Introduction to Accounting
A reasonably paced introduction suitable for everyone who wants to understand what accounting is, why and when it is useful, and why it sometimes fails to answer the important questions that we are faced with today.
Taught by Richard E. Prendergast, CPA.  Click here for Richard's profile.

Accounting is often called the "language of business".  With this in mind this class will focus on what accounting can tell us - and what it cannot.  The goal is to provide a solid background in accounting essentials (combined with selected practical insights from the instructor's experience) so that the users of financial statements can make informed decisions.  As a result it will not use "debits and credits" which only serve to make students struggle and avoid the more important question - "what do the numbers mean?"

This class will cover the basics of accounting, including financial accounting which produces formal financial statements which are largely for external use, and management and cost accounting which are directed at management decision making, budgeting, and inventory costing.  However, it will differ from many similar classes in that our goal is not to make you the best number cruncher out there, but to provide a depth of understanding that will allow the participant to know what is important as well as the limitations of accounting.

It will include a look at the convergence of the two main systems in use today (US GAAP and IFRS, adopted by public companies in China in 2007 and used by most of the world outside the US) and why the 2008/2009 economic meltdown was not predicted in advance and thus avoided.

The format of the class will include a Western accounting textbook for pre-reading, class lectures and several problems in class, and a few (easy) quizzes to ensure that students are learning the essential points.  There will be modest homework as means to get the students to think about what has been presented in the textbook and in class and reinforce the most critical ideas.


Textbook

We will use a current US introductory accounting textbook as the basis for this class, which will allow students to have a suitable reference for pre-reading and subsequent review, and provide the structure on which to study the material we will discuss in class.  Additional materials will also be distributed to provide the depth of understanding that we are trying to communicate to achieve the goals of this class.


Course Structure

Accounting - an introduction
Financial statements and accounting concepts and principles
Understanding financial statement data
The accounting process
Accounting for current assets
Property, plant, and equipment
Liabilities and owner's equity
The income statement and statement of cash flows
Governance and internal control
Financial statement analysis and management decision making

Course Title: Introduction to Accounting
Tuition Fee: RMB 3200
Material Fee: RMB 200 (including Western accounting textbook)

Spring Session 2010: March 14th to May 16th

Section E: Sunday afternoons (1:00 PM - 3:30 PM)  Registration Closed
10 weeks from March 14th to May 16th (Course Code: ACC107)
Location: ELC Learning Annex

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE

Registration Procedure:
Please register online first to reserve your place.  You will then receive a confirmation email with further details.  Next, payment must be made on site at the ELC Learning Annex during the payment dates shown below (you can come in person or send someone).

Tuition payment for the Spring Session 2010 will take place on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, February 26th, 27th, 28th, and March 1st, 2010, between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m..  Payments will be received in Ground-Floor Classroom at our ELC Learning Annex.  Click here for map.

Please note: classes are kept small for the students' benefit (generally between 6 and 12 people).  Register early to reserve your place.  Payment must be received on time to complete your enrollment and maintain your reservation in the class(es) for which you have registered.  (Any course that does not meet sufficient enrollment may be cancelled and a full refund provided upon presentation of your original receipt.)
 

For detailed information, please feel free to contact one of our program coordinators: Telephone: 55889133 Fax: 55889133 EMAIL: inquiry(at)shanghai-classes.com
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