Accounting Analytics Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
Overview (80-120 words) describing structure and time commitment.
Module 1: Ratios and Forecasting
Estimated time: 2 hours
- Introduction to financial statement analysis
- DuPont analysis for evaluating company performance
- Profitability, turnover, and liquidity ratios
- Forecasting future financial statements based on ratio analysis
Module 2: Earnings Management
Estimated time: 2 hours
- Understanding the concept and motives behind earnings management
- Techniques used for manipulating earnings
- Identifying red flags in revenue and expense recognition
- Assessing the impact of earnings management on financial reporting
Module 3: Big Data and Prediction Models
Estimated time: 2 hours
- Introduction to big data in accounting
- Discretionary accruals and expenditure models
- Fraud prediction models and Benford’s Law
- Utilizing predictive analytics to detect financial anomalies
Module 4: Linking Non-financial Metrics to Financial Performance
Estimated time: 2 hours
- Identifying key non-financial performance indicators
- Establishing correlations between non-financial and financial metrics
- Setting performance targets and making strategic decisions
- Case studies on integrating non-financial data into financial analysis
Module 5: Final Project
Estimated time: 3 hours
- Perform ratio analysis on a real-world company
- Detect potential earnings management indicators
- Apply predictive models to financial data and interpret results
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with basic accounting principles
- Understanding of financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement)
- Basic data literacy helpful but not required
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Analyze financial statements using ratio analysis and forecasting techniques
- Detect earnings management practices and understand their implications
- Utilize big data and predictive models to assess financial information
- Link non-financial metrics to financial performance for comprehensive analysis
- Apply accounting analytics to inform strategic business decisions