• Coventry University logo

Understanding Financial Statements 

We explain financial reporting and analyse and interpret financial statements.

  • Duration

    2 weeks

  • Weekly study

    0 hours
Overview
Requirements

Making sense of financial statements to understand performance

In this course you will have the opportunity to explore the role of financial reporting, including understanding information and accounting systems to meet and manage organisational objectives. The course will explore the role of finance within an organisation and you will have the chance to consider the financial regulatory frameworks that underpin organisations.

You will explore each key financial statement in depth and you will also have the opportunity to interpret and analyse the information contained within these statements to derive meaning for different stakeholder groups.

What topics will you cover?

  • The role of finance within an organisation 
  • Financial statements and their users 
  • Quality of information included on financial statements 
  • Financial regulatory frameworks    
  • Profit and loss statement interpretation  
  • Balance sheet interpretation 
  • Cash flow 

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain the role of finance within an organisation 
  • Explore financial statements and their users
  • Evaluate the quality of information on financial statements  
  • Summarise financial regulatory frameworks
  • Interpret the profit and loss statement  
  • Interpret the balance sheet 
  • Explain cash flow  

Who is the course for?

This course is applicable across a variety of roles, sectors and geographies, including junior and middle managers, either with a degree in a non-business-related discipline or without a degree. It is also applicable for entrepreneurs who want to be equipped with a range of skills to run their business.

It is suitable for those who want to progress in their careers, either within their existing workplace or to pursue opportunities outside of their employer, and those who want to learn, exchange ideas and be informed in order to perform better at work.

Please note that the individuals detailed in the ‘Who will you learn with?’ section below, are current staff members and may be subject to change.

Who developed the course?

Coventry University

Coventry secured 5 QS Stars for Teaching and Online Learning in the QS World University Ranking 2020 and has received No. 1 in the world for Massive Open Online Courses in MoocLab’s World University Ranking 2021.

  • Established

    1992

  • Location

    Coventry

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn