# Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments an… Review (2026) — 8.5/10 > Independent review of Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk on Coursera. Rated 8.5/10 by our editorial team. Pros, cons, price, and t… Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk ![Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk](/api/media/file/hero/corporate-finance-ii-financing-investments-managing-risk-course.webp?v=2?width=800) # Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk Course — Review (8.5/10) This course delivers a solid foundation in corporate financing strategies and risk management, ideal for finance professionals seeking deeper insight. It covers complex topics like credit risk, payout... Explore This Course 🎟️ Coursera Discount Offer Explore This Course Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk is a 10 weeks online intermediate-level course on Coursera by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign that covers finance. This course delivers a solid foundation in corporate financing strategies and risk management, ideal for finance professionals seeking deeper insight. It covers complex topics like credit risk, payout policy, and hedging with clarity. While practical examples could be richer, the conceptual framework is strong and well-structured. We rate it 8.5/10. ## Prerequisites Basic familiarity with finance fundamentals is recommended. An introductory course or some practical experience will help you get the most value. ## Pros - Comprehensive coverage of capital structure and financing choices - Clear explanations of credit risk measurement and management - Practical insights into dividend and buyback strategies - Strong focus on real-world financial risk hedging using derivatives ## Cons - Limited hands-on modeling or spreadsheet exercises - Fewer case studies from emerging markets - Assumes prior familiarity with basic finance concepts ## Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk Course Review Platform: Coursera Instructor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Updated Apr 24, 2026·Editorial Standards·How We Rate ## What will you learn in Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk course - Understand how companies determine optimal debt levels and capital structure - Learn the trade-offs between raising capital from banks versus financial markets - Measure and manage credit risk in corporate lending and borrowing - Analyze mechanisms for returning cash to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases - Use derivatives and liquidity tools to hedge financial risks, including currency exposure ### Program Overview ### Module 1: Capital Structure and Debt Policy 3 weeks - Debt vs. equity financing trade-offs - Factors influencing capital structure decisions - Impact of taxes, bankruptcy costs, and agency issues ### Module 2: Credit Risk and Financial Distress 3 weeks - Measuring credit risk using financial ratios and models - Early warning signs of financial distress - Strategies for restructuring and default management ### Module 3: Payout Policy and Shareholder Returns 2 weeks - Dividend policy theories and practices - Share repurchase mechanics and implications - How payout choices affect investor perception ### Module 4: Risk Management with Derivatives and Liquidity 2 weeks - Introduction to financial derivatives (forwards, swaps, options) - Hedging currency and interest rate risks - Managing liquidity to support risk mitigation ### Get certificate #### Job Outlook - Relevant for roles in corporate finance, treasury, and investment banking - Valuable for risk analysts and financial consultants - Supports career advancement in financial planning and analysis (FP&A) ## Editorial Take The University of Illinois' Corporate Finance II course builds effectively on foundational knowledge, diving into how companies navigate complex financing and risk decisions. Designed for learners with prior exposure to financial principles, it strengthens decision-making frameworks in capital structure, credit risk, and shareholder returns. With a clear academic lens and practical orientation, this course suits finance professionals aiming to deepen their strategic understanding. ### Standout Strengths - Capital Structure Clarity: The course breaks down complex trade-offs between debt and equity with real-world relevance, helping learners grasp how taxes, bankruptcy costs, and agency conflicts shape financing choices. This foundational module sets a strong tone for advanced topics. - Credit Risk Measurement: It provides structured methods to assess creditworthiness using financial ratios, credit ratings, and early warning indicators. These tools are essential for roles in lending, credit analysis, and corporate treasury functions. - Financial Distress Navigation: The module on distress management offers a balanced view of restructuring options, including debt renegotiation and bankruptcy implications. It prepares learners to evaluate turnaround strategies and creditor negotiations. - Payout Policy Depth: Dividend and share repurchase mechanics are explained with attention to signaling theory and tax implications. This helps learners understand how payout decisions influence market perception and shareholder value. - Risk Hedging with Derivatives: The course demystifies forwards, swaps, and options, showing how firms use them to hedge currency and interest rate exposures. It links theory to practical treasury management applications. - Liquidity and Risk Integration: By connecting liquidity management with risk mitigation, the course highlights how firms maintain flexibility during volatility. This holistic view is rare in introductory finance content and adds strategic value. ### Honest Limitations - Limited Hands-On Practice: While conceptually strong, the course lacks extensive spreadsheet modeling or financial simulations. Learners seeking technical proficiency in valuation or risk modeling may need supplementary tools or projects. - Developed-Market Focus: Most examples stem from U.S. or Western corporate contexts, limiting applicability for professionals in emerging markets. Greater geographic diversity would enhance global relevance. - Pacing Assumptions: The course assumes comfort with intermediate finance concepts, which may challenge beginners. A quick refresher on time value of money or financial statements would improve accessibility. - Derivatives Simplification: While useful, the treatment of derivatives is introductory. Complex instruments like credit default swaps or exotic options are not covered in depth, limiting advanced learners’ engagement. ### How to Get the Most Out of It - Study cadence: Dedicate 4–6 hours weekly to absorb lectures and complete quizzes. Consistent pacing ensures better retention of complex financial concepts and risk frameworks. - Parallel project: Apply concepts by analyzing a public company’s capital structure, payout policy, and hedging disclosures. This builds practical insight and portfolio-ready work. - Note-taking: Use structured templates to summarize key models like the trade-off theory or credit scoring frameworks. Visual summaries enhance recall and application. - Community: Engage in discussion forums to debate case studies and clarify doubts. Peer insights often reveal alternative interpretations of financial strategies. - Practice: Recalculate credit ratios or simulate hedging scenarios using real exchange rate data. Active problem-solving deepens understanding beyond passive viewing. - Consistency: Complete modules in sequence to build cumulative knowledge. Skipping ahead may disrupt the logical progression from financing to risk management. ### Supplementary Resources - Book: 'Principles of Corporate Finance' by Brealey, Myers, and Allen complements the course with deeper theoretical and empirical insights on capital structure and risk. - Tool: Use Excel or Google Sheets to model debt capacity and interest coverage ratios. Financial modeling reinforces the course’s quantitative aspects. - Follow-up: Enroll in a derivatives specialization or treasury management course to expand on hedging strategies introduced here. - Reference: The CFA Institute’s curriculum on corporate finance and risk management provides advanced frameworks aligned with professional standards. ### Common Pitfalls - Pitfall: Overlooking the interplay between liquidity and risk. Learners may focus on derivatives alone, missing how cash reserves support effective hedging strategies and financial resilience. - Pitfall: Misapplying credit risk models to inappropriate contexts. Not all industries use the same benchmarks, so understanding sector-specific norms is crucial. - Pitfall: Confusing dividend policy theory with practice. Real-world payouts often deviate from textbook models due to managerial discretion or market signaling needs. ### Time & Money ROI - Time: At 10 weeks with moderate workload, the course fits working professionals. The time investment yields strong conceptual returns for finance-related roles. - Cost-to-value: While paid, the course offers university-level instruction at a fraction of traditional costs. The value is high for those targeting finance careers. - Certificate: The credential adds credibility to resumes, especially when paired with other finance courses. It signals specialized knowledge to employers. - Alternative: Free MOOCs exist but lack structured depth and academic rigor. This course’s integration of theory and application justifies its cost for serious learners. ### Editorial Verdict This course stands out as a well-structured, academically rigorous exploration of corporate financing and risk management. It successfully bridges theory and practice, offering finance professionals and advanced students a clear framework for understanding how firms manage debt, credit risk, and shareholder returns. The integration of derivatives and liquidity strategies into risk mitigation provides a holistic view often missing in introductory programs. While not overly technical, it demands engagement and prior familiarity with financial concepts, making it best suited for intermediate learners. Despite minor limitations—such as limited hands-on exercises and a developed-market bias—the course delivers substantial value. It prepares learners for roles in corporate treasury, financial analysis, and risk management by emphasizing decision-making over rote memorization. When combined with supplementary practice and real-world application, the knowledge gained can directly impact professional performance. For those pursuing a career in finance or enhancing their strategic acumen, this course is a worthwhile investment and earns a strong recommendation. ## How Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk Compares | Course | Platform | Rating | Level | Duration | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk | Coursera | 8.5/10 | Intermediate | 10 weeks | | CMFAS \| Edu RES 5 Mock exams - 6 Practice Exams Course | Udemy | 9.8/10 | N/A | N/A | | Learn How To Budget – Personal budgeting made easy Course | Udemy | 9.8/10 | N/A | N/A | | Forex MetaTrader 4: Master MT4 Like A Pro Forex Trader Course | Udemy | 9.7/10 | N/A | N/A | ## Who Should Take Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk? This course is best suited for learners with foundational knowledge in finance and want to deepen their expertise. Working professionals looking to upskill or transition into more specialized roles will find the most value here. The course is offered by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on Coursera, combining institutional credibility with the flexibility of online learning. Upon completion, you will receive a course certificate that you can add to your LinkedIn profile and resume, signaling your verified skills to potential employers. If you are exploring adjacent fields, you might also consider courses in Agile & Scrum Courses, AI Courses, Arts and Humanities Courses, which complement the skills covered in this course. ### Career Outcomes - Apply finance skills to real-world projects and job responsibilities - Advance to mid-level roles requiring finance proficiency - Take on more complex projects with confidence - Add a course certificate credential to your LinkedIn and resume - Continue learning with advanced courses and specializations in the field ## More Finance Courses on Coursera Explore other highly rated courses in finance available on Coursera to expand your learning path: - Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination Course 9.0/10 - The Materiality of ESG Factors Specialization Course 8.8/10 - GenAI for Financial Forecasting and Planning Course 8.7/10 - GenAI for Financial Analysts: Essential Predictive Analytics Course 8.7/10 - GenAI for Automated Financial Reporting Course 8.7/10 - GenAI for Algorithmic Trading Course 8.7/10 - Foundations of Finance 8.7/10 - Foundations of Financial Reporting Course 8.7/10 - Forecasting Financial Statements & Valuation for Accountants Course 8.7/10 - Forecast Financials with Monte Carlo Mastery Course 8.7/10 ## Top Alternatives on Other Platforms Looking for a different teaching style or approach? These top-rated finance courses from other platforms cover similar ground: - CMFAS | Edu RES 5 Mock exams - 6 Practice Exams Course 9.8/10 Udemy - Learn How To Budget – Personal budgeting made easy Course 9.8/10 Udemy - Forex MetaTrader 4: Master MT4 Like A Pro Forex Trader Course 9.7/10 Udemy - Cryptocurrency Investment Course 2025: Fund your Retirement! Course 9.7/10 Udemy - Intro to Financial Analysis and Managerial Accounting! Course 9.7/10 Udemy - Accounting Basics for Success in Business and in Life! Course 9.7/10 Udemy - Anti-Money Laundering in Gambling Course 9.7/10 Udemy - Finance course 9.7/10 EDX - MITx: Foundations of Modern Finance II course 9.7/10 EDX - MITx: Financial Accounting course 9.7/10 EDX ## More Courses from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign offers a range of courses across multiple disciplines. 