Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets (Coursera)

Accounting Analysis I: Measurement and Disclosure of Assets (Coursera)

In this course, we will begin our review of key asset categories underlying the Balance Sheet concepts that were introduced in the previous course. We will begin our trek down the Balance Sheet by reviewing cash and receivables, which are normally the two assets listed first. We will continue our trek down the Balance Sheet by looking at inventory and long-Lived Assets, which are normally two of the largest asset values. We will review the measurement and reporting issues involving Inventories and the corresponding cost of goods sold expense in the Income Statement.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

In the latter half of this course we will conclude our review of key asset categories by looking at both tangible and intangible long-lived assets that are so vital to the production of goods and services. This will entail discussion of both acquisition and disposition of property, plant and equipment as well as cost allocation. Next, we will discuss possible impairment of these assets as well as the proper treatment of expenditures made after acquisition. Lastly, we will review how to identify and account for Investments.
NOTE: You should complete the Accounting Analysis I: The Role of Accounting as an Information System course or be familiar with the concepts taught there before beginning this course.
This course is the second course in a five-course Financial Reporting Specialization that covers the collection, processing, and communication of accounting information (via financial reports) about economic entities to interested parties (i.e., managers and external stakeholders such as stockholders and creditors). To gain the most relevant knowledge from these courses, learners should have taken a basic accounting course prior to this Specialization (which can be done through Coursera courses, such as any accounting course from the: Fundamentals of Accounting Specialization). This Specialization focuses on accounting concepts, principles and theory with an emphasis on problems that arise in applying these concepts for external reporting purposes. Specific emphasis is placed on measurement of assets, liabilities, equities and income, as well as disclosure of additional information that may assist users understand the financial reports. This Specialization focuses on accounting concepts, principles and theory with an emphasis on problems that arise in applying these concepts for external reporting purposes. Specific emphasis is placed on measurement of assets, liabilities, equities and income, as well as disclosure of additional information that may assist users understand the financial reports.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, consistently ranked as one of the nation's top three accounting programs, now offers a master’s in accounting at a very affordable tuition rate and is completely online. The iMSA is a full Master of Accountancy program and students graduate with an MS that is highly recognized. Try an open course or two, then apply for admission into the credit-bearing version as you may be eligible to take credit-bearing courses during the application process. If you are missing any prerequisites for the full degree, you can complete
Course 2 of 5 in the Financial Reporting Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Course Orientation
You will become familiar with the course, your classmates, and our learning environment. The orientation will also help you obtain the technical skills required for the course.
Cash & Accounts Receivable
We will learn about internal controls, including rank reconciliations, as well as restrictions over cash. Next, we will introduce the two approaches to estimating bad debt expense related to accounts receivable. Lastly, we will discuss notes receivable and various methods of financing with receivables.

WEEK 2
Module 2: Inventory - Measurement
We will learn about the types of inventory systems, as well as the costs that should be included in inventory. Next, we will understand the various inventory costing methods, as well as key factors on choice of these methods. Lastly, we will discuss inventory ratio analysis, as well as methods of simplifying LIFO.

WEEK 3
Module 3: Inventory - Additional Issues
We will learn about the subsequent measures of inventory such as LCNRV. Next, we will understand the various inventory estimation methods when we are unable to take a physical count. Then, we will discuss the various types of inventory cost flow methods. Lastly, we will discuss how to handle changes in inventory methods as well as inventory errors.

WEEK 4
Module 4: PP&E - Acquisition & Disposition
We will learn about the types of long-lived assets, as well as the basic costs to be capitalized. Next, we will understand the various complex issues of determining capitalized costs as well as discuss asset dispositions and exchanges. Lastly, we will learn about the costs associated with self-constructed assets.

WEEK 5
Module 5: PP&E - Utilization & Impairment
We will learn about the various cost allocation methods, as well as key factors on the decision makers’ perspective on selecting a depreciation method. Next, we will understand depletion of natural resources and amortization of intangible assets. Lastly, we will discuss how to account for expenditures after asset acquisition.

WEEK 6
Module 6: Issues of Long-Lived Assets
We will discuss capital budgeting and ratio analysis. Next, we will discuss the various types of intangible assets. Lastly, we will discuss asset impairment and measurement issues.

WEEK 7
Module 7: Investments
We will learn about the various types of investments based on the level of investor influence. Next, we will understand the accounting for the three types of securities when the investor lacks significant influence. Then, we will determine when the equity method is used for securities where the investor has significant influence. Lastly, we will discuss fair value adjustments for investments.

