Online Class: Financial Analysis 101 — Planning and Control

Name: Financial Analysis 101: Planning and Control
Price: 95.00 USD

Dive deep into the world of financial strategy with our course, which blends economics, accounting, and managerial prowess to guide students through comprehensive financial planning and decision-making. Real-world case studies provide tangible insights, while advanced analytical techniques equip you to proactively manage risks and drive sustainable growth.

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$120.00
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$120.00 (with CEU Certificate)

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12

Lessons
20

Exams &
Assignments
732

Students
have taken this course
7

Hours
average time
0.7

CEUs

Course Description

Mastering the Symphony of Financial Strategy: An All-Encompassing Guide to Financial Analysis & Planning

Financial analysis is not just about crunching numbers – it's an intricate dance of understanding, planning, forecasting, and decision-making. At its core, it's a harmonious blend of economics, accounting, and human insight. Each element plays a crucial role: Economics sets the stage, accounting orchestrates the rhythm, and the financial manager, akin to a conductor, ensures each part contributes to the grand performance.

Welcome to our comprehensive course – a deep dive into the world of financial strategy and analysis, curated for both budding analysts and seasoned professionals.

Why This Course Stands Out:

Holistic Approach: Beyond just theoretical knowledge, we integrate real-world applications and case studies, ensuring you gain practical insights.
Interdisciplinary Blend: Understand how economics provides the foundational knowledge, accounting offers precise financial insights, and how the role of a financial manager binds these elements to navigate a firm’s journey successfully.
Strategic Depth: Grasp the nuances of strategic financial planning. It's not just about managing resources but strategically channeling them to align with corporate objectives.

Course Breakdown:

Economics & Decision Framework: Delve into how economic structures influence and guide financial decision-making processes.
Accounting Insights: Unravel the intricacies of cash flow data, ensuring robust financial health.
Financial Management Masterclass: From resource allocation to interpretative analytics, master the skills of a top-tier financial manager.
Strategic Planning Vs. Financial Planning: While both are pivotal, understanding the distinction helps in shaping an organization's direction and ensuring its financial viability.
Qualitative & Quantitative Mastery: From understanding economic activities to leveraging accounting formulas – gain proficiency in both spheres of financial data.
Forecasting Excellence: Equip yourself with proven methodologies to visualize and achieve short-term and long-term objectives.
Diverse Industry Insights: Get a panoramic view with case studies spanning various sectors, offering a rich tapestry of financial strategies and outcomes.

Module Highlights:

Corporate Planning Foundations: Set the stage with a thorough grasp of core planning principles.
Deciphering Financial Statements: Learn to read, interpret, and analyze these critical documents like a seasoned pro.
Advanced Ratio Analysis: Dive deep into metrics that can make or break financial decisions.
Cost, Capital, and Cash: Master these three Cs of finance to ensure liquidity and profitability.
Operational Dynamics: Understand budgeting essentials to drive operational efficiency.
Risk & Financial Decisions: Equip yourself with tools and tactics to mitigate financial risks, ensuring sustainable growth.

In essence, our course is not just a learning pathway but a transformative journey. It’s tailored to empower you with a 360-degree understanding of financial strategy, ensuring you're equipped to navigate any financial challenge and seize opportunities. Enroll today, and let's chart your path to financial mastery!

Courses Frequently Bought Together:

Accounting & Bookkeeping 101 for Everyone

Understanding Financial Statements

Business Analysis

Completely Online
Self-Paced
Printable Lessons
Full HD Video
6 Months to Complete
24/7 Availability
Start Anytime
PC & Mac Compatible
Android & iOS Friendly
Accredited CEUs

Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:

"Extraordinarily Helpful"

(197 votes)

Lesson 1. Navigating Corporate Finance: Planning, Performance, and Profit Evaluation

Corporate financial planning and control is a strategic process that uses tools like NPV and IRR to optimize profits while managing risk and value assessments. Effective planning and control are vital, allowing firms to align operational goals with financial outcomes and shareholder interests. Additional lesson topics: How do you calculate costs of capital when budgeting new projects?; The Best Way to Measure Company Performance; Ratios: For Analysis, Control and Profit Planning 11 Total Points

