Course Syllabus

Accounting is the language of business. However, the real language of business lies within accounting--inside the financial statements and financial reporting system. The purpose of this course is to provide a business financial communication tool. Financial statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow, and the statement of stockholders' equity are all used as communication tools to answer questions about the state of a company's financial well-being; they provide insight into the financial position and the financial health of a company over a defined period of time.

This course walks the learner from the beginning stages of accounting and GAAP principles, through the balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow, and statement of stockholders' equity. Next, the course discusses applied financial statement analysis involving the movement of cash flow through a company and its effects, along with financial ratio analysis which greatly helps stock investors make investment decisions. Finally, the course covers accounting fraud, the mechanisms of fraud, how to spot fraud, and even the methods that are used by unscrupulous accountants and business managers to commit fraud or "cook the books".

This course provides learners with a solid understanding of financial statements. This financial knowledge is used by accountants, managers, and investors to make smart and strategic business decisions.