Financial Statement Analysis

MGMT-6430

This course is designed to strengthen students' ability to correctly analyze, interpret, and evaluate financial statements and their accompanying disclosures. The course is aimed at anyone whose career might involve working with accounting data, and should be especially useful for those interested in consulting and financial analysis. Discussed throughout the semester will be how to use financial accounting information for evaluating past performance and predicting future performance of a company or division. Also discussed will be the key disclosure rules in the United States, the communication methods available to managers, managers' incentives and ability to exert discretion over reported earnings, and the interplay between a company's corporate strategy and its financial reporting policies and practices. The course revolves around a number of topics of recent interest to the business community including accounting and financial analysis, performance forecasting, the quality of earnings, mergers and acquisitions, purchased R&D, post-employment benefits, executive compensation, and intangible assets. This course assumes that students have a basic knowledge of accounting, finance, economics, and business strategy. The focus is on integrating key concepts from each of these areas and applying them to financial decision-making. Half of the course time will be devoted to case analysis. Students are responsible for reading each case thoroughly and familiarizing themselves with the relevant accounting issues before the class.

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