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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Understanding Financial Statements: Company Position

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of financial statements with an emphasis on the balance sheet. However, to understand accounting driven financial statements, it is important to recognize that accounting is less about counting and more about measuring. “What is it that is being measured?” Well, as the course unfolds, you will learn about the three measurement questions and how the balance sheet helps to answer the first two of these questions. By touring a real company and interviewing real business people, the course describes the basic content of financial statements in a simple yet relevant context. The goal of the course is to leave a lasting impression about what balance sheet consists of and what it reveals. The next course in the Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization completes the conversation by addressing the remaining measurement question. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to: • Describe the purpose of a balance sheet. • Define the three components of a balance sheet. • Recognize and understand the meaning of several items typically presented on a balance sheet. • Explain the broader purpose of financial statements and the role of accounting in producing the financial statements. • Read and, to some extent, interpret real-world balance sheets. If you enjoy this business course and are interested in an MBA, consider applying to the iMBA, a flexible, fully-accredited online MBA at an incredibly competitive price offered by the University of Illinois. For more information, please see the Resource page in this course and onlinemba.illinois.edu.

Status: Financial Statement Analysis
Status: Financial Statements
BeginnerCourse12 hours

Featured reviews

MH

5.0Reviewed May 23, 2016

Great course! Mr Jackson put a lot of effort into the construction of the class and explained everything in detail so that you get a solid understanding of the Balance Sheet

BM

5.0Reviewed Aug 27, 2016

This course is a great introduction to understanding Balance Sheets and has been a big help to me in my job. I highly recommend this course and I really liked the Professor.

VV

5.0Reviewed Dec 1, 2020

It's a good course for beginners. Coursera Courses can only provide you the full benefits of the learner completes the whole specialization, not just a single course.

YA

5.0Reviewed Feb 15, 2021

Wow! What a fund course it is. I do not have any mathematical or statical background. His explanations are clear and easy to understand. I enjoyed this course's structure and contents.

AA

5.0Reviewed Jan 25, 2021

The course is very informative and the instructor's methodology, knowledge, and the quality of education material provided made it very easy to understand.

RS

5.0Reviewed Jul 22, 2020

This Course was very enjoyable partaking. I had an accounting experience but this course took me into deep specifically the practical sessions. Its free and lets all get involved.

CD

5.0Reviewed Aug 25, 2017

Kevin is such a great professor! He really knows how to break the jargon and the concepts down so that they're easy to understand. Such a fantastic teacher!

SA

5.0Reviewed Apr 15, 2021

Very clearly indicates all the basic fundamentals of the balance sheet and its components. This course gives me an excellent overview. Interesting to complete all the excercises.

JC

5.0Reviewed May 22, 2020

Really great course and a useful one in terms of clearing the finance terms and how a company creates a balance sheet and how can we evaluate a company's position by looking at one's sheet.

AS

5.0Reviewed Apr 5, 2020

Its a Great Course! You will Enjoy every moment of this course. I highly recommend this course to anyone who wishes to understand the fundamentals of Accounting

IM

5.0Reviewed Aug 20, 2016

Great course, it teaches you a lot in a simple way. The material is presented to you in a easy to follow format, with lots of supplemental material.

MM

5.0Reviewed Jan 15, 2017

Very good course. Gives a view on corporate business finance. Teacher is also great. Recommend this course to anyone who want to start finances, business or wants an dive deep into entrepreneurship.

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