Understanding the Financial Reports of Public Bodies

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The Programme

Published accounts are the backbone of the accountability and reporting system used in the public, semi-state and private sectors. The information contained in these reports is critical for those charged with the responsibility of monitoring agency performance. However, this information is only useful where it can be interpreted accurately and in the correct context.

Understanding the Financial Reports of Public Bodies is a one-day online course that is designed for those who need a basic knowledge of the principles of the financial reporting system, from the nature of the information that goes into published accounts, to understanding what it is the statements actually report. This course will take participants through the structure of the financial reporting process and, in addition, will provide the tools that are necessary to assess and interpret what it is the published accounts are saying about the organisations performance.

Who is this for?

This one-day Understanding the Financial Reports of Public Bodies online course is designed for those who need a basic knowledge of the principles of the financial reporting system, from the nature of the information that goes into published accounts, to understanding what it is the statements actually report. 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Appreciate the role of information communicated by published accounts
• Develop an understanding of the structure and role of the accounting and the financial reporting function
• Understand the context and environment of accounting
• Understand the language of finance and accounting
• Understand the format and content of Income and Expenditure Accounts and Balance Sheets and Cash Flow Statements including the rules and regulations, which underpin the financial reporting system
• Appreciate the significance of the analysis and interpretation of accounts
• Develop an understanding of Ratio Analysis and interpretation of results of the analysis

Course Content

This Understanding the Financial Reports of Public Bodies online online course will cover the following topics:

• Framework of Accounting
• Accrual Accounting Principles
• Annual Financial Statements
  • Balance Sheet
  • Income & Expenditure Account; and
  • Cash Flow Statement
• Assessing the reliability of information in published financial statements
• Analysing published statements
• Interpreting the analysis

Course Leader

The course will be delivered by one of our Finance Team: Majella Malone and Dr. Deirdre Bane.