Online Class: Accounting Level 2 — Company Financials

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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12Lessons
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19Exams &
Assignments -
818Students
have taken this course -
7Hours
average time -
0.7CEUs
Course Description
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.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. Charting Financial Landscapes: GAAP and FASB
As globalization progresses, the convergence of FASB's GAAP with IASB's IFRS illustrates a harmonizing of accounting standards worldwide, enhancing cross-border financial communication. This alignment fosters corporate consistency, giving multinational corporations like Coca-Cola uniformity in financial reporting amid varied regulatory environments.Lesson 2. Form 10-Q: The Quick Glimpse at Corporate Financial Status
An organization's financial statements not only offer a snapshot of business performance to stakeholders but also ensure compliance with regulatory bodies through detailed submissions like Forms 10-K and 10-Q. Such filings facilitate a consistent financial reporting structure crucial for investor relations and strategic growth planning.Lesson 3. Understanding Income Statements
An income statement acts as a narrative tool that illustrates a company's financial performance by detailing revenues, expenses, gains, and losses, helping stakeholders assess its efficiency and profitability. It is structured to show the flow of net sales to net income, enabling a transparent view of financial health over a specific period.Lesson 4. Assets, Liabilities, Equity: The Trinity of Financial Clarity
The balance sheet serves as a critical financial statement, providing a snapshot of a company's financial status by outlining its assets, liabilities, and equity. This insight is essential for evaluating a company's stability and potential for growth.Lesson 5. Stockholders' Equity Simplified
Historical equity arrangements offer lessons on ownership division and impact on financial outcomes, illustrated by Bill and Steve's partnership adjustments in Texas. Modern investments must weigh strategic employee incentives against potential equity dilution for long-term success.Lesson 6. Mastering Cash Flows for Business Stability
Cash flow management is paramount, as an enterprise with strong income may still face liquidity troubles if cash flow is misaligned, jeopardizing its ability to cover short-term obligations. Hence, strategic understanding and regulation of cash movements ensure business expansion capabilities while maintaining operational stability.Lesson 7. The Art of Cash Flow and Working Capital Synergy
Operating activities in cash flow statements highlight how well a business generates cash from its core operations, revealing true financial health beyond net income figures. Critical adjustments transform net profit into cash basis figures, underscoring the importance of effective working capital management.Lesson 8. Financial Ratio Analysis Demystified
Financial ratio analysis acts as a crucial navigational tool for businesses, offering insights into financial health and performance. While it helps forecast and tackle liabilities, its effectiveness depends on understanding both qualitative and quantitative data.Lesson 9. Strategic Business Analysis: Understanding Key Ratios
By examining ratios like inventory turnover and accounts payable turnover, businesses can refine their operational efficiency and manage supplier relationships. These insights offer clear indicators of potential improvements in purchasing practices and payment strategies.Lesson 10. Decoding Business Success: Mastering Financial Ratios for Strategic Insights
Liquidity and solvency ratios are essential for evaluating a company's capacity to meet its short-term and long-term obligations, respectively. By analyzing current and quick ratios, alongside debt and interest coverage ratios, stakeholders can gauge financial stability and sustainability.Lesson 11. Financial Statement Fraud: Causes and Effects
As technology increases and the world becomes more reliant on financial data for global interaction, there is a greater risk for financial fraud to occur.Lesson 12. Financial Fraud Unveiled: A Deep Dive into Corporate Malpractices
Financial fraud, like the Enron scandal, exposed the damaging effects of manipulating corporate financial records and the need for transparency. Legislative efforts like the Sarbanes-Oxley Act aim to restore trust by making corporate executives accountable for their financial reporting.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe the key principles of GAAP, including accrual basis, consistency, economic entity assumption, and monetary unit principle, and apply them to real-world scenarios.
- Define and explain the five foundational types of accounts in modern accounting, including assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, and expenses.
- Identify and differentiate between SEC Form 10-K and Form 10-Q in terms of reporting requirements and the type of information they contain.
- Recognize the importance of accurate financial statements for strategic decision-making and transparency among stakeholders.
- Demonstrate the ability to accurately itemize and interpret each major component of an income statement, including revenues, expenses, and net profit.
- Differentiate between the single-step and multi-step income statement formats and explain their advantages and limitations in financial analysis.
- Analyze a company's financial health and solvency by interpreting the balance sheet's disclosure of assets, liabilities, and stockholders' equity according to established financial metrics.
- Identify and categorize assets and liabilities on a balance sheet to evaluate a company's financial position at a specific point in time.
- Define and describe the key components of the statement of stockholders' equity, including contributed and earned capital.
- Demonstrate the ability to analyze the impact of financial transactions, such as stock buybacks and dividends, on shareholders' equity.
- Analyze and interpret a company's statement of cash flows using direct and indirect methods to assess financial health and operational efficiency.
- Define and differentiate the three categories of cash flows—operating, investing, and financing activities—and explain their role in financial decision-making.
- Define and compare the concepts of cash flow and working capital, illustrating their distinct roles in assessing a company's financial health and liquidity.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Time to complete | 6 months |
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Time to complete | 6 months |
No. of courses | 1 course |
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Includes CEUs |
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Time to complete | 12 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
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Includes CEUs |
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Instructor support |
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Time to complete | 24 Months |
No. of courses | 600+ |
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