# Intro to Financial Accounting & Financial Statements

Canonical URL: <https://www.creativelive.com/classes/intro-to-financial-accounting>

## Overview

Learn how to analyze financial statements and reports. This course covers financial accounting fundamentals, including accrual accounting, the three main financial statements, and the key metrics and ratios used by analysts.

The course is taught through hands-on exercises using financial statements from well-known companies. You'll walk through actual 10-K filings from companies such as Facebook, Amazon, and Apple to see how the accounting concepts covered in this course apply in practice.

## What you'll learn

- Financial accounting fundamentals, including cash versus accrual accounting and GAAP
- Income statement line items and financial metrics
- Balance sheet: Assets = Liabilities + Shareholders' Equity
- Cash Flow Statement: Cash flows from operating, investing, and financial activities
- How the financial statements tie together

## Curriculum

#### Introduction to Financial Accounting

- Who uses financial reports?
- Where to find financial reports
- Types of financial reports
- Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- Cash vs. accrual accounting

#### Income Statement

- Essential line items
- Profit ratios and margins
- Accrual accounting in the income statement
- Depreciation and amortization
- Trailing Twelve Months (TTM)
- Year-over-year (Y/Y) Comparisons
- EBITDA

#### Balance Sheet

- Assets = Liabilities + Shareholder's Equity
- Essential components of each section
- Changes in PP&E
- Working capital

#### Cash Flow Statements

- Why we need the cash flow statement
- Cash flows from operations
- Cash flows from investing
- Cash flows from financing
- Deferred taxes

## Schedule
- Jun 16, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online
- Oct 1, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online
- Nov 12, 2026 10:00am–5:00pm — Live Online

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $325