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IFRS Essentials course

In this course you learn to apply the common IFRS standards to financial reporting and the annual accounts. You discover the differences with Dutch GAAP and the impact on your organisation.

4,6 on Google NRTO quality mark
For a team or department? Arrange your own group, at your premises or ours. In-company for your team
  • Directly applicable in your daily practice
  • A clear comparison with Dutch GAAP
  • Practical calculation models for your annual accounts
  • Plenty of room for your questions
  • Ready to act as an IFRS sparring partner for management
LuisWinfred

Your trainer: Luis or Winfred 217 evaluations in total, averaging 8,8. View the trainers

Would you like to get a grip on IFRS and make your annual accounts transparent and compliant? In the IFRS Essentials course you work with the current IFRS standards, discover the differences with Dutch GAAP and apply practical calculation models directly to your own organisation.

Description

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) provide greater transparency and comparability in the financial market. Listed companies are required to apply IFRS, but application can also be valuable for larger SMEs and other businesses.

In the IFRS Essentials course you work with the common IFRS standards for financial reporting and financial statements. You gain insight into the differences between IFRS and Dutch GAAP and you discover which companies have to apply IFRS. Using current practical examples, you see what the impact of IFRS is on your organisation.

Using a number of practical calculation models, you learn how to make your annual accounts transparent and compliant. During the course there is ample room to raise your own questions and discuss them with the trainer and the other participants.

Topics

The IFRS Essentials course covers all the IFRS standards you need for sound financial reporting. You learn the differences between IFRS and Dutch GAAP and find out which companies are required to apply IFRS. Using practical examples, you see what the impact of IFRS is on your organisation.

The following topics are covered:

  • Background and origins of IFRS
  • Comparison between IFRS and Dutch GAAP
  • IFRS on the stock exchange, in SMEs, in large companies and at private entities
  • The IFRS standards in outline
  • Property, plant and equipment (IAS 16 / IFRS 5)
  • Intangible assets (IAS 38)
  • Inventories (IAS 2)
  • Presentation of financial statements (IAS 1 / IFRS 1)
  • Impairment of assets (IAS 36)
  • Revenue from contracts with customers (IFRS 15)
  • Liabilities and provisions (IAS 37)
  • Consolidated financial statements and participating interests (IFRS 10 / IAS 27)
  • Investments in associates and joint ventures (IAS 28)
  • Business combinations (IFRS 3)
  • Leases (IFRS 16)
  • Financial instruments (IFRS 9)
  • Statement of cash flows (IAS 7)
  • Changes in accounting policies and estimates (IAS 8)
  • Events after the reporting period (IAS 10)
  • Current developments, including sustainability reporting (IFRS S1 and S2)

Result

After this course you know exactly what IFRS means for your financial reporting and annual accounts. You know the differences between IFRS and Dutch GAAP and you understand the considerations and benefits of applying IFRS.

You can:

recognise and apply the IFRS standards relevant to your organisation, apply practical IFRS calculation models to your own company information, prepare your annual accounts transparently and compliantly, and act as a sparring partner on IFRS for management.

You will also be up to date with current developments in IFRS, so that you can make well-considered choices in your financial reporting.

Target audience

Do you work on your organisation's financial reporting or financial statements? Or do you advise management on financial planning and strategy on the basis of the annual figures? Then this IFRS course is for you.

The course is intended for finance professionals who deal with IFRS in their work, such as:

finance directors and CFOs, managing directors, controllers and business controllers, administrators and finance officers, accountants, financial consultants and advisers.

A basic knowledge of financial reporting and the Dutch annual accounts (Dutch GAAP) is useful, but not a requirement.

Teaching method

Throughout this course, theory and practice alternate continuously. You work in a small group, so there is room for your questions and for the specific situation of your organisation. The trainer is an experienced IFRS specialist who takes you through the standards that are relevant to your work.

Using examples and case studies from day-to-day practice, you discover what IFRS means for financial reporting and the financial statements. You work with practical calculation models yourself, so that you can apply what you have learned directly to your own company information.

You receive the course materials digitally and a certificate of participation afterwards.

Prior knowledge

You do not need any specific prior knowledge to start this course. It is useful, however, if your work involves financial reporting or financial statements, for example as a controller, administrator, accountant or financial adviser.

