Understanding Financial Statements: Company Position
Description
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About this course: This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of financial statements with an emphasis on the balance sheet. However, to understand accounting driven financial statements, it is important to recognize that accounting is less about counting and more about measuring. “What is it that is being measured?” Well, as the course unfolds, you will learn about the three measurement questions and how the balance sheet helps to answer the first two of these questions. By touring a real company and interviewing real business people, the course describes the basic content of financial statements in a simple yet relevant context. The goal of the course is to leave a lasti…
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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan .
- Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
- Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.
About this course: This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of financial statements with an emphasis on the balance sheet. However, to understand accounting driven financial statements, it is important to recognize that accounting is less about counting and more about measuring. “What is it that is being measured?” Well, as the course unfolds, you will learn about the three measurement questions and how the balance sheet helps to answer the first two of these questions. By touring a real company and interviewing real business people, the course describes the basic content of financial statements in a simple yet relevant context. The goal of the course is to leave a lasting impression about what balance sheet consists of and what it reveals. The next course in the Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization completes the conversation by addressing the remaining measurement question. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: • Describe the purpose of a balance sheet. • Define the three components of a balance sheet. • Recognize and understand the meaning of several items typically presented on a balance sheet. • Explain the broader purpose of financial statements and the role of accounting in producing the financial statements. • Read and, to some extent, interpret real-world balance sheets. If you enjoy this business course and are interested in an MBA, consider applying to the iMBA, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price offered by the University of Illinois. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.
Created by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign-
Taught by: Kevin E. Jackson, Associate Professor of Accountancy and PwC Faculty Fellow
Department of Accountancy, College of Business
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University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a world leader in research, teaching and public engagement, distinguished by the breadth of its programs, broad academic excellence, and internationally renowned faculty and alumni. Illinois serves the world by creating knowledge, preparing students for lives of impact, and finding solutions to critical societal needs.Syllabus
WEEK 1
Course Orientation
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.
1 video, 5 readings, 1 practice quiz expand
- Video: Welcome to Understanding Financial Statements: Company Position!
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: About the Discussion Forums
- Reading: Glossary
- Practice Quiz: Orientation Quiz
- Reading: Updating Your Profile
- Discussion Prompt: Getting to Know Your Classmates
- Reading: Social Media
Module 1: What Is Accounting and Why Are Financial Reports Important?
This module will introduce you to the basics of financial statements by emphasizing the links between accounting, measurement, and financial statements.
2 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Module 1 Overview
- Reading: Module 1 Readings
- Video: 1-1. What Is Accounting?
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: 1-2. Why Are Financial Statements Important?
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz
Graded: Module 1 Quiz
WEEK 2
Module 2: Assets – What Do You Own?
This module will explain the basics of the balance sheet, provide a working definition of assets, and give you an overview of assets typically presented on the balance sheet.
2 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Module 2 Overview
- Reading: Module 2 Readings
- Video: 2-1. The Balance Sheet – Current Assets
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: 2-2. The Balance Sheet – Non-Current Assets
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz
Graded: Module 2 Quiz
WEEK 3
Module 3: Liabilities – What Do You Owe?
This module will introduce you to the concept of liabilities and explain what they are and how they can arise.
2 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Module 3 Overview
- Reading: Module 3 Readings
- Video: 3-1. The Balance Sheet – Liabilities Part 1
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: 3-2. The Balance Sheet – Liabilities Part 2
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz
Graded: Module 3 Quiz
WEEK 4
Module 4: Equity and How the Balance Sheet Fits Together
This module will build an intuition for what equity represents. It will also explain how the components of the balance sheet relate to one another.
2 videos, 2 readings, 2 practice quizzes expand
- Reading: Module 4 Overview
- Reading: Module 4 Readings
- Video: 4-1. The Balance Sheet – Equity Part 1
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz
- Video: 4-2. The Balance Sheet – Equity Part 2
- Practice Quiz: Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz
- Discussion Prompt: Final Reflections
Graded: Module 4 Quiz
Graded: Company Position Peer Review Assignment
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