CHICAGO BOOTH

START DATE

FORMAT

DURATION

LANGUAGES

INVESTMENT

START DATE

FORMAT

LANGUAGES

DURATION

INVESTMENT

Explore the language of business from the Chicago Booth perspective.

Over eight weeks, you’ll acquire the frameworks and tools to analyze and interpret financial statements and understand an organization’s financial performance and overall health. You’ll
emerge with a solid grasp of essential finance and accounting principles to become a more impactful decision-maker.

What percentage of the decisions
people make are based on emotion?

90%

What percentage of purchasing
decisions are subconscious?

95%

What percentage of business leaders can
capitalize on their understanding of
behavioral economics?

100%

Whatever your industry, drive better results and create long-lasting value.

Distinctive Online Learning Features

1

FLEXIBLE METHOD

Our online learning method adapts to your schedule, commitments, and needs. In addition to self-paced content, our programs incorporate knowledge checks, interactive discussion boards, and live sessions to bring content to life.

2

USER-FRIENDLY PLATFORM

Navigate program content with ease using a simple interface that offers a seamless learning experience.

3

TAILORED GUIDANCE

Throughout the program, you’ll be accompanied by an expert mentor to answer your questions and provide feedback on your work.

Your Chicago Booth Professor

Haresh Sapra

Charles T. Horngren Professor of Accounting

Professor Haresh Sapra studies the real effects of accounting measurement policies, disclosure regulation, and corporate governance. His research has been published in journals that include The Accounting Review and Games and Economic Behavior.

By completing this program, you’ll...

  • Strengthen your financial decision-making by learning core finance and accounting principles.
  • Learn how to identify and evaluate red flags in financial statements and balance sheets.
  • Discover how the relationship between profit and cash flow is crucial to an organization’s financial health.
  • Learn how to gain insight into an organization’s efficiency and profitability by using tools such as ratios and liability analysis.
  • Acquire the tools to perform financial forecasting for sound business planning.
  • Bolster your finance and accounting terminology to better communicate across your organization.

Coming Soon: Chicago Booth’s The Chicago Booth Approach to Finance Workshop with global location options—Booth’s Hong Kong or Chicago campus.

Past CBAF—Online program participants are eligible for exclusive CBAF Workshop pricing.

Upon program completion, you'll also...

Have learned from a world-class faculty within a university associated with 97 Nobel laureates.

Be awarded a certificate of completion and a digital credential of your accomplishment.

Become a member of the global Chicago Booth Executive Education network.

See more

Have learned from a world-class faculty within a university associated with 97 Nobel laureates.

Be awarded a certificate of completion and a digital credential of your accomplishment.

Become a member of the global Chicago Booth Executive Education network.

Program Modules

Module 0: Introduction and Basic Concepts

  • Principles of Accounting
  • Accounting Equations
  • Journal Entries
  • Debit vs. Credit Rationale
  • T-Accounts Rationale
  • Other Key Financial Concepts

Module 1: Introduction to Accounting and the Accounting Process

  • Accounting as the Language of Business
  • Introduction to the Key Financial Statements
  • Accrual vs. Cash Accounting
  • Deriving the Formula for the Cash Flow Statement

Module 2: The Profit & Loss Statement

  • Compare the dichotomy between the standard rational economics assumption that humans are self-interested and the behavioral economics propositions explaining how and why humans are altruistic and care about giving to others.

  • Articulate why thinking in financial terms and incentives might not always be a wise idea and understand why fairness matters in economic marketplaces and how it is compatible with running a business.

  • Analyze why and when it is socially acceptable to charge fees or surcharges and, more generally, to balance supply and demand using standard economic pricing mechanisms.

  • Learn the importance of social norms and pressure, reciprocity, and distributive vs. procedural justice

Module 3: Asset Analysis

  • Key Asset Group Analysis
  • Long-Lived Assets
  • Intangible Assets
  • Depreciation Methods
  • Impairment

Module 4: Liability Analysis

  • Key Liability Groups
  • Long-Term Liabilities: Bonds and Financial Debt
  • Long-Term Liabilities: Leases
  • Current Liabilities
  • Provisions

Module 5: Analyzing Financial Statements

  • Analysis and Management by Ratios
  • Analyzing Cost Structure
  • Financial Statement Analysis with an Operating Focus
  • Financial Leverage: Solvency and Liquidity Analysis

Module 6: Introduction to Valuation

  • Net Present Value (NPV)
  • The Discounted Cash Flow Model (DCF)
  • Estimating Free Cash Flows (FCF)
  • The Appropriate Discount Rate in Valuation
  • Other Valuation Models

FACULTY-LED LIVE-ONLINE SESSIONS

This program features three live-online sessions—a unique opportunity to put theory into practice immediately to amplify your learning and see results. These required sessions not only offer an opportunity to reflect and receive real-time feedback with faculty and peers, but also integrate interactive that can only be taught in a live environment. Participants are expected to attend at least two of the three live sessions to maximize their growth. If a participant is unable to attend a session, an extra asynchronous assignment must be submitted to complete the program.

This program is an excellent fit for:

  • Any financial professional who is eager to refresh and refine their knowledge of advanced accounting and finance principles from the unique, insight-driven Booth perspective.

  • Senior and C-suite executives interested in acquiring a sophisticated grasp of their organization’s CFO’s analysis, planning, and proposed strategic directives.

  • Professionals, across industries, in non-finance roles who would like to increase their financial acumen and gain value-added insight to better communicate with stakeholders and make impactful business decisions.

CHICAGO BOOTH IS A LEADER IN BUSINESS EDUCATION AND RESEARCH.

#1
BUSINESS SCHOOL
FORBES, 2019

#1
EXECUTIVE  MBA
US NEWS, 2021

#1
BUSINESS SCHOOL
US NEWS , 2023

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What our participants have to say:

David Cone Founding Partner/COO at DNA Consulting Group

“The program provided a solid overview of the language of finance and many examples of reports and issues a finance team encounters. Challenging assignments compelled me to delve into the material covered and do some additional research online.”

Marco David Carrasco Rodriguez Project Manager at Cementos Pacasmayo S.A.A.

“The program is fantastic, blending live classes, faculty guidance, and specialized material that is easy to learn.”

Mary Pelzer Consultant at Trenton Corporation

“I learned a lot throughout the program. I found it challenging (and tough at times), but the live sessions with Professor Sapra and Joy were extremely helpful. Well organized, the program provided an engaging learning environment that kept my attention.”

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