EXECUTIVE EDUCATION

Key Topics

Fundamental Accounting and Finance Concepts

• Learning the basic terms and concepts necessary to grasp the numbers side of your business
• Understanding the accounting process, its role in the organization and its role in the overall economy
• How accounting and finance procedures impact business decisions

An Introduction to Financial Statements

• Understanding the three primary financial statements: the Balance Sheet, the Income Statement, and the Statement of Cash Flows
• Understanding the uses and importance of these statements and how they interact
• Understanding "Generally Accepted Accounting Principles" (GAAP) and how they are applied

Using Accounting and Financial Data to Evaluate Performance

• Defining and using key financial ratios to assess firm performance
• Learning how those outside your firm use accounting and other financial data to measure the health and performance of your company
• Finding and using benchmark industry and firm data for performance comparison

Using Accounting and Financial Data to Plan for the Future

• Using forecasting techniques to develop "pro forma" financial statements
• Using forecasting to predict cash and resource needs and to address critical planning issues

Using Financial Analysis to Pick Projects and Investments

• Understanding commonly used investment analysis techniques: payback, NPV, IRR, etc.
• Using capital budgeting as a project evaluation tool

Accounting Data Used for Managerial Decision Making

• Understanding cost/volume/profit relationships
• Identifying fixed and variable costs and determining break-even levels
• Using relevant cost analysis to improve managerial decision making

Management Control Systems

• Performance metrics and how they offer a measurement-based approach to strategy implementation and performance evaluation