1 ACCOUNTING
Online Certificate Program
OVERVIEW
This certificate program will help you establish an in-depth understanding of
foundational accounting principles and how to apply them in practice. In the courses,
you will construct and interpret accounts of revenue, accounts receivable, inventory,
assets, long-term debt, and equity. You will have the opportunity to examine the rules
for financial statements and learn how the field of financial accounting has evolved
over time to meet the needs of businesses. This understanding of core financial
accounting principles will enable you to independently analyze an organization’s
financial standing and viability as well as understand when organizations are using
gaps in accounting rules to their financial advantage.
Upon completion of the program, you will be able to converse confidently in the
language of finance and present a company’s financial performance to internal
stakeholders as well as investors, creditors, suppliers, and customers. This knowledge
will help you inform the strategic decision-making process using concise and relevant
financial data appropriate to your audience in any industry.
COURSES COURSE LENGTH FORMAT
4 2 weeks 100% online
COURSES
• Foundations of Financial Statements
• Accruals and Cash Flows
• Sales Accounting
• Investments, Capital and Financial Forecasting
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7 COURSES
2 INSIDE the PROGRAM
100% ONLINE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Read and speak with authority about rules for accounts, and why they are
financial statements necessary
• Utilize reports to evaluate a company’s • Identify when organizations are using
financial position, performance and gaps in accounting rules to their
prospects financial advantage
• Construct and interpret accounts of
revenue, accounts receivable, inventory,
long-lived assets, long-term debt, and
equity
• Explain accounting guidelines, along
with the conceptual framework on
which these standards are based,
WHO SHOULD ENROLL
• Individuals seeking to enter the field of • Pre-MBA students interested in gaining
accounting or auditing an accounting background
• Managers involved in financial
forecasting and investments
• Entrepreneurs seeking investors or
investment opportunities
WHAT YOU’LL EARN
• Accounting Certificate from Cornell Johnson
Graduate School of Management
• 56 Professional Development Hours (5.6 CEUs)
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7 COURSES
3
COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS
100% ONLINE
FOUNDATIONS OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
This course provides a foundation in financial accounting and examines the expansion
of the field as it relates to the evolution of business’ accounting needs. Students will
be able to speak intelligently about accounting entities, assets, and claims, along
with how they are represented on an income statement and balance sheet. It then
examines the application of financial statement ratios and the ways in which data can
be utilized for the internal and external evaluation of a company’s financial position,
performance, and prospects. Students will apply financial statement ratios to analyze
how profit is generated and make determinations on a company’s liquidity and
solvency. Finally, this course will look at non-profit organizations and the implications
of restricted funds versus for-profit companies and unrestricted funds.
ACCRUALS AND CASH FLOWS
This course will help you distinguish between credits and debits while examining the
pros and cons of cash-basis accounting versus accrual accounting. You will use the
basic steps of the accounting process to make balancing account entries for a variety
of transactions.
You will consider the ethical side of accounting: why promises matter and how
that translates to accruals, adjusting closing entries, ensuring the accuracy of your
statements, correcting errors and estimates, and what to do when accounting goes
wrong. You will examine cash inflows and outflows and then analyze this data to create
an accurate depiction of a company’s economic reality. This will be crucial information
for potential investors, partners, creditors etc. You will know when to use a direct cash
flow statement versus an indirect cash flow statement and how to accurately reflect
transactions.
SALES ACCOUNTING
This course will enable you to interpret the financial statement line items that capture
the most central and important operations of any enterprise: the revenue and other
Visit ecornell.cornell.edu
7 COURSES
4
COURSE
DESCRIPTIONS
100% ONLINE
cash inflows earned from customers and the related expenses or losses.
It is recommended to only take this course if you have completed Foundations of
Financial Statements or Accruals and Cash Flows or have equivalent experience.
INVESTMENTS, CAPITAL AND FINANCIAL FORECASTING
This course will help you interpret financial statement line items that capture the
investments an enterprise makes in its future and claims that long-term investors hold
on the enterprise.
You will explore the differences between tangible and intangible assets along with
the ways in which each can be capitalized and their costs can be allocated to the
income statement. You will apply concepts to long-lived assets, such as the “Day Zero”
assumption, depreciation (tangible assets), amortization (intangible assets), and cost
allocation. Taking this a step further, you will delve into accounting methods used
for depreciation and amortization and then look at ways to address impairments, fair
value, and the three levels of input. Finally, these concepts will be applied to different
aspects of capital such as stocks, bonds, and related valuations.
It is recommended to only take this course if you have completed Foundations of
Financial Statements or Accruals and Cash Flows or have equivalent experience.
Visit ecornell.cornell.edu