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Be the first to share your experience! ## FAQs What are the prerequisites for Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk? A basic understanding of Finance fundamentals is recommended before enrolling in Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk. Learners who have completed an introductory course or have some practical experience will get the most value. The course builds on foundational concepts and introduces more advanced techniques and real-world applications. Does Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk offer a certificate upon completion? Yes, upon successful completion you receive a course certificate from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. This credential can be added to your LinkedIn profile and resume, demonstrating verified skills to employers. In competitive job markets, having a recognized certificate in Finance can help differentiate your application and signal your commitment to professional development. How long does it take to complete Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk? The course takes approximately 10 weeks to complete. It is offered as a free to audit course on Coursera, which means you can learn at your own pace and fit it around your schedule. The content is delivered in English and includes a mix of instructional material, practical exercises, and assessments to reinforce your understanding. Most learners find that dedicating a few hours per week allows them to complete the course comfortably. What are the main strengths and limitations of Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk? Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk is rated 8.5/10 on our platform. Key strengths include: comprehensive coverage of capital structure and financing choices; clear explanations of credit risk measurement and management; practical insights into dividend and buyback strategies. Some limitations to consider: limited hands-on modeling or spreadsheet exercises; fewer case studies from emerging markets. Overall, it provides a strong learning experience for anyone looking to build skills in Finance. How will Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk help my career? Completing Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk equips you with practical Finance skills that employers actively seek. The course is developed by University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, whose name carries weight in the industry. The skills covered are applicable to roles across multiple industries, from technology companies to consulting firms and startups. Whether you are looking to transition into a new role, earn a promotion in your current position, or simply broaden your professional skillset, the knowledge gained from this course provides a tangible competitive advantage in the job market. Where can I take Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk and how do I access it? Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk is available on Coursera, one of the leading online learning platforms. You can access the course material from any device with an internet connection — desktop, tablet, or mobile. The course is free to audit, giving you the flexibility to learn at a pace that suits your schedule. All you need is to create an account on Coursera and enroll in the course to get started. How does Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk compare to other Finance courses? Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk is rated 8.5/10 on our platform, placing it among the top-rated finance courses. Its standout strengths — comprehensive coverage of capital structure and financing choices — set it apart from alternatives. What differentiates each course is its teaching approach, depth of coverage, and the credentials of the instructor or institution behind it. We recommend comparing the syllabus, student reviews, and certificate value before deciding. What language is Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk taught in? Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk is taught in English. Many online courses on Coursera also offer auto-generated subtitles or community-contributed translations in other languages, making the content accessible to non-native speakers. The course material is designed to be clear and accessible regardless of your language background, with visual aids and practical demonstrations supplementing the spoken instruction. Is Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk kept up to date? Online courses on Coursera are periodically updated by their instructors to reflect industry changes and new best practices. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has a track record of maintaining their course content to stay relevant. We recommend checking the "last updated" date on the enrollment page. Our own review was last verified recently, and we re-evaluate courses when significant updates are made to ensure our rating remains accurate. Can I take Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk as part of a team or organization? Yes, Coursera offers team and enterprise plans that allow organizations to enroll multiple employees in courses like Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk. Team plans often include progress tracking, dedicated support, and volume discounts. This makes it an effective option for corporate training programs, upskilling initiatives, or academic cohorts looking to build finance capabilities across a group. What will I be able to do after completing Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk? After completing Corporate Finance II: Financing Investments and Managing Risk, you will have practical skills in finance that you can apply to real projects and job responsibilities. You will be equipped to tackle complex, real-world challenges and lead projects in this domain. 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