Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Professional (Online)

Acquire competence in financial accounting, planning, reporting, and analysis

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

April 16, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

6 weeks, online
3-4 hours per week

Course Fee
Course Fee

For Your Team

Enroll your team and learn with your peers

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Early Registration Benefit

Apply now to secure your place at US$1,536 by . Connect with a learning advisor for more information.

Invest in Your Financial Literacy

As your career advances, understanding and deriving insights from financial information becomes increasingly important. The Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Professional (Online) program will help you build your financial competence and your business confidence. Even if your day-to-day responsibilities don't directly involve equity or earnings, this program will help you understand how financial principles relate to your role in the business and prepare you to take on greater levels of responsibility.

Through the practical six-week curriculum, you will learn to dissect the elements of a financial statement, demystify terms such as net present value (NPV) and price-earnings ratio (P/E), and understand forecasting, equipping you to make meaningful decisions that deliver value for your organization.

43%

Of finance leaders say establishing finance as a partner to the business is one of the top three priorities for the finance function in the next 12 months.

SOURCE: PWC

#8

On the list of top 10 must have skills for all C-level executives are business acumen, including knowledge of profitability and metrics.

SOURCE: LinkedIn

2/3rd

Of the non-financial professionals are unable to correctly answer three questions on a basic five-question financial literacy quiz.

SOURCE: FINRA

Key Takeaways

The Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Professional (Online) program will enable you to:

  • Gain a solid foundation in finance and accounting
  • Learn accounting terminology, key concepts, and principles
  • Understand how to communicate with financial professionals
  • Apply concepts to common business scenarios
  • Arrive at an understanding of the financial implications of business decisions
  • Conduct various financial analyses

Who Should Attend?

This program is designed for any nonfinance professional who is interested in developing an understanding of practical financial and accounting concepts they can leverage in their day-to-day responsibilities and throughout their careers. Participants from a wide range of functions will benefit, including:

  • Human resources
  • Information technology
  • Operations
  • Sales and marketing

Program Modules

The goal of this curriculum is to make financial and accounting concepts practical and applicable to your professional life.

Module 1:

Introduction to Financial Accounting

Build a foundational understanding of financial accounting, accrual accounting, financial statements, the balance sheet, and other financial basics useful to any industry.

Module 2:

Financial Reporting

Become familiar with key line items from each of the five financial statements, and understand how to approach financial analysis and valuation.

Module 3:

Financial Statement Analysis

Expand your proficiency by evaluating ratios related to profitability, solvency, and liquidity. Establish business valuation and reformulate financial statements.

Module 4:

Financial Planning and Analysis

Gain an understanding of managerial accounting, including pricing and costing products and performance measurement, and learn the basics of capital budgeting.

Module 5:

Forecasting and Business Valuation

Determine how much a business is worth by analyzing relative valuation and fundamental valuation and forecasting financial statements.

Module 1:

Introduction to Financial Accounting

Build a foundational understanding of financial accounting, accrual accounting, financial statements, the balance sheet, and other financial basics useful to any industry.

Module 4:

Financial Planning and Analysis

Gain an understanding of managerial accounting, including pricing and costing products and performance measurement, and learn the basics of capital budgeting.

Module 2:

Financial Reporting

Become familiar with key line items from each of the five financial statements, and understand how to approach financial analysis and valuation.

Module 5:

Forecasting and Business Valuation

Determine how much a business is worth by analyzing relative valuation and fundamental valuation and forecasting financial statements.

Module 3:

Financial Statement Analysis

Expand your proficiency by evaluating ratios related to profitability, solvency, and liquidity. Establish business valuation and reformulate financial statements.

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Live Webinar with Columbia Business School Faculty

The final session of the program offers an opportunity for you to interact live online with Columbia Business School faculty and your peers. You will analyze a capstone case, expand your understanding of the program content, have the opportunity to ask questions, and establish the next steps you can take to continue learning more about the topics covered in the program.

Program Experience

World-Renowned Faculty

Learn from accomplished faculty, and industry experts whose diverse backgrounds encompass a broad range of disciplines

Peer Interaction

Stimulating discussions with like-minded global peers expand your professional network and build a supportive community

Case Studies

Through exploratory sessions, examine practical examples and find innovative solutions to strategic challenges

Live Faculty Sessions

Get actionable insights in live online interactions with faculty who are recognized leaders in their fields

Engaging Assignments and Activities

Hone business acumen and executive skills with try-it activities that help you redefine your potential

Case Studies

Immerse yourself in real-world case studies that require you to navigate the numbers, analyze financial statements, identify critical business insights, and prepare you to apply program concepts in your work.

Best Buy

Best Buy’s annual report helps bring accounting and finance concepts to life throughout the course of the program, giving real-world context to theory.

Gap Inc.

The financial analysis and valuation of US-based global clothing retailer Gap Inc. serves as an opportunity to synthesize and apply program concepts in a final capstone project.

Note: All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

Hands-On Activities

This program features a customized workbook to help you master the essentials of accounting and finance. Through more than 60 curated examples, assignments, and solutions, you will develop the financial knowledge you need to help your business unit thrive and advocate for its best interests in the larger organizational ecosystem.

Past Participant Profile

Past participants of the Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Professional (Online) program come from diverse backgrounds, industries, and experiences.

Average years of work experience:

  • Less than 10 years: 33%
  • 10 to 14 years: 16%
  • 15 to 19 years: 16%
  • More than 20 years: 35%

Top industries:

  • Energy / Resources
  • Finance / Accounting
  • Healthcare
  • IT / Technology
  • Manufacturing

Top functions:

  • General Management
  • Legal / Compliance
  • Marketing
  • Operations
  • Sales

Top countries:

  • United States
  • Canada
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Mexico
  • United Arab Emirates

Participant Experience from the Live Online Program

Clement Schvartz

This program quickly and efficiently helps you discover, understand and constructively challenge finance and accounting information.

— Clement Schvartz, Director at Google

Didier Hazoume

I come from a technical background. Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Executive has really changed my life and gave me the opportunity to read and understand and take strategic decisions from the accounting results and propositions that I've been getting from the finance department. I used to only stop at the balance sheet, the P&L statement but since going to FANE I have been able to go beyond that. Today I'm very comfortable looking at many figures, which is very important for my company.

— Didier Hazoume, COO at Lababidi Holdings

Dr. Ruth Redman

Fast-paced, highly informative course for individuals from varied non-financial backgrounds. All were able to follow and grasp aspects that were most relevant to them as well as broadening their perspectives on other aspects of accounting and financials.

— Dr. Ruth Redman, Carl Zeiss Microscopy

Program Faculty

Profile picture of course faculty DORON NISSIM

DORON NISSIM

Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting and Finance

At Columbia Business School, Nissim teaches MBA, EMBA, MS, and PhD courses in financial accounting, earnings quality, fundamental analyses, valuation, investment management, financial institutions, and research methods. He also serves as the director of three executive education... More info

Certificate

Example image of certificate that will be awarded after successful completion of this program

Certificate

Upon completion of the Finance and Accounting for the Nonfinancial Professional (Online) program, you will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia Business School Executive Education. This certificate also awards two credits towards the Certificate in Business Excellence, which grants select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn More

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Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.

    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.


    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 315 387 4431 (US) / +44 203 838 0836 (UK) / +65 3138 4449 (SG)

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Early registrations are encouraged. Seats fill up quickly!

Flexible payment options available. Learn more.