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Financial Statement Analysis: Getting Behind the Numbers
Visiting Professor Bala Dharan
1 classroom credit LAW-37221A Spring

This 1-module spring course is designed to enhance the financial acumen and financial statement analysis skills of law students. The tools of financial statement analysis (FSA) are widely used in valuation analysis for performance analysis, investments analysis, and mergers and acquisitions decisions, and also in analyzing financial data in commercial disputes. We will start with a review of corporate financial statements and disclosures. Students will then learn the use of financial ratios for measuring financial risks and returns, and learn the use of current accounting tools, including accruals, to identify red flags of financial distress or earnings manipulations. We will also learn to analyze disclosures of structured transactions, and applications to litigation issues arising from the current financial crisis and recession. The course will be relevant for students in the Law and Business program of study, and to others who wish to prepare for careers in capital markets, corporate transactions, securities litigation, mergers and acquisitions, and other related practices.

This is a half-term course (six weeks), to be scheduled in the first half of the spring term.

Pre-requisites: Prior accounting coursework in college (such as the HLS fall course, Introduction to Accounting and Corporate Reports), or prior work experience requiring financial statement analysis or preparation. Students with no knowledge of accounting concepts should not take this course.

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