Accounting for Corporations - Financial Accounting
What you'll learn
- Analyze the differences and similarities between corporations and other business entities such as partnerships and sole proprietorships.
- Evaluate the financial transactions related to the issuing of corporate stock for both cash and non-cash assets.
- Apply the accounting principles to record transactions related to cash dividends and stock dividends.
- Explain the concept, accounting implications, and the reasons for issuing or acquiring preferred stock.
- Compare and contrast treasury stock with preferred and common stock.
- Interpret the equity section of the financial statements, specifically the Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and the Statement of Retained Earnings.
- Demonstrate understanding of the corporate closing process in comparison to that of partnerships and sole proprietorships.
- Calculate earnings per share and articulate its significance.
- Create accounting solutions using Excel for various corporate accounting scenarios.
Requirements
- Basic Accounting Knowledge: An understanding of the fundamental principles of accounting, including understanding of the accounting equation, the double-entry bookkeeping system, and familiarity with financial statements such as the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement.
- Understanding of Different Business Entities: Basic knowledge of different types of business entities, such as sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations.
- Willingness to Participate: Willingness to engage in discussions and solve problems. This is not a 'listen and learn' course; active participation will greatly enhance your learning experience.
Description
This course is designed to introduce and elaborate on the elements of corporate accounting that set it apart from financial accounting for other business entities such as sole proprietorships or partnerships.
Our journey begins with an overview of the corporate entity, its characteristics, and the rationale for choosing this form of business. We will provide you with a thorough understanding of the stark contrasts and similarities between corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships.
As we delve into the intricacies of issuing stock for corporations, you will learn about the financial transactions related to issuing stock for both cash and non-cash assets. With a focus on dividends, you will gain insight into the different types, specifically cash and stock dividends, and learn how to account for these transactions.
One of the key components we will explore is preferred stock. You will understand what it is, how to account for it, and the reasons why a corporation might choose to issue, or an investor might decide to acquire it. We will discuss treasury stock, another important concept, where you will learn to compare and contrast it with preferred and common stock.
Further along the course, you will discover the equity section of financial statements. Here we will dissect the Statement of Stockholders’ Equity and the Statement of Retained Earnings, helping you to understand the unique aspects of a corporation's financial statement compared to other business entities.
Our detailed discussion on the corporate closing process will provide a comparative view with that of partnerships and sole proprietorships. Understanding the calculation and significance of earnings per share is another crucial aspect that this course covers.
A unique aspect of this course is the vast array of learning resources available to you. We have incorporated downloadable PDF Files which provide offline reference information. You will have access to Excel Practice Files that are preformatted, helping you to not only focus on the adjusting process but also to learn some of the basics of Excel such as addition, subtraction, and cell relationships.
To boost your test-taking skills, we have prepared multiple-choice example questions. These reduce the information to the size and format of multiple-choice questions while providing insights on how to approach them. For those interested in numerical problem-solving, we have short calculation questions that break down problems into a short format that could be used in multiple choice questions.
Lastly, this course promotes engagement with other students through discussion questions. These provide an opportunity to discuss topics from different viewpoints, an approach that many students find very helpful.
The instructor leading you through this journey is a seasoned professional, a practicing Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) with a Master of Science in Taxation. As a Certified Post-Secondary Instructor (CPS) and a Curriculum Development Expert, the instructor has rich experience teaching many accounting classes and working with students in the fields of accounting, business, and business applications. This blend of technical expertise and teaching experience ensures that you are learning from a well-rounded professional who knows the subject matter and understands how to teach it effectively.
Whether you're an accounting student, a budding entrepreneur considering a corporate entity, or an accounting professional seeking to upskill, this course will provide you with valuable insights and knowledge in the field of corporate accounting. We look forward to having you join us on this journey.
Who this course is for:
- Accounting Students: This course is a great fit for undergraduate or graduate students who are specializing in accounting. It can serve as a supplement to their formal education and provide practical, hands-on experience.
- Business Owners/Entrepreneurs: If you are considering establishing a corporation, this course will provide a solid understanding of the accounting principles and practices specific to this type of business entity.
- Accounting Professionals: For professionals already working in the field, this course can serve as a refresher or provide deeper insight into the specific aspects of corporate accounting. It's also ideal for those looking to shift into a role that deals with corporate accounting.
- CPA Candidates: If you're studying for your Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination, this course can be a valuable resource. It will help deepen your understanding of corporate accounting, a key area tested in the exam.
- Financial Analysts: Those working in finance or investment who wish to gain a better understanding of corporate accounting to better analyze corporate financial statements will also benefit from this course.
- Anyone interested in Corporate Accounting: Finally, if you're a lifelong learner with an interest in corporate finance, this course will provide an in-depth look into the intricacies of corporate accounting.
Instructor
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 49,447 Reviews
- 902,673 Students
- 150 Courses
Through working with students from many different schools, Mr. Steele has learned best practices for helping people understand accounting fast. Learning new skills and finding the best way to share knowledge with people who can benefit from it is a passion of his.
Mr. Steele has experience working as a practicing Certified Public Accountant (CPA), an accounting and business instructor, and curriculum developer. He has enjoyed putting together quality tools to improve learning and has been teaching, making instructional resources, and building curriculum since 2009. He has been a practicing CPA since 2005. Mr. Steele is a practicing CPA, has a Certified Post-Secondary Instructor (CPI) credential, a Master of Science in taxation from Golden Gate University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics with an emphasis in accounting from The University of California Santa Barbara, and a Global Management Accounting Designation (CGMA) from The American Institute of CPA (AICPA).
Mr. Steele has also authored five books that can be found on Amazon or in audiobook format on Audible. He has developed bestselling courses in accounting topics including financial accounting and QuickBooks accounting software.
In addition to working as an accountant, teaching, and developing courses Mr. Steele has helped create an accounting website at accountinginstruction, a YouTube channel called Accounting Instruction, Help, and How Too, and has developed supplemental resources including a Facebook Page, Twitter Page, and Podcasts that can be found on I-tunes, Stitcher, or Soundcloud. Mr. Steele's teaching philosophy is to make content applicable, understandable, and accessible.
Adult learners are looking for application when they learn new skills. In other words, learners want to be able to apply skills in the real world to help their lives. Mr. Steele’s formal accounting education, practical work experience, and substantial teaching experience allow him to create a curriculum that combines traditional accounting education with practical knowledge and application. He accomplishes the goals of making accounting useful and applicable by combining theory with real-world software like Excel and QuickBooks.
Many courses teach QuickBooks data entry or Excel functions but are not providing the real value learners want. Real value is a result of learning technical skills like applications, in conjunction with specific goals, like accounting goals, including being able to interpret the performance of a business.
Mr. Steele makes knowledge understandable by breaking down complex concepts into smaller units with specific objectives and using step by step learning processes to understand each unit. Many accounting textbooks cram way too much information into a course, making it impossible to understand any unit fully. By breaking the content down into digestible chunks, we can move forward much faster.
Mr. Steele also makes use of color association in both presentations and Excel worksheets, a learning tool often overlooked in the accounting field, but one that can vastly improve the speed and comprehension of learning accounting concepts.
The material is also made understandable through the application of concepts learned. Courses will typically demonstrate the accounting concepts and then provide an Excel worksheet or practice problems to work through the concepts covered. The practice problems will be accompanied by an instructional video to work through the problem in step by step format. Excel worksheets will be preformatted, usually including an answer tab that shows the completed problem, and a practice tab where learners can complete the problem along with a step by step presentation video.
Mr. Steele makes learning accounting accessible by making use of technology and partnering with teaching platforms that have a vision of spreading knowledge like Udemy.