Annotation

This is an introductory course in finance. Course objective is to provide students with the basic knowledge in finance and to form the background for the further related studies. Course presents students with an overview of financial concepts, terminology, and principles, introduces to the financial management methods applicable to the personal and business practices (including SMEs and companies). Course covers basic financial theories, and their relevance to the financial management and investments. Introduction to finance course combines theory with practical examples, using case discussions and simulations.

Aim of the course

The course objective is to introduce students to the main elements, methods and principles of finance. It will provide basic knowledge and skills applicable to personal and managerial finance. Course starts with the general overview of finance, introduces to financial concepts, instruments, and techniques used in financial decision making. The first part of the course focuses on basic financial data, financial statements, cash flow, also main financial concepts as time value of money, risk and return, interest rates. The second part of the course deals with financial management.

Learning outcomes

• Explain financial system elements and their activities and functions via systemic approach.
• Explain and analyse saving and investing, financial assets, interest rate concepts and their importance in financial market.
• Analyze financial markets and their environment.
• Analyze financial planning process elements in household finance: personal financial life cycle, financial statements and ratios.
• Apply concepts of time value of money to solve various problems.
• Analyze goals of the firm and role of the financial manager in financial decision making.
• Prepare and explain financial statements: Balance sheet, Income statement, Cash flow statement. Evaluate proforma financial statements and budgets.
• Understand and evaluate relationships among financial decisions. Understand difference between short and long financing decisions.
• Work in teams, present work results in writing and oral presentation.

Course Description

This is an introductory course created to introduce the students with no financial or accounting background to the main concepts of managerial finance. The course intends to provide students with an overview of business finance concepts, terminology, and principles. It covers both theoretical and empirical aspects of financial analysis, capital investment, valuation, and financing decisions. The course develops understanding of the business organization as a value-maximizing entity, and introduces students to the necessary theoretical models as well as practical tools for financial decision-making.

Course Aim

The course is designed to develop the insights and skills that are necessary to analyse and structure financial information of a business firm, to value investment projects, and to support value-adding business decisions.

Learning outcomes

• Have critical awareness of the main financial measures of the value and its elements.
• Analyse and evaluate company’s activities and financial condition from financial statements (balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement) applying financial ratios.
• Evaluate and compare different long- and short-term financing decisions.
• Apply the concept of time value of money in solving various financing and investment problems.
• Evaluate investment projects using different methods: NPV (net present value) and its alternatives (IRR, payback method, profitability index).
• Be able to calculate business capital structure and the cost of capital for making the decisions on sources and instruments of business finance.
• Work in teams, present work results both in writing and orally, substantiate decisions taken.