WEEK 8
Module 8: Course Wrap-Up & Case Study
You will work on a case study that will serve as a cumulative recap of all of the concepts that you have learned throughout this course. The case study will involve a detailed analysis of a publicly held Fortune 500 company in which you will analyze the Annual Report or 10K Report.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Introduction to Financial Accounting (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Introduction to Financial Accounting (Coursera)

Master the technical skills needed to analyze financial statements and disclosures for use in financial analysis, and learn how accounting standards and managerial incentives affect the financial reporting process. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to read the three most common financial statements: the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows. Then you can apply these skills to a real-world business challenge as part of the Wharton Business Foundations Specialization.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Intro to Finance in Healthcare (Coursera) Coursera
Northeastern University

Intro to Finance in Healthcare (Coursera)

This course is best suited for individuals currently in the healthcare sector, as a provider, payer, or administrator. Individuals pursuing a career change to the healthcare sector may also be interested in this course. In this course, you will have an opportunity to explore concepts and topics related to accounting and finance basics for healthcare organizations.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Infonomics I: Business Information Economics and Data Monetization (Coursera)

Thriving in the Information Age compels organizations to deploy information as an actual business asset, not as an IT asset or merely as a business byproduct. This demands creativity in conceiving and implementing new ways to generate economic benefits from the wide array of information assets available to an organization. Unfortunately, information too frequently is underappreciated and therefore underutilized.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Formal Financial Accounting (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Formal Financial Accounting (Coursera)

This course builds upon what you learned in Financial Accounting: Foundations and Financial Accounting: Advanced Topics and introduces you to formal foundations of financial accounting. The main purpose of the course is to familiarize you with technical terms in financial accounting, such as debit, credit and T-account. While knowledge on technical aspects of financial accounting is not necessary to understand and interpret financial statements, this knowledge is critical to be able to understand advanced topics in accounting. Formal Financial Accounting is a prerequisite course for the University of Illinois' iMSA program and the terminology we will cover will be used throughout the courses in iMSA program.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
Bookkeeping Basics (Coursera) Coursera
Intuit

Bookkeeping Basics (Coursera)

This is the first course in a series of four that will give you the skills needed to start your career in bookkeeping. If you have a passion for helping clients solve problems, this course is for you. In this course, you will be introduced to the role of a bookkeeper and learn what bookkeeping professionals do every day. You will dive into the accounting concepts and terms that will provide the foundation for the next three courses. You will learn how to work your way through the accounting cycle and be able to read and produce key financial statements.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Management and financial accounting: Know your numbers 1 (Coursera) Coursera
Macquarie University

Management and financial accounting: Know your numbers 1 (Coursera)

Financial literacy is a fundamental capability for any business leader, whether you are running your own small business/start-up or working at a large organisation. This course will provide you with a sound foundational understanding of financial and management accounting, and how to use accounting to facilitate and align decisions made by owners, managers and employees.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
International Business Operations (Coursera) Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder

International Business Operations (Coursera)

This course provides learners with a solid foundation in international supply, logistics, and foreign currency exchange. Foreign exchange is included in this course since it plays such an important role in planning and executing international operations. The first half of the course reviews critical roles that supply chain management, sourcing, logistics, and transportation play in contemporary global business. In the second half, the focus shifts to foreign currency exchange risks and methods for mitigating those risks, both financial and non-financial.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Impact Measurement & Management for the SDGs (Coursera)

How can businesses and investors help fill the $2 trillion gap needed for sustainable development? Simply put, by getting better at measuring and managing impacts on people and planet. Through this course, anyone can learn to improve their organization's practice of impact management, and how to align their ESG or impact activities and reporting with emerging global standards. Impact Measurement and Management for the SDGs is sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the global development network of the United Nations which created the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that over 190 countries have signed on to achieve by 2030. But the public sector can't do this alone.

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Advanced Financial Reporting: Accounting for Business Combinations and Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Advanced Financial Reporting: Accounting for Business Combinations and Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements (Coursera)

This course covers the accounting for business combinations (ASC 805), the preparation of consolidated financial statements (ASC 810), and other related topics including, but not limited to: step-by-step acquisition, deconsolidation, segments reporting, and the goodwill impairment test. This course begins with a discussion of the scope of ASC 805 and the differences between business combinations and asset acquisitions.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Leading Healthcare Quality and Safety (Coursera) Coursera
George Washington University

Leading Healthcare Quality and Safety (Coursera)

Ensuring patient safety and healthcare quality is critical and should be a key focus of everyone in healthcare practice. This course provides healthcare practitioners and others with an introduction to the knowledge and skills needed to lead patient safety and quality improvement initiatives at the micro and macro levels. Participants will explore the foundations of health care quality and the science underlying patient safety and quality improvement, design and select effective health care measures, analyze patient safety problems and processes using tools such as human factors analysis, apply systematic approaches including the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model to address quality improvement challenges, and learn strategies to lead a culture of change

Nov 23rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Financial Statements, SEC Filings and Ratio Analysis (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Financial Statements, SEC Filings and Ratio Analysis (Coursera)

The objective of Financial Statement and Ratio Analysis for MBAs is to provide you with the knowledge and skills necessary to analyze, interpret, understand, and use financial information to make informed decisions. We will discuss financial reporting from a user’s perspective, use a variety of tools to break apart financial reports into meaningful units for analysis, forecast financial statements, and value a firm. This course is intended to give you exposure to the issues facing users of financial statements.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks