READING FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Available Dates & Locations

This course is offered exclusively as In-House or Virtual, with no public sessions currently available – please contact us for inquiries.

COURSE OVERVIEW

This training course provides an in-depth understanding of the information presented in financial statements, enabling participants to make informed decisions regarding the financial health and operational status of business corporations. Through comprehensive analysis and practical examples, attendees will learn to interpret and evaluate key financial documents, enhancing their ability to assess corporate performance and make strategic decisions. This course is essential for professionals looking to deepen their financial literacy and improve their ability to analyze financial data accurately.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, attendees will be able to:

Understand the structure and components of financial statements.
Interpret balance sheets to assess financial stability.
Evaluate income statements to determine profitability.
Analyze cash flow statements to gauge liquidity.
Apply ratio analysis to compare financial performance.
Recognize key financial reporting standards.
Utilize financial data to support strategic decision-making.

TARGET COMPETENCIES

Financial Analysis
Balance Sheet Interpretation
Income Statement Evaluation
Cash Flow Analysis
Ratio Analysis
Financial Reporting Standards

Financial analysts
Accountants
Business managers
Financial executives

This course employs a mix of lectures, interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises to ensure a thorough understanding of financial statements.

FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

• Key financial documents and their significance.
• Differences between financial statements.
• Importance of accurate financial analysis.
• Common financial analysis tools.
• Impact of financial analysis on business decisions.

BALANCE SHEET INTERPRETATION

• Components of a balance sheet.
• Assets and liabilities categorization.
• Equity section analysis.
• Indicators of financial stability.
• Understanding balance sheet ratios.

INCOME STATEMENT EVALUATION

• Structure of an income statement.
• Revenue and expense recognition.
• Profit and loss assessment.
• Gross margin and net income insights.
• Importance of income statement trends.

CASH FLOW ANALYSIS

• Purpose of cash flow statements.
• Operating, investing, and financing activities.
• Cash flow vs. profitability.
• Identifying cash flow problems.
• Cash flow forecasting techniques.

RATIO ANALYSIS

• Key financial ratios and their uses.
• Liquidity, solvency, and profitability ratios.
• Comparative ratio analysis.
• Ratio interpretation for decision making.
• Limitations of financial ratios

FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS

• Overview of key financial reporting standards.
• Importance of compliance.
• Impact on financial statements.
• Differences in reporting standards globally.
• Updates and changes in financial reporting standards.