COURSE NUMBER: EWMBA223.1

This course is cross-listed with the Full-Time MBA Program.

COURSE TITLE: Corporate Financial Reporting (Real-Time Cases in Financial Analysis)

UNITS OF CREDIT: 3 units

INSTRUCTOR: Alastair Lawrence

E-MAIL ADDRESS: lawrence@haas.berkeley.edu

CLASS WEB PAGE LOCATION: bCourses

PREREQUISITE(S): EWMBA202 Financial Reporting

CLASS FORMAT: Weekly real-time cases of publicly-listed companies.

REQUIRED READINGS: Current Form 10-Ks of U.S. public companies.

BASIS FOR FINAL GRADE: Real-time case presentation, stock-pitch project, and final exam.

CAREER FIELD: Investment Professionals, Portfolio Managers, Consultants, M&A Professionals, Venture Capitalists, Managers, and Personal Investors.

ABSTRACT OF COURSE’S CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:
The purpose of this course is to learn how to identify potential red flags in financial reporting practices and to increase your proficiency in extracting and using relevant information from financial statements (e.g., Form 10-Ks, 10-Qs).

Each week we will go through a real-time case (written the week prior by the professor) to appreciate current financial reporting issues that users of financial reporting information should be aware of. You will learn the subjectivity inherent in applying accounting standards, and appreciate why a very strong understanding of accounting is essential when wading through SEC filings.

The course will benefit those who will be analyzing financial statements and SEC filings as they pursue careers in investment banking, investment management, business development, venture capital, as well as those in general management/consulting, and those just looking to gain financial expertise for personal investments. The skills developed in this class will also overlap with those required by the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program. In addition, participants with CPAs and CFAs will still find this course very useful.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Professor Lawrence is an assistant professor in the accounting group at Berkeley-Haas. His current research focuses on various corporate financial reporting issues, and how investors and the markets use and price financial reporting information.