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Executive Education

Financial Statement Analysis for the Non-Accountant

Improve your ability to interpret key financial tools

Delivered online in real time

Financial statements are the pulse of a business, and one of the clearest indicators of its health. This program will provide you with a basic understanding of financial statements and the use of key financial analysis tools. You will use actual financial statements to learn and apply the techniques being examined.

Participants are not expected to have any formal accounting experience.

Online program format

Each day of the program includes facilitator-led online sessions in real time. Sessions are delivered in the morning and afternoon with ample breaks provided. The sessions are highly interactive, enabling you to network with peers, brainstorm ideas, engage in skill-building activities, and receive constructive feedback. You will also have access to self-directed resources (readings, videos, self-assessments etc.) that you can review at any time.

Please check back in Fall 2020 for upcoming offerings of this program. You may also subscribe here to receive email updates about Executive Education programs.

Who is this for?

Any executive or manager with responsibilities for the financial health of an organization. Participants are not expected to have any formal accounting experience.

"This course is very informative and delivers what it promises, giving us very usable skills and tools to use in business. I would recommend it to all managers with responsibility for the financial performance of their company.”

Dan Beaulac - General Manager, Nechako Group of Companies

Benefits for you

Gain a basic understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, financial analysis tools and various types of financial statements
Understand the relationships between investment, operational and financing decisions
Identify the danger signals when assessing the viability of an enterprise
Be able to interpret key financial figures and their impact on your business
Recognize the limitations of financial statements
Better comprehend financial information seen in the media

"A practical real-world course that inculcated a skill set that will make me more effective in my work.”

Dr. Richard Topping - Principal, Vancouver School of Theology

Program content

Content and format of financial statements: accounting standards, current issues
Making sense of individual statements: the balance sheet, income statement/retained earnings, cash flow statements, notes to statements
Analyzing statements: analyzing liquidity, leverage, profitability and activity ratios, common size analysis, comparisons with other firms/industries or over time

Special features

There will be a discussion on “earnings management” and “aggressive financial reporting,” and how some companies (e.g. Nortel, WorldCom) used these techniques to manipulate their financial statements. You will also learn how to uncover some of these irregularities in financial statements.

Download full program description

Program leader

Scott Sinclair

Faculty

Scott is a lecturer at the Sauder School of Business. He has been actively involved in professional accounting education for more than 30 years. He was the principal author for the CA School of Business in Western Canada between 2000 and 2010, and has won multiple awards for teaching excellence. He has also worked for Coopers & Lybrand Chartered Accounts, serving small business and mining clients.

Upcoming sessions

Please check back in Fall 2020 for upcoming offerings of this program. You may also subscribe here to receive email updates about Executive Education programs.

Note: participants in this program may qualify for up to $10,000 in funding through the Canada BC Job Grant program. Find out if you qualify.

Contact a learning advisor for more details.
Get in touch

604.822.8400 or 1.800.618.3932
exec.ed@sauder.ubc.ca

Visit our contact page for more information.

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