Essentials of Creating and Analyzing Financial Statements

Course Description

The creation of financial statements is arguably the most important and visible task the industry accountant performs. In Essentials of Creating and Analyzing Financial Statements, instructor Steven Bragg explains how to create financial statements, beginning with closing the books, progressing to creating the statements, and concluding with calculating key financial ratios. The information generated during this process is essential to management's ability to make financial decisions; it is necessary for this information to be accurate and completed in a timely manner. This course outlines the best practices Steven identified while working as an industry controller and CFO and will give you a resource that you will repeatedly turn to as you complete this vital process.

This course covers material also contained in Accountants' Guidebook.

Instructor

Steven M. Bragg, CPA

Steven M. Bragg, CPA, is a full-time book and course author who has written more than 70 business books. He provides Western CPE with self-study courses in the areas of accounting and finance, with an emphasis on the practical application of accounting standards and management techniques. A sampling of his courses include the The New Controller Guidebook, The GAAP Guidebook, Accountants’ Guidebook, and Closing the Books: An Accountant’s Guide. He also manages the Accounting Best Practices podcast.

Steven has been the CFO or controller of both public and private companies and has been a consulting manager with Ernst & Young and an auditor with Deloitte & Touche. He holds an MBA from Babson College, a Master of Finance from Bentley College, and a BA from the University of Maine (summa cum laude).

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

Chapter 1

• Identify terminology, core steps, and key parts of the process of closing the books and generating financial statements.

Chapter 2

• Identify the different formats in which the financial statements can be constructed and presented.
• Recognize the purpose, information needed, and source documents to reference for the different types of financial statements.
• Recognize the formula requirements of a balanced balance sheet and how to classify asset information.

Chapter 3

• Recognize the reporting requirements and issues associated with interim period information.
• Recognize the components, tests, and key reporting requirements for segment reporting.
• Recognize the closing process and reporting requirements for public company reports.

Chapter 4

• Identify what to measure, how to measure consistently, and the timing of measurements.
• Recognize the characteristics of different business ratios and the calculation methods employed for those ratios.

Choose Your Preferred Format

• Online Access
• Hard Copy
• Self-Study Video

Online Access

Get immediate access to a robust collection of learning and reference materials, allowing you to dive deep into the information you need. Our self-study materials are authored by top-quality, industry experts who focus on helping you grasp concepts quickly using real-life examples. Download your CPE to any device, and take it with you so you can learn when and wherever you want. Complete your CPE with an online exam, and enjoy instant grading with the option to print your certificate immediately upon passing.

Hard Copy

Our self-study materials are authored by top-quality, industry experts. You’ll receive a bound notebook of all the course materials, shipped to you within one business day. In addition, you’ll also have full online access. Each self-study package includes a robust collection of learning and reference materials to help you cover the information efficiently and put it into practice immediately.

Self-Study Video

Experience high-quality instruction with our Self-Study Videos, available to you 24/7. With more than 80+ videos currently in the Western CPE Self-Study Video library, you can see and hear our expert instructors deliver the information you need in a dynamic way that allows you to immediately apply your learning. Unlike a live course or webcast, you can complete the course on your own time, playing and pausing as needed. Self-Study Videos allow you to complete your CPE requirements on your own time.