Accounting information is of critical importance to capital markets. This introductory course combines academic theory and real-world cases to provide students with a thorough grounding in the use of financial statements for investment analysis and banking.

The aim of the course is to help students become sophisticated users of financial information. The course is thus suitable for students interested in learning how financial information can be useful in asset allocation and, more broadly, in making decisions about providing equity and debt financing to firms. 

The course covers several important topics, including revenue and expense recognition, accounting for debt and equity financing and complex M&A transactions, cash flow analysis, and security valuation using multiples and discounted cash flows. 

The course blends cutting-edge research and extensive real-world applications. It is especially suitable for those students interested in pursuing careers in equity research, asset management, and investment banking and provides an excellent foundation for those preparing for interviews and assessment centres in these fields.