Comprehensive Financial Statements and Ratio Analysis

This online course will provide participants with knowledge of how financial statements are developed through the accounting process and how analysis of those financial statements can be used to assess the company’s ability to sustain a return to its investors and service its credit obligations in both the short and long term.  After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• understand the relationships between what they observe on financial statements and the nature of the economic events and company decisions that drive the outcome of the financial statements;
• calculate a set of profitability, efficiency, leverage and liquidity ratios in order to understand the performance and standing of a company;
• conduct an intentional and orderly analysis of the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement;
• use the notes to financial statements to assess the timing of debt payments and liquidity risk inherent in a company’s financial standing; and
• use the results of a comprehensive financial statement analysis to develop a well-informed and supported opinion on the company’s ability to sustain a return to its investors and service its debt obligations, especially in regard to its B2B credit.

The course is broken into seven modules ranging from three to eight video presentation sessions.  Video sessions tend to run between 15 and 20 minutes each.

• Lesson 1: The Accounting Process
• Lesson 2: Financial Statement Composition
• Lesson 3: Financial Ratios
• Lesson 4: Business Models
• Lesson 5: Statement Analysis Using the IODE Method
• Lesson 6: Cash Flow and Liquidity Analysis
• Lesson 7: Ratio Analysis Using the IODE Method

This course is delivered by Steven C Isberg, Ph.D., Sr Research Fellow, Credit Research Foundation. In addition to his primary role as Chair, Department of Accounting at Towson University, Dr. Isberg has been involved with the Credit Research Foundation for over 20 years, designing and participating in customized training programs, a variety of research projects, directing and reviewing surveys, and writing and reviewing publications.

This is an On-Demand Course, allowing students to work independently and at their own pace to accommodate the time demands of busy professionals. After reviewing the presentations and course materials, the participant is required to take a final exam. Those who receive a grade of 70% or higher will receive an electronic “Certificate of Professional Development” from the Credit Research Foundation and earn 2.1 CEUs.