This course is an introduction to financial statements and the financial reporting process from a user’s perspective. The focus of the course is on understanding the basic accounting principles and rules that mediate the communication of economic transactions between firms and the users of financial information. The objective of the course is to provide students with a long-lasting ability to read, interpret, and use corporate financial information and to prepare students for more advanced financial statement analysis courses.
Classes consist of interactive lectures and discussions about financial accounting standards and practices. Short case studies will be used to reinforce the main accounting concepts and foster class discussion about topical issues in accounting. Students are expected to complete assigned problems, readings, and cases in preparation for each class.