ACCT 202 1/14/26

Introduction

  • Class interaction at the beginning with mention of snowfall.

  • Awareness of class recording and resources available on Sakai.

Course Structure and Access

  • Accessing Sakai and resources under 'Week One'.

    • Recordings of past classes available to alleviate common questions about missed materials.

    • First class problem review related to Haas interior design, along with the solution.

    • Encouragement for students to review past accounting materials from their previous classes (Accounting 201).

Contact Information

  • Professor's office located in room 05:15 on the 5th floor.

  • Regular office hours noted as around 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.

  • Encouragement for students to visit during office hours or contact via the provided email or phone.

Class Attendance Policy

  • Emphasis on the necessity of in-person attendance rather than remote options.

    • The professor highlights personal anecdotes about the value of in-person learning compared to remote work, especially in advancing professional opportunities.

Syllabus Overview

  • Mention of upcoming assignments and projects, including 'Connect' (to be fully addressed in weeks three or four).

  • Review of previous course chapters while transitioning to current project work covering chapters 13 and 14 of the textbook.

Project Assignments

  • Discussions about firm selection for projects, including considerations for publicly traded companies.

  • Organization of students by interest in companies, stressing that projects should be on companies that invoke personal interest.

    • Importance of selecting a meaningful project rather than simply choosing based on deadlines or convenience.

Relevant Reading and Resources

  • Requirement for students to sign up for The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times apps for better understanding of current business contexts and company evaluations.

    • The professor illustrates the significance of keeping abreast with industry news, especially during company analysis.

  • Example of a recent news event impacting Chipotle discussed in class related to marketing leadership changes.

Project Management Tools and Strategy

  • Introduction to the 'Annual Report Project' with an example of the professor's choice of Dollar General as a study subject.

    • Discussion on the importance of analyzing the company's annual report as part of the project.

Emphasis on Practical Skills

  • Importance of Excel skills for industry readiness highlighted.

    • The professor emphasizes that inadequate Excel skills are a barrier to employment.

Financial Statement Analysis

  • Defined financial statement analysis with significant emphasis on its importance in determining company health.

    • Discussion of historical costs versus market value and the limitations that arise in financial statements.

    • Key performance indicators studied include revenue growth, gross margin, operating expenses, among others.

Ratio Analysis & Comparative Analysis

  • Introduction to key ratios that will be discussed, including liquidity ratios and market analysis.

    • Detail on working capital representing the excess of current assets over current liabilities.

    • Explanation of both current and quick ratios to assess financial health.

Summary of Class Activities

  • Overview of projects and timelines, including requirements for the first submission and expectations for class engagement with company analysis.

  • Encouragement for active participation in discussions and readings as a key to mastering the course content.

Final Thoughts

  • The professor encourages ongoing communication and questioning, ensuring students feel comfortable approaching topics of discussion in subsequent classes.