Financial Analysis (CPE Course)
CPE Credit: 19 hours
Course Type: Downloaded PDF materials with online test
Price (with PDF Textbook): $135
Course Description
Nearly every business decision calls for a clear understanding of the underlying numbers. A manager needs this information to understand how well a business unit is performing, whether a new venture can achieve a reasonable profit, how much debt to take on, and so forth. Financial Analysis can assist with these decisions by focusing on the key indicators in a business that will drive its future performance. It does so by describing how to extract meaningful information from financial statements. It also delves into a number of analyses that are linked to specific business decisions, such as price optimization, constraint management, and credit granting. Another area addressed is financing, where the course covers financial leverage, capital structure, and foreign exchange risk. Other topics include financial forecasting, discounted cash flow analysis, and the valuation of acquisitions. In short, Financial Analysis is the essential desk reference for anyone who wants to make better-informed decisions.
Author: Steven Bragg
Course Number: FN1016
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. Overview of Financial Analysis
Chapter 2. The Financial Statements
Chapter 3. Accounting Issues Impacting the Financials
Chapter 4. The Interpretation of Financial Statements
Chapter 5. Cost-Volume-Profit Analysis
Chapter 6. Pricing Decisions
Chapter 7. Cost Object Analysis
Chapter 8. Constraint Analysis
Chapter 9. Credit Decisions
Chapter 10. Financing Choices
Chapter 11. Financial Leverage
Chapter 12. Capital Structure Analysis
Chapter 13. Dividend Analysis
Chapter 14. Foreign Exchange Risk Analysis
Chapter 15. Interest Rate Risk Analysis
Chapter 16. Financial Forecasting
Chapter 17. Managing the Rate of Growth
Chapter 18. The Cost of Capital
Chapter 19. Discounted Cash Flow Techniques
Chapter 20. Capital Budgeting
Chapter 21. The Lease or Buy Decision
Chapter 22. Acquisition Valuation
Chapter 23. The Enhancement of Shareholder Value
Learning Objectives
Specify the situations in which different types of financial analysis could be used.
Specify the issues to consider when making recommendations as the result of financial analysis.
Identify the financial statements, their contents, and how they are formatted.
Cite the key accounting concepts that can alter the information presented in the financial statements.
State the methods used to interpret the information in the financial statements.
Identify the components of the cost-volume-profit relationship, and how they are used.
Identify the advantages of the various pricing methodologies.
Cite the issues that can impact the cost of a cost object, and whether that cost is recognized.
Identify the key constraint concepts and how they can be used to improve profitability.
Specify the concepts under which credit is granted to customers, as well as indicators of possible future delinquency.
Identify the financing choices available to a company.
Cite the impact and risks of financial leverage on a business, as well as when leverage is more likely to be used.
State the issues impacting the capital structure of a business, as well as situations in which the capital structure should be reviewed.
Identify the measurements used by investors to track the adequacy of dividend payments.
Identify the risks and mitigating actions associated with foreign exchange.
Cite the risks and mitigating actions associated with interest rates, as well as the terms of the various interest rate hedging instruments.
State the elements of a system of forecasting and budgeting.
Identify the issues impacting the rate of growth of a company.
Identify the elements of the cost of capital, and note how the cost of capital is calculated.
Cite the basis for the use of discounted cash flows, the types of annuities, and how discounted cash flows can be used.
State the methods available for analyzing requests for capital projects, and the issues to be reviewed when examining such requests.
Specify the concepts involved in the lease or buy decision process, the information to include in or exclude from the decision, and the circumstances under which different lease types would be used.
Identify the techniques used to place a value on a target company.
Cite the methods used to measure and improve shareholder value, and the situations in which certain methods are more applicable.
Level: Overview
Instructional Method: QAS Self-Study
NASBA Category: Finance
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Program Registration Requirements: Click on "Purchase Course" near the top of this page to pay for and access the course. You will then be able to download the course as a PDF file, then take an on-line examination, and then download a certificate of completion if you pass the examination.
Program Refund Policy: For more information regarding administrative policies concerning complaints, refunds, and other matters, see our policies page.
AccountingTools, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.
The NASBA sponsor identification number for Accountingtools, Inc. is 115881.
AccountingTools is an IRS Approved Continuing Education Provider. We are compliant with the requirements for continuing education providers (as described in sections 10.6 and 10.9 of the Department of Treasury’s Circular No. 230 and in other IRS guidance, forms, and instructions). Our IRS Approved Continuing Education Provider number is 72821.