Introduction to Financial Reporting 5 credits

This course introduces you to the fundamental concepts, principles, and practices of financial accounting and how they support business decision-making. You will learn about the accounting cycle—how financial information is recorded, summarised, and reported in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The course introduces the essential financial statements—the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement—and the key concepts underlying them. Through lectures, seminars, and case studies, you will explore how accounting contributes to accountability, transparency, and strategic planning in both private and public organisations. You will also examine how different stakeholders, such as managers, investors, and regulators, use accounting information to make informed decisions. By the end of the course, you will be able to describe, analyse, and communicate basic financial information, understand the ethical responsibilities of accountants, and apply accounting principles to simple business transactions. The course serves as a foundation for further studies in financial accounting, management accounting, and finance, and is designed for students with no prior accounting experience.