Lesson 1 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-1-StudyGuide-17897.pdf
Lesson discussions: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: An Introduction
Assessment: Exam 1

Lesson 2. Understanding Financial Statements: A Deep Dive into Corporate Health

Financial ratios derived from financial statements provide insights into a company's solvency, liquidity, profitability, and stability, informing better strategic decisions and investments. Investors use these analyses to gauge whether to engage in or withdraw from business activities with the firm. Additional lesson topics: Income Statement Overview; Analysis of profitability, liquidity and performance; Four Types of Financial Statements 10 Total Points

Lesson 2 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-2-Activity-17899.pdf
Assessment: Exam 2

Lesson 3. The Impact of Inflation on Financial Ratios

The art of ratio and trend analyses reveals companies' fiscal fitness via comparative statistics against industry norms, serving as a yardstick for strategic maneuvers. DuPont Analysis digs deeper into operating efficiency and financial leverage to optimize shareholder returns in volatile economic landscapes. Additional lesson topics: DuPont Analysis Example; Types of Ratio analysis and their significance; Ratio Analysis Tutorial 11 Total Points

Lesson 3 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-3-Downloadable-17901.pdf
Complete: Lesson 3 Activity
Assessment: Exam 3

Lesson 4. Understanding the Cost of Capital: A Comprehensive Guide

This lesson explores the financial concept of the cost of capital, highlighting its significance in evaluating new projects and maintaining balance in the capital structure. It delves into determining the cost of debt and equity while emphasizing the importance of the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and the Modigliani-Miller Theorem in optimizing a firm's financial strategy. Additional lesson topics: Cost Of Capital; Return, Risk and The Security Market Line 10 Total Points

Lesson 4 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-4-Activity-17902.pdf
Assessment: Exam 4

Lesson 5. The Essentials of Cash Management

Cash management practices, including float management and lockboxes, aim to improve the speed of collections while controlling disbursements to optimize liquidity and financial stability. Electronic funds transfer and concentration banking streamline these processes and centralize funds for better control and investment. 11 Total Points

Lesson 5 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-5-Activity-17904.pdf
Complete: Lesson 5 Activity
Assessment: Exam 5

Lesson 6. Quantifying Potential: NPV, BCR, IRR Analysis

This lesson delineates how variable and fixed costs influence business operations and profitability, showcasing cost analysis as a pivotal tool in management. It covers crucial evaluative techniques like BCA, offering in-depth insights into their application for project selection and investment strategies. Additional lesson topics: Variable Costs and Fixed Costs 11 Total Points

Lesson 6 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-6-Activity-17906.pdf
Complete: Lesson 6 Activity
Assessment: Exam 6

Lesson 7. Mastering Operational Budgets: Components and Planning

The operational budget is pivotal for delineating earnings and expenses with tools like EBIT to analyze overall financial health, aiding businesses in strategizing for profitability and managing resources efficiently. Through monitoring operating expenses, companies can identify cost-saving opportunities and prevent unnecessary financial outflows, safeguarding sustainability. Additional lesson topics: Differences and Similarities of Capital and Operational Budgeting; Preparing the Master Budget for your Company; What is Strategic Planning?; Master Budget 10 Total Points

Lesson 7 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-7-StudyGuide-17907.pdf
Assessment: Exam 7

Lesson 8. Leverage Analysis: Balancing Risk and Reward

High operating leverage implies profits are sensitive to sales changes, controlled via variable and fixed cost ratios. Financial leverage concerns debt within capital structures, offering increased potential returns but enhanced risk for stockholders if mismanaged. Additional lesson topics: Operating Leverage How it works/Example; How to Calculate Your Business Break-even Point!; BREAK-EVEN POINT 11 Total Points

Lesson 8 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-8-Downloadable-17909.pdf
Complete: Lesson 8 Activity
Assessment: Exam 8

Lesson 9. The Mechanics of Working Capital: Ratios and Strategies Explained

Working capital is the difference between current assets and liabilities, reflecting a business's daily operational capacity. Properly managing it signifies a healthy financial position, but too little or excessive working capital can signal inefficiencies or overstocking. Additional lesson topics: Liquidity Measures: Net Working Capital, Current Ratio, and Quick Ratio 11 Total Points

Lesson 9 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-9-HomeWork-17911.pdf
Complete: Lesson 9 Activity
Assessment: Exam 9

Lesson 10. Optimizing Assets for Financial Success

High asset turnover ratios often indicate efficient use of resources and potential for increased sales, but they vary by industry. Conversely, debt management ratios help determine a firm's reliance on borrowed funds for financing, impacting its financial leverage and potential risk of liquidation. Additional lesson topics: Insights into Operating and Financial Leverage; Difference Between Profitability Ratios and Asset Utilization Ratios; The Ten Tools of Profitable Revenue Growth; The Role of Finance in the Strategic-Planning and Decision-Making Process 11 Total Points

Lesson 10 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-10-Activity-17913.pdf
Complete: Lesson 10 Activity
Assessment: Exam 10

Lesson 11. Understanding Capital Budgeting: Essential Insights for Strategic Financial Planning

Strategically focusing on capital budgeting allows firms to analyze which capital expenditures, such as updating facilities or entering new markets, will drive long-term value. Understanding cash flow dynamics and implementing methodologies like Rolling Budgets provide firms with flexible financial planning and actionability. Additional lesson topics: Capital Budgeting: The Importance Of Capital Budgeting; What is a capital expenditure versus a revenue expenditure? 10 Total Points

Lesson 11 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-11-Downloadable-17914.pdf
Assessment: Exam 11

Lesson 12. Invest Wisely: Capital Budgeting Essentials

The lesson covers the essentials of capital budgeting, focusing on decision-making strategies like screening and preference decisions to maximize firm value. It emphasizes understanding the cost of capital, including time value and risk compensation, to determine investment feasibility. 70 Total Points

Lesson 12 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: Lesson-12-HomeWork-17916.pdf
Lesson discussions: Let us know what you think of this course; Course Comments; Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course); Course Comments
Assessment: Exam 12
Assessment: The Final Exam

187

Total Course Points

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

Analyze how short-term and long-term planning differ, including their effects on corporate financial decision-making and implementation.#
Define and explain the impact of planning and control within a corporate finance structure and how they influence organizational objectives.
Calculate financial ratios to evaluate a firm's liquidity and profitability, including current ratio and gross profit to assess short-term financial health and earnings capability.
Define the three primary financial statements: Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement, by identifying their formats, functions, and uses.
Analyze the impact of inflation on financial statements and its effects on the accuracy of ratio analysis.
Recognize and categorize various financial ratios including profitability, liquidity, and solvency ratios to assess a firm's performance.
Calculate the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) using firm-specific values, including equity, debt, and tax rates, to evaluate investment viability.
Define the cost of capital and describe how it influences investment decisions by measuring potential project returns against this benchmark.
Define cash management by describing its importance in maintaining business solvency through efficient cash allocation among current assets.
Identify and evaluate short-term investment options applicable for enhancing liquidity and profitability while maintaining capital safety and liquidity.
Calculate Net Present Value (NPV) and interpret its implications on investment feasibility, correlating its value with positive returns exceeding the cost of capital.
Define and differentiate between variable and fixed costs within cost classifications, identifying characteristics that dictate their behavior over time.
Define the differences between operating and capital budgets and describe their respective purposes in financial planning.
Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

Additional Course Information

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Course Title: Financial Analysis 101: Planning and Control

Course Number: 8900345

Lessons Rating: 4.45 / 5 Stars (197 votes)

Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries

Category:

UniversalClass.com > Accounting and Bookkeeping > Financial Skills

Availability: With online access available nationwide, this course reaches all U.S. states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. Additionally, it’s open to learners in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.

Last Updated: May 2024

CEU Value: 0.7 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)

CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).

Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.

Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Classes

Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams

Instructor: Dr. Metodija Stojanovski

Syllabus: View Syllabus

Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars