Decode company performance using GAAP, ratio analysis, and real-world industry comparisons.
This course provides a foundational framework for analyzing financial statements to evaluate organizational health and management effectiveness. It covers the core components of balance sheets and income statements, emphasizing the role of accrual-based accounting and GAAP in providing faithful representations for external stakeholders. Participants learn to perform vertical and horizontal analysis to identify performance trends and use specific financial ratios to assess liquidity, solvency, and profitability. The material includes practical applications through a comparative study of major beverage companies to illustrate how financial metrics reveal operational strategies and risks.
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Dr. Eric Knight is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a career that bridges professional accounting and academia. He earned a B.S. in Accounting from Louisiana State University, an M.S. in Accounting from the University of North Texas, and a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) from Baker College, where his research focused on student perceptions of accounting education. With more than 25 years of combined professional and academic experience, he brings both practical expertise and scholarly perspective to my work. My professional career includes roles as a tax accountant and positions in corporate finance, where he specialized in financial analysis, reporting, and compliance. He also managed budgets, contracts, and fiscal operations across multiple departments in higher education. Dr. Knight was invited to speak at the 2025 Fall Continuing Professional Development Conference for CPA New Brunswick. Since 2008, he has dedicated himself to teaching and mentoring future professionals. Dr. Knight teaches courses in financial accounting, managerial accounting, and taxation, with a focus on clarity, engagement, and real-world application. His goal is to bridge the gap between theory and practice, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in today’s dynamic business environment. Dr. Eric Knight’s areas of expertise include Managerial Accounting and Financial Statement Analysis, with research examining the challenges business majors face in accounting courses.
