Forecasting Financial Statements & Valuation for Accountants

Forecasting Financial Statements & Valuation for Accountants

Instructors: W. Brooke Elliott

Access provided by ExxonMobil

8,785 already enrolled

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

41 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Highlight the need to use information beyond the financials when performing financial statement analysis and valuation.
Introduce forecasting and discuss the uses of forecasted data.
Explain why calculating valuations are important and the many uses of determining a valuation.
Illustrate examples as to how to calculate valuations using different models

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

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Assessments

16 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 8 modules in this course

The objective of this course is to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, interpret, understand and use financial information to make informed decisions. We will discuss financial reporting from a user’s perspective, use a variety of tools to break apart financial reports into meaningful units for analysis, forecast financial statements, and value a firm. This course is intended to give you exposure to the issues facing users of financial statements. You will better understand your role in the financial reporting process if you know how the financial statements will ultimately be used.

You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course. Next, you will gain an understanding of why it is important to consider external information beyond the financials and how to access this data when performing financial statement analysis and valuation.

What's included

17 videos5 readings3 assignments1 discussion prompt1 plugin

17 videosTotal 41 minutes

The Impact of the Gies Community2 minutes
Instructor Introduction- Brian Hamm3 minutes
Instructor Introduction- Nerissa Brown4 minutes
Instructor Introduction- Brooke Elliot3 minutes
Course Overview- Financial Statements, SEC Filings and Ratio Analysis & Beyond the Financials: Insights, Analysis and Valuations 6 minutes
Beyond the Financials- External Factors3 minutes
Beyond the Financials (GDP)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Government)3 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Interest Rate)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Foreign Exchange)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Commodities)1 minute
Beyond the Financials (Competitive Position)1 minute
Beyond the Financials (Industry Competition)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Bargaining Power of Customers)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Bargaining Power of Suppliers)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Threat of Substitutes)2 minutes
Beyond the Financials (Threat of New Entrants)2 minutes

5 readingsTotal 130 minutes

Syllabus30 minutes
About the Discussion Forums30 minutes
Online Education at Gies College of Business10 minutes
Updating Your Profile30 minutes
Module 1 Overview and Resources30 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Module 1 Graded Quiz30 minutes
Orientation Quiz30 minutes
Beyond the Financials- External - Practice Quiz30 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Getting to Know Your Classmates30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Demographics Survey15 minutes

You will gain an understanding of why it is important to consider internal information beyond the financials and how to access this data when performing financial statement analysis and valuation.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videosTotal 24 minutes

Beyond the Financials - Internal Factors5 minutes
Investor Conference Presentations5 minutes
Earnings Call Transcripts5 minutes
Risk Factors in the 10K4 minutes
Other Internal Factors5 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Module 2 Overview and Resources10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module 2 Graded Quiz30 minutes
Beyond the Financials-Internal - Practice Quiz30 minutes

You will gain an understanding of Non-GAAP adjustments, why they are permitted and how they are sometimes mis-used by companies.

What's included

5 videos1 reading2 assignments

5 videosTotal 29 minutes

Introduction to Non-GAAP Measures10 minutes
History and trends in Non-GAAP Reporting5 minutes
To GAAP or Non-GAAP6 minutes
Good examples of Non-GAAP adjustments3 minutes
Bad examples of Non-GAAP adjustments5 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Module 3 Overview and Resources30 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module 3 Graded Quiz30 minutes
Non-GAAP Adjustments Practice Quiz30 minutes

In this module, you will gain an understanding to different approaches to financial statement forecasting and the pros and cons to each.

What's included

4 videos1 reading2 assignments

In this module, you will gain an understanding of advanced forecasting approaches and the pros and cons to each.

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment

In this module, you will learn why valuations are critical in making business decisions and how to execute Simple Valuation Models.

What's included

8 videos1 reading2 assignments

8 videosTotal 45 minutes

Introduction to Valuations6 minutes
Valuation Model Framework5 minutes
Simple/Basic Valuation Models3 minutes
Price to Earnings7 minutes
Price to Book7 minutes
Price to Sales6 minutes
Enterprise Value to EBITDA Multiple8 minutes
Introduction to Detailed/Advanced Valuation Models3 minutes

1 readingTotal 30 minutes

Module 6 Overview and Resources30 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module 6 Graded Quiz30 minutes
Valuations - Simple Practice Quiz30 minutes

In this module, you will learn basic valuation principles and guidelines, and how to estimate intrinsic value and key model inputs such as the discount rate.

What's included

6 videos1 reading2 assignments

6 videosTotal 44 minutes

Basic Valuation Principles: Role of a Valuation Model & Time Value of Money9 minutes
Basic Valuation Principles: Estimating Intrinsic Value11 minutes
Practical Guidelines for Using Valuation Models8 minutes
Discount Rates: Cost of Equity and CAPM7 minutes
Discount Rates: Weighted Average Cost of Capital WACC7 minutes
Valuating a Perpetuity2 minutes

1 readingTotal 10 minutes

Module 7 Overview and Information10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module 7 Graded Quiz30 minutes
Valuation- Advanced Part 1 Practice Quiz30 minutes

In this module, you will learn how to execute popular advanced valuation models.

What's included

4 videos3 readings2 assignments1 plugin

4 videosTotal 30 minutes

Advanced Valuation Models- Dividend Discount Model7 minutes
Advanced Valuation Models- Discounted Free Cash Flow Model11 minutes
Advanced Valuation Models- Residual Income Model11 minutes
Learn on Your Terms1 minute

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Module 8 Overview and Resources10 minutes
Congratulations on Completing the Course!10 minutes
Get Your Course Certificate10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Module 8 Graded Quiz30 minutes
Valuation- Advanced Part 2 Practice Quiz30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Course-End Survey15 minutes

Build toward a degree

This course is part of the following degree program(s) offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. If you are admitted and enroll, your completed coursework may count toward your degree learning and your progress can transfer with you.¹

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(8 ratings)

W. Brooke Elliott

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

7 Courses34,835 learners

Nerissa C. Brown, PhD, CFE

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

4 Courses23,518 learners

Brian Hamm

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

4 Courses23,518 learners

Offered by

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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Reviewed on Jun 23, 2025

Excellent Course designed by the expert, totally aligned with the domain and the core knowledge.

Reviewed on Apr 20, 2023

I enjoyed every bit of it; non-financial and financial aspects. Thanks a bunch.

Reviewed on Dec 1, 2023

It was quite a great learning journey with I-GIES and I was able to learn the Basic Valuation and Advanced Forecast and valuation of the Financial Statement.

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