Practical information

Number of days
1 day
Course times
from 10 am to 5 pm
Teaching hours
6 hours
Education level
Suitable for all levels
Preparation time
None
Included
Course materials and lunch on site
Certificate
At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance

Language

The course is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer speaks English. English-language course materials can be used. If at least 3 participants register, the course can also be given entirely in English.

This course for your team?

Plan your own group on a date that suits you, at your office, at our premises or online. We tailor the content to your day-to-day work, and training a whole group is cheaper than individual bookings.

  • Your date and location
  • Tailored content
  • Multiple groups or an academy are also possible
  • More than 25 years' experience
Request a quote No obligation, an adviser will be in touch shortly How in-company works

The trainers for this course

Ratings from participants after completing their course, across all courses by this trainer.

Luis

Finance and tax trainer 8,9 from 162 evaluations

Winfred

Trainer in financial management 8,7 from 55 evaluations

What others say about this course

"Relevant course. Plenty of information, good interaction between trainer and participants. Learned a lot!"

Participant

"A very good introductory course on the subject of IFRS!"

Participant

"The IFRS Essentials course gave me a good impression of the IFRS regulations. I found it very useful and now know in broad terms how it works. We received the most recent book on a USB stick and during the course we learned how to use the book. Definitely recommended."

Participant

"Theory and practice were a good combination. Clear practical examples, which made the sometimes rather heavy material easy to follow."

Participant

“Excellent introduction to what IFRS is and what it is intended for”

E. van de Water - Kulicke & Soffa Netherlands B.V.

"Good course with the right level of depth."

Participant

Training formats

Classroom

1 day€ 695,-
  • Pleasant venue with a good trainer
  • Small groups
  • Inspiring and motivating
Choose a date

Online

1 day€ 610,-
  • Online with a trainer
  • Personal
  • Practical and interactive
Choose a date

In-company

Bespoke trainingOn request
  • 100% for your group
  • Bespoke training
  • At your place or ours
View in-company

Workshop

Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request
  • Suitable for events
  • Interactive and inspiring
  • Large groups too
Request a quote

Private training

At our place or yoursOn request
  • 100% just for you
  • Achieve a lot in little time
  • Whenever you want
Request a quote

