This capstone unit synthesizes advanced techniques for analyzing financial statements, forecasting performance, assessing cash flows, and detecting irregularities or fraud. Students will apply auditing, compliance, and communication practices to evaluate financial health, recommend financing and control improvements, and responsibly present findings to stakeholders.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze financial statements, ratios, EPS changes, and auditor reports to identify trends, liquidity/solvency issues, unusual gains or losses, and indicators of financial distress or restatement risk
- Apply forecasting and projection methods to prepare and test budgets and earnings models, assessing impacts on cash flow and EPS under alternative scenarios
- Evaluate internal controls, accounting policies (including depreciation), and fraud risk factors using the statement of cash flows and other audit/sanity tests to recommend mitigation strategies
- Demonstrate professional communication by producing concise summary reports and recommendations regarding financing options, regulatory compliance, and engagement with CPAs/auditors
Curriculum
- 1 Section
- 32 Lessons
- 30 hours
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- Unit 4 — Advanced Financial Reporting & Analysis32
- 1.1Prepare Accurate Forecasts and Projections20 mins
- 1.2Test Earnings Per Share (EPS) against Change in Bottom Line20 mins
- 1.3Taking the Financial Pulse of a Business20 mins
- 1.4Gleaning Important Information from Financial Statements20 mins
- 1.5Juggling the Books to Conceal Embezzlement and Fraud20 mins
- 1.6Reporting Unusual Gains and Losses20 mins
- 1.7Financing a Business: Sources of Cash and Capital20 mins
- 1.8Recording Depreciation Expense20 mins
- 1.9Comparing Public and Private Companies20 mins
- 1.10Checking Out the Auditor’s Report20 mins
- 1.11Making Time for Additional Ratios (If Needed)20 mins
- 1.12Tucking Away Some Valuable Lessons20 mins
- 1.13Rehashing the Value of Forecasts20 mins
- 1.14Digging Further into the World of Equity Capital20 mins
- 1.15Demand the Accounting Information You Want20 mins
- 1.16Tackle Unusual Gains and Losses20 mins
- 1.17Accounting as a Form of Art20 mins
- 1.18Complying with Accounting and Financial Reporting Standards20 mins
- 1.19Watching for Misconceptions and Misleading Reports20 mins
- 1.20Recognizing the Hodgepodge of Values Reported in a Balance Sheet20 mins
- 1.21Scanning the Revenue and Expense Radar Screen20 mins
- 1.22Dealing with Information Overload20 mins
- 1.23Raising Capital: Tips, Tidbits, and Traps20 mins
- 1.24Tap into Your CPA’s Expertise20 mins
- 1.25Check Cash Flow from Profit20 mins
- 1.26Using the Statement of Cash Flows as an Audit/Sanity Test20 mins
- 1.27Critically Review Your Controls over Employee Dishonesty and Fraud20 mins
- 1.28Look for Signs of Financial Distress20 mins
- 1.29Lend a Hand in Preparing Your Financial Reports20 mins
- 1.30Recognize the Possibility of Restatement and Fraud20 mins
- 1.31Speak about Your Financial Statements as a Pro20 mins
- 1.32Remember the Limits of Financial Reports20 mins
Instructor
Free
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