Financial Management Specialization Course Syllabus

Overview: This Financial Management Specialization consists of six comprehensive modules designed to build expertise in financial accounting, investments, and corporate finance. Learners will gain practical skills through real-world applications and hands-on projects, with a total time commitment of approximately 116 hours. The course is self-paced, ideal for working professionals seeking to advance their finance careers.

Module 1: Financial Accounting: Foundations

Estimated time: 12 hours

• Introduction to financial accounting information and its use by capital market participants
• Recording financial transactions and producing key financial statements
• Understanding fundamental accounting concepts and revenue recognition criteria
• Accounting for short-term assets including accounts receivables and inventories

Module 2: Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics

Estimated time: 11 hours

• Accounting for fixed assets
• Understanding accounting for liabilities
• Evaluating shareholders’ equity section of a balance sheet
• Understanding preparation and information provided by cash flow statements

Module 3: Investments I: Fundamentals of Performance Evaluation

Estimated time: 26 hours

• Explaining the trade-offs between risk and return
• Forming a portfolio of securities and calculating expected return and standard deviation
• Describing market efficiency and its implications
• Conducting market multiples valuation

Module 4: Investments II: Lessons and Applications for Investors

Estimated time: 24 hours

• Interpreting and using CAPM and the 3-Factor Model
• Comparing returns in the form of dividends and capital gains
• Evaluating strategies designed to “earn alpha”

Module 5: Corporate Finance I: Measuring and Promoting Value Creation

Estimated time: 24 hours

• Forecasting and managing a company's liquidity needs
• Measuring the contribution of new projects to shareholder value
• Incorporating risk into investment decisions
• Evaluating company or division performance

Module 6: Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk

Estimated time: 19 hours

• Understanding how companies decide on debt levels and types
• Analyzing payout decisions and their effects on firm value
• Using risk management tools to mitigate specific risks
• Developing a financial management framework for M&A decisions and R&D investments

Prerequisites

• Familiarity with basic accounting principles
• Foundational understanding of finance concepts
• Some prior exposure to financial statements recommended

What You'll Be Able to Do After

• Analyze financial statements with confidence
• Evaluate investment opportunities using risk-return frameworks
• Measure and promote value creation in corporate settings
• Make informed financing and payout decisions
• Apply risk management strategies to investment and corporate finance decisions