Frequently asked questions

Who is the IFRS Essentials course intended for and what prior knowledge do you need?
The IFRS Essentials course is intended for financial professionals who deal with IFRS in their work: finance directors, controllers, financial administrators, accountants, financial consultants and managing directors. You need a basic knowledge of financial reporting and annual accounts. Specific prior knowledge of IFRS is not required; the course starts with the background and builds up to the common standards.
What is the difference between IFRS and Dutch GAAP?
IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) is the international reporting standard; Dutch GAAP is the Dutch variant. IFRS focuses more strongly on fair value and transparency towards providers of capital, whereas Dutch GAAP more often starts from historical cost and alignment with tax reporting. In the IFRS Essentials course you cover these differences on the basis of standards such as IAS 16, IAS 36, IAS 38 and IFRS 3.
Which IFRS standards are covered in the IFRS Essentials course?
In the IFRS Essentials course you cover all the common IFRS standards you need for correct financial reporting. These include IAS 1 (presentation), IAS 2 (inventories), IAS 7 (statement of cash flows), IAS 8, IAS 10, IAS 16, IAS 27, IAS 28, IAS 36, IAS 37, IAS 38, IFRS 1, IFRS 3 and IFRS 5. You learn to apply them directly to your own annual accounts.
Do you receive a certificate after the IFRS Essentials course?
Yes, on completion of the IFRS Essentials course you receive a certificate of participation from Learnit. This certificate shows that you have attended a full course day on the common IFRS standards, the differences with Dutch GAAP and the application of practical calculation models. You can add it to your CV or LinkedIn profile as evidence of your knowledge of IFRS reporting.
Is the IFRS Essentials course delivered in the classroom or online?
The IFRS Essentials course is taught classroom-based at You follow the course in a small group, together with other financial professionals. This set-up allows for direct interaction with the trainer and room to raise your own practical questions about financial reporting and annual accounts. The course material is included.
When should you choose a classroom IFRS course instead of self-study or a multi-day programme?
IFRS Essentials is suitable if you already have basic financial knowledge and want a workable overview of the common IFRS standards such as IAS 1, IAS 2, IAS 16, IAS 36, IAS 38 and IFRS 3. You have direct interaction with a trainer, can ask questions about your own financial statements and work with practical calculation models. With self-study you miss that feedback and it takes longer before you apply the standards correctly. A multi-day IFRS programme makes more sense if you will be responsible for the full IFRS implementation or consolidation within a listed group. For controllers, accounting staff and financial advisers who need to report with IFRS in mind or want to act as a sparring partner for management, this course is generally sufficient.
What does the IFRS Essentials course give me that I cannot get from a handbook or online articles?
The IFRS Essentials course adds three things you will not find in a handbook. First, you work with practical calculation models that you apply directly to your own financial statements, for example for IAS 16 (property, plant and equipment), IAS 36 (impairment) and IAS 38 (intangible assets). Second, you get a direct comparison between IFRS and Dutch GAAP, tailored to your situation as a listed company, large SME or private entity. Third, you put questions to an experienced trainer and discuss cases with other finance professionals. The course is classroom-based. Self-study gives you the theory; this course gives you application, sparring and feedback on your own figures.
How do I know whether my organisation has to do anything with IFRS at all, or whether Dutch GAAP will suffice?
IFRS is mandatory for listed companies within the EU for their consolidated annual accounts. Non-listed companies may choose: Dutch GAAP (Title 9 of Book 2 of the Dutch Civil Code and the Dutch Accounting Standards) or IFRS on a voluntary basis. Applying IFRS voluntarily is mainly relevant if you have international investors, foreign parent companies or subsidiaries, if you are considering a stock market flotation, or if group reporting is done under IFRS. For purely Dutch SMEs without that context, Dutch GAAP is usually sufficient. In the IFRS Essentials course (classroom-based,) you learn the concrete differences between IFRS and Dutch GAAP and which considerations play a role in that choice, so that you can give well-founded advice within your own organisation.
How quickly after the IFRS Essentials course can I actually apply the standards in my work?
That depends on your starting level and the complexity of your organisation. If you already work in a finance role with knowledge of Dutch GAAP, you can start applying the basic standards such as IAS 1 (presentation), IAS 2 (inventories) and IAS 16 (property, plant and equipment) immediately after the course day. The practical calculation models you receive during the day can be applied to your own figures straight away. For more complex topics, such as IFRS 3 (business combinations) or consolidation under IFRS 10, you will generally need more time and possibly someone to spar with. Expect it to take several weeks before you prepare a full set of financial statements under IFRS on your own. For a sparring partner role towards management, the course gives you enough grounding to ask the right questions and assess the impact.
What does IFRS Essentials add if I already have experience with Dutch GAAP and prepare my organisation's financial statements?
The course focuses specifically on bridging the differences between Dutch GAAP and IFRS. If you already prepare financial statements under Dutch GAAP, you gain insight into where IFRS differs in terms of measurement bases, presentation and disclosures. In concrete terms, you cover standards such as IAS 16 (property, plant and equipment), IAS 36 (impairment), IAS 38 (intangible assets) and IFRS 3 (business combinations), precisely on the points where Dutch reporting rules work out differently. You work with practical calculation models that you can apply directly to your own company information. The course is not an IFRS introduction from scratch, but builds on existing financial knowledge. For experienced Dutch GAAP users this means you can move through the basics more quickly and have more time left for the specific impact on your own organisation. You will find the price on the course page.
How does IFRS Essentials compare with an extensive IFRS programme lasting several weeks or a post-master's in IFRS?
IFRS Essentials is a classroom course aimed at giving you a workable overview of the common IFRS standards for financial reporting and annual accounts. A post-master IFRS programme or a multi-day programme lasting several weeks goes into greater depth on case studies, technical dilemmas and complex consolidations, and is aimed at accountants and specialists who apply IFRS on a daily basis. IFRS Essentials is a better fit if you are responsible for or advise on the annual accounts and want to master the main principles of IFRS: differences with Dutch GAAP, standards such as IAS 1, 2, 7, 16, 36, 37, 38 and IFRS 3, plus practical calculation models. For a specialist role in IFRS reporting at a listed company, a more in-depth programme is more realistic.
What does the IFRS Essentials course cost and how long does it take?

You can find the current price at the top right of this course page, along with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.

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