Advanced financial analysis
Credit Type:
For-Credit
Credits Available:
15 Credits
Course Level:
Postgraduate
Academic Direction:
University College London
About the course
This course aims to provide you with a sound understanding of key issues and applied methodologies used to interrogate external financial reporting statements. You will learn how to evaluate a company’s financial performance, health and position, while also understanding the role of discretion, judgement and creative accounting in shaping financial results.
The course aims to develop your ability to critique the integrity of financial reports and to use analytical techniques to support credible assessments of performance and risk.
Recommended learning hours: 150
Microcredential Specification - Advanced financial analysis
Course details
- Credit Type: For-Credit
- Study Method: Online, flexible
- Learning Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Develop and apply a structured framework to analyse and assess a company’s financial performance, health and position for a range of stakeholders.
- Explain how discretion and judgement in preparing financial statements can distort reported performance, and evaluate the impact of creative accounting and deliberate fraud on reported figures.
- Identify and apply appropriate adjustments to financial statements to improve comparability between companies and over time.
- Think critically about reported financial performance, undertake research to identify valid and credible measures, and use evidence to support your conclusions.
- Synthesise quantitative and qualitative information to form justified, forward-looking assessments of business performance, including the likelihood of corporate survival, prosperity or failure.
- Apply structured techniques to arrive at justified decisions in complex situations where there is no single correct solution.
- Prepare and communicate clear, evidence-based financial analyses and recommendations suitable for managers, analysts, shareholders and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrate problem-solving skills in the context of advanced financial analysis.
- Career Opportunity: Completing this microcredential benefits those looking to grow in or progress into roles related to financial, equity, risk and credit analysis, forensic accounting and corporate finance. The advanced analytical techniques and critical evaluation skills developed are also valuable for strategic management positions, investment decision-making and roles requiring robust financial oversight and performance appraisal.
- Target Learners: This course is suited to learners who already possess a foundational understanding of financial accounting and wish to develop advanced analytical capabilities. It is ideal for individuals seeking to strengthen their ability to interpret complex financial statements, critically assess reporting quality and apply rigorous evaluation techniques to real‑world corporate data. It particularly benefits those aiming to enhance their decision‑making skills in roles where financial scrutiny and judgement are essential.
- Estimated Time to Complete: 10-20 weeks
- Maximum Registration Period: 1 Year
- Entry Requirements: To be eligible for the course, you must have:
- an undergraduate degree which is considered at least comparable to a UK third class bachelor’s degree , OR
- at least two years’ relevant professional experience at a graduate level, AND
- a high standard of English, equivalent to an IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall with 6.0 in the written test, or a Duolingo score of at least 120.
- Tech/Computer Requirements: We set minimum computer and web access requirements for online study. These are updated from time and can be found at https://www.london.ac.uk/study/how-apply/computer-requirements.
- Prior Knowledge: This is a UK postgraduate academic course – if you do not have the required educational or professional background, you will likely find it very challenging. While you can self-certify that you meet the admissions criteria, we reserve the right to ask you for evidence of your qualifications at any time.
- Skills Acquired:
- Financial statement analysis and interpretation
- Evaluation of accounting judgement and creative reporting
- Adjustment and normalisation of financial data
- Critical appraisal of business performance and risk
- Financial insight and professional communication
- Start Anytime? Yes
Microcredential Courses
- Course Level
- Postgraduate
- Subject Area
- ACAFM Accounting and Financial Management
- Academic Direction
- University College London