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Finance and Accounting for Non-financial Executives

Finance and accounting seminar

Make decisions that positively impact the bottom line

This three-day seminar will provide you with a better understanding of the numbers side of business. The curriculum introduces essential accounting and finance concepts for managers without a financial background. Learn key principles and build a solid foundation for interpreting and analyzing financial data. Upon completion of this seminar, you will be able to apply what you have learned at work and make effective decisions based on your organization’s financial information.

Upcoming Seminar Dates

November 13-15, 2024 – In Person
May 20-22, 2025 – In Person
  • Learn to communicate clearly about concepts such as profitability, financial strength, and how to project future growth.
  • Understand the basic concepts and techniques of financial analysis to make better business decisions and get better results.
  • Learn to assess the risk of an opportunity and determine a minimum acceptable return.
  • Evaluate and choose the best financing options for your company.


Understanding Financial Statements

  • Key concepts including assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, and expenses.
  • How to use the Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement to understand
    a company’s financial position and performance.
  • Framework for basic financial statement analysis including ratio analysis.

Determining the Cost of a Product, a Service, or a Segment of an Organization

  • Determining the traceable and nontraceable costs of a product, service, or segment
  • Learning the mathematics of cost allocation and addressing cost allocation issues

Identifying Relevant Costs for a Decision

  • Discerning when costs measured in an accounting system, including allocated costs, are relevant
  • Identifying relevant costs not measured in an accounting system

Evaluating Performance of a Company or Its Segments

  • Calculating commonly used performance evaluation measures
  • Selecting appropriate performance evaluation measures for different types of segments

Financing the Business

  • Alternative sources of capital, including equity financing, loans and trade credit.
  • Selecting the best financing mix taking into account risk, taxes, timing, and out-of-pocket costs.
  • Financing options to handle seasonal demand.

Investment Analysis

  • Organizing the capital budgeting process.
  • Setting the minimum acceptable rate of return on an investment.
  • The impact of inflation, taxes, allocated costs, and other factors on an investment decision.
  • Understand NPV and IRR, and how they are used to evaluate projects.

According to a study from a team of researchers at Brigham Young University, the Foster School of Business Department of Accounting ranks first worldwide in contributions to financial accounting research. The study ranks accounting programs by topical area based on the number of articles published in top journals.

Wendy Baesler, Ph.D.
Professor Wendy Baesler received an undergraduate and masters’ degree in accounting from Brigham Young University and a PhD in Business Administration with an accounting emphasis from the University of Washington. She has taught for the University of Washington for more than 20 years. Her education is primarily in accounting, psychology, finance, and economics.

She has completed many consulting projects helping business with complex accounting issues and lawsuit response. She has also helped the Washington State Department of Health with program evaluation.

Jarrad Harford, Ph.D.
Chair of the Department of Finance and Business Economics
Professor of Finance, Paul Pigott-PACCAR Professor in Business Administration

Professor Harford specializes in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, payout policy, and corporate governance. He has authored numerous articles on these topics and is on the editorial board of the Journal of Financial Economics. He has won numerous teaching awards, including the IS MBA Award for Teaching Excellence.

Weili Ge, Ph.D.

Professor of Accounting
Moss Adams Endowed Professor

Professor Weili Ge is an expert in earnings quality, financial reporting, and accounting fraud. With a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan, she has been a faculty member at the Foster School of Business since 2006 and has published extensively in top accounting journals. She holds prestigious editorial positions at Contemporary Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, and Review of Accounting Studies. She has received numerous teaching awards, including the University of Washington Distinguished Teaching Award and the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.

Dates and fees Registration
November 13-15, 2024
$3595
Register now

Deadline: October 30, 2024

May 20-22, 2025 – In Person
$3725
Register now

Deadline: May 6, 2025

Payment must be made by check, credit card, or submit a purchase order for later invoice.

It is strongly encouraged that you register early as space is limited. See discount and cancellation policies.

Location
Bank of America Executive Center (BAEC)
University of Washington Main Campus
4275 NE Stevens Way
Seattle, WA 98195
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Parking
You will receive a parking code and instructions on where to park on campus from the program manager via email prior to the start of the class.

Commuter info
Please see these resources for information about commuting by bike, bus, or train:

Disability accommodation
The University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. Please see this reference about submitting accommodation requests.

Class materials and homework
You will be contacted by the program manager via email and provided with materials to read prior to class.

Continuing Education Credits
Participants are eligible to receive 1.65 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this seminar. You must request tracking of your CEU credits when you register. More information about CEUs.

Schedule at-a-glance

DAY 1
8:00 – 8:20 a.m. Check-In and Continental Breakfast
8:20 – 11:45 a.m. Class
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch provided
12:30 – 2:00 p.m. Class
DAY 2
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Class
12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch provided
12:45 – 4:30 p.m. Class
DAY 3
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Class
12:00 – 12:45 p.m. Lunch provided
12:45 – 3:00 p.m. Class
Anders Mantere
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