In this course, you will learn the foundations important to developing and implementing a financially analytic mindset. This course introduces the foundations of financial analysis, beginning with the first question: what is financial analysis?
![University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/http://coursera-university-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/d8/42cdc0ab2011e8b910bdf80bed9f6c/CenterILblock-ISQUAREOrangeBackgrnd.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=28&h=28)
![University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/http://coursera-university-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/1d/7a53408c1411e7983a499797d625fe/200x48-illinois.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=&h=45)
Introduction to Financial Analysis - The "Why?"
This course is part of Financial Analysis - Skills for Success Specialization
Taught in English
Some content may not be translated
![Gies College of Business, University of Illinois](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera-instructor-photos.s3.amazonaws.com/79/8cf0afb34d4185bd887f9fbc5b42be/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=75&h=75&fit=crop)
Instructor: Gies College of Business, University of Illinois
13,107 already enrolled
Included with
Course
(133 reviews)
95%
Recommended experience
Skills you'll gain
Details to know
![](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/31ebcba3851b87d1d8609abf15d0ff7e.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=24&h=24)
Add to your LinkedIn profile
25 quizzes
Course
(133 reviews)
95%
Recommended experience
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills
![Placeholder](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/74c8747e8210831049cf88dd4eefe26c.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&blur=200&px=8&max-w=320)
Build your subject-matter expertise
- Learn new concepts from industry experts
- Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
- Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
- Earn a shareable career certificate
![Placeholder](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/a7c5400e51272c78b710ce9b56fd3178.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&blur=200&px=8&max-w=562)
![Placeholder](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/de1a6556fbe605411e8c1c2ca4ba45f1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&blur=200&px=8&max-w=259)
Earn a career certificate
Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV
Share it on social media and in your performance review
![Placeholder](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/de1a6556fbe605411e8c1c2ca4ba45f1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&blur=200&px=8&max-w=333)
There are 3 modules in this course
In this module, you will be introduced to the agency problem, and how organizations mitigate it. You will also learn the goals of financial management, and be be introduced to three basic forms to organize a business based on the nature of the business and its financing needs. Examining the goal of financial business helps us to develop a concrete framework to evaluate a manager’s financial decisions. The corporation organization form is widespread because it can solve problems facing big business, but it also incurs the agency cost.
What's included
7 videos6 readings5 quizzes1 discussion prompt
In this module, you will first learn about accounting and why it - as well as financial statements as a key component of accounting - is important to all types of organizations. You will then engage in an overview of key aspects of financial statements, including how they reflect an organization's position and performance. Finally, you will be introduced to accounting for transactions, which comprise the "building blocks" of financial statements. By the end of this module, you will have been introduced to key dimensions of accounting, and thus have created a foundation for a deeper dive into these concepts (presented in other related modules and courses).
What's included
10 videos2 readings12 quizzes
In this module, you will be introduced to the basic concepts about the time value of money: the present value, the future value, and the net present value. There are widespread applications of time value of money in our daily life and business valuation. Some examples include mortgage plan selection, pension plan choice, and investment decisions. And, of course, the time value of money affects organizational valuation and decision-making as well. You will then turn to different forms of financing, including debts (e.g., bonds) and equity (e.g., stocks). How a company finances its operations, strategy, and long-term investment has major implications for its valuation, as well as its success.
What's included
9 videos2 readings8 quizzes
Instructor
![Gies College of Business, University of Illinois](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera-instructor-photos.s3.amazonaws.com/79/8cf0afb34d4185bd887f9fbc5b42be/MicrosoftTeams-image-2-.jpg?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=75&h=75&fit=crop)
Recommended if you're interested in Business Essentials
Coursera Project Network
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Coursera Project Network
Why people choose Coursera for their career
![](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/growth_testimonials/passionate_learner/Felipe_Moitta.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=64&h=64&fit=crop)
![](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/growth_testimonials/passionate_learner/Jennifer_John.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=64&h=64&fit=crop)
![](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/growth_testimonials/passionate_learner/Larry_Tao_Wang_1.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=64&h=64&fit=crop)
![](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/growth_testimonials/passionate_learner/Chaitanya_Anand.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=64&h=64&fit=crop)
Learner reviews
Showing 3 of 133
133 reviews
- 5 stars
81.75%
- 4 stars
12.40%
- 3 stars
3.64%
- 2 stars
1.45%
- 1 star
0.72%
New to Business Essentials? Start here.
![Placeholder](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://coursera_assets.s3.amazonaws.com/images/7a1c0e2e779c1ff27cae62480adfe003.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&blur=200&px=8&max-w=120)
Open new doors with Coursera Plus
Unlimited access to 7,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription
Advance your career with an online degree
Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online
Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business
Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy
Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.