Overview

This course will explain financial accounting from a new angle so that you have some of the background necessary for intermediate courses in financial reporting, analysis, and modeling. The course presents a framework for analysis and provides spreadsheets to implement the framework.

Exams and Grading

Penalty for missing classes and unapproved use of devices in class

Paper and pencil

Please bring paper and pen/pencil to take notes in class.

Unapproved device usage

Most of us are now addicted to devices, which impedes learning. You are allowed to use devices only when I ask you to use your computer in class. Otherwise, ALL device use is strictly prohibited, unless you have a qualified disability which allows you to use devices in class. Students using devices when not approved will be asked to leave the classroom. Each time you are asked to leave the class, you will be marked absent. This is very painful, awkward, and disruptive, and I hope I never have to do this, but I will not hesitate to enforce this policy.

Reasons for requiring attendance

Attendance is required for several reasons. First, you incorrectly assume you can catch up on a missed class by watching a recording (if available). Videos do not engage your brain as much as a live class. Second, less than 20% of you watch the recording (if available). You are then lost in class, which provides the wrong signals to me as an instructor. Third, your absence hurts class discussions. Fourth, you miss out on feedback if you do not work through the questions I pose in class. Fifth, I lose the feedback since there are fewer questions.

Attendance policy enforced after the add/drop period

The attendance policy below will be in effect only after the add/drop period.

Attendance sheet

After entering the class, please mark yourself present on the OneDrive sheet within the first 20 minutes (link posted on Brightspace after the add/drop period). You will be marked absent if you are more than 20 minutes late, unless it is due to factors beyond your control (traffic, subway delays, or interviews running late). You will also be marked absent if you leave the class early unless you have my permission or get it afterward. You will get an F in the course if you are caught cheating on the attendance sheet.

Mark yourself excused on the attendance sheet for excused absences

Without mandatory attendance, attendance is often below 50%. Therefore, though I dislike doing this, I penalize absences. If you anticipate being absent for good reasons, please email me well in advance. Please enter Excused on the attendance sheet described below to avoid the penalty if approved. You must update it; I will not mark you excused. If you miss a class due to emergencies and cannot tell me in advance, do not panic. Take care of the emergency first, and then email me. I will permit you to change the Absent to Excused. But if you miss a class without a valid reason, there is a penalty, as stated below.

Penalty for missing classes

For sections meeting in 150-190 minute sessions, you will lose one grade (A to A-, A- to B+, B+ to B, B to B-, and so on) for EVERY missed session unless you were explicitly excused via email. Thus, if you miss two class sessions, you will lose two grades, and so on.

For sections meeting in 75-80 minute sessions, you will lose one grade (A to A-, A- to B+, B+ to B, B to B-, and so on) for EVERY TWO missed sessions unless you were explicitly excused via email. Thus, if you miss four class sessions, you will lose two grades, and so on.

Seating and name tags

Please sit in the same seat in every class and display your name tags. For Zoom classes, you must keep your video on AT ALL TIMES. You must also have a good working headset or mic, as it is extremely rude to be inaudible and force me to ask you to repeat yourself.

Almaris Assignments

Almaris Exams

Important computer tips for the final

NYU Stern Policies

Please read the NYU Stern Policies for this course.

Help and Office

Administrative and System Requirements

Videotaping

Classes are normally not videotaped, except for EMBA classes. If the class is videotaped, the link is posted to Brightspace by NYU Stern IT within a day.

Registered Students Only

Only registered students can attend classes. I cannot override this NYU Stern rule. We do not allow unregistered students to "audit" a class.

Albert and NYU Brightspace

You must be in Albert and NYU Brightspace before starting the first class. If you register late, there might be a delay of a day before you appear in these systems. If you cannot access these systems after a day, please contact the relevant REGISTRAR. I cannot add you to these systems regardless of what someone in IT tells you.

Computer Requirements

You need to bring a computer to every class. If you have any technical questions, please contact Stern IT at (212-998-0180) or servicedesk@stern.nyu.edu, or NYU IT at +1 (212) 998-3333 or askit@nyu.edu. I cannot help you with your computer issues.

Excel 365 Desktop Version Required

The desktop version of Excel 365 is required. Excel Online and Google Sheets are NOT OK. Read this page regarding Excel 365 Desktop access for NYU students.

Materials

Schedule

There will be five class sessions of three hours each. The last session will be the final exam.

Class Topic
1
  • Accounting terms, transactions, and systems
    • Principal financial statements
    • Accruals versus deferrals
    • The logic of the double-entry bookkeeping systems
    • How the separation of duties is used to reduce fraud
2
  • Performance measures: Cash flows versus income flows
    • Accrued revenues or receivables
    • Deferred revenues or advances
    • Accrued expenses or payables
    • Deferred expenses or prepayments
  • Design of incentive systems
3
  • The core set of business transactions and how they affect the following statements:
    • Balance sheets
    • Income statements
    • Indirect cash flow statements
    • Direct cash flow statements
4
  • Costs versus expenses versus payments
    • Period costs versus inventoriable costs versus separately capitalized costs
    • Inventories: Raw materials, work in process, and finished goods
    • Cost flow assumptions: LIFO versus FIFO
5
  • Property, plant, and equipment: Gross PP&E, Accumulated depreciation, and Net PP&E
    • Which costs are capitalized
    • Useful life versus economic life versus physical life; Salvage values; Depreciation patterns
    • How depreciation of manufacturing equipment is inventoried
    • Gains and losses on the sale of PP&E
    • PP&E impairments
6
  • Time value of money, loans, and bonds
    • Simple versus compound interest
    • APR versus EAR
    • Loan amortization
    • Bonds: Principal versus face value, Coupons versus interest
    • Gains and losses on bond buybacks