overview•1 minute
2 readings•Total 8 minutes
Introduction•4 minutes
Where to From Here?•4 minutes
1 assignment•Total 16 minutes
Strategic Approaches in Financial Planning and Organizational Change•16 minutes
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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.
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.