Understanding Financial Statements Course

Peter Flynn

This course, Understanding Financial Statements, provides a comprehensive introduction to key financial concepts that every manager and decision-maker should know. It explains the different types of money a company can use—debt and equity—and their associated risks and rewards. The course covers the major financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flow, illustrating how these documents help managers create value and communicate with investors and lenders. With examples grounded in the oil and gas industry but applicable to any enterprise, participants will gain essential skills to interpret and use financial statements effectively. The focus is on practical management insights rather than accounting details, enabling learners to make informed financial decisions. This fundamental knowledge supports better business strategy and personal financial management alike.Read more...

Who Should Take This Course
• Aspiring and current senior managers
• Professionals wanting financial literacy
• Individuals managing personal investments
• Anyone seeking to understand company finances

What You Will Learn
• Distinguish debt from equity funding
• Assess company financial risk and value
• Interpret income, balance sheet, cash flow
• Understand lender and investor perspectives

Why This Course Works
• Communicate effectively with stakeholders
• Manage company risks and resources better
• Enhance personal financial management skills
• Improve decision-making with financial insights

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Course contents

    Chapter 1 - Fundamentals of Financial Statements

    1.01 Introduction to Financial Statements (8 min.)  Sample Lesson

    1.02 The Flavors of Money (14 min.)

    1.03 Debt & Risk (12 min.) Quiz

    1.04 Equity (16 min.) Quiz

    1.05 Managing Risk (12 min.) Quiz

    1.06 Bookkeeping (18 min.) Quiz

    1.07 Income Statement (12 min.) Quiz

    1.08 Depreciation (8 min.) Quiz

    1.09 Depreciation - Example (12 min.)

    1.10 Cash vs Income - Example 1 (12 min.)

    1.11 Cash vs Income - Example 2 (9 min.) Quiz

    1.12 Real Examples, Cash vs. Income (9 min.)

    1.13 Margin and Breakeven (9 min.) Quiz

    1.14 Income vs Adjusted Income (9 min.) Quiz

    1.15 EBIT and EBITDA (8 min.) Quiz

    1.16 Tax (9 min.)

    1.17 Cheating on the Income Statement (8 min.) Quiz

    1.18 Retained Earnings (5 min.) Quiz

    1.19 Balance Sheet (15 min.) Quiz

    1.20 Understanding the Balance Sheet (27 min.) Quiz

    1.21 Balance Sheet - Key Learnings (16 min.) Quiz

    1.22 Example - The Fatal $1 Million Sale (13 min.)

    1.23 More Thoughts on Debt to Leverage (18 min.) Quiz

    1.24 Preferred Shares (13 min.) Quiz

    1.25 Statement of Cash Flow (19 min.) Quiz

    1.26 Share Buyback & Dividends (7 min.) Quiz

    Chapter 2 - Using the SCF to Understand Companies

    2.01 Example - Enbridge (14 min.)

    2.02 Example - Suncor (14 min.)

    2.03 Example - ExxonMobil, Talisman & Ensign (13 min.)

    2.04 Closing Thoughts (8 min.)