Reading Financial Statements course
In this course you learn to read and interpret a set of financial statements. You understand the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and key ratios, and you recognise flattered figures.
NRTO quality markFree cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so feel free to book now.
In brief. Reading Financial Statements is a 1-day classroom course. You can take it in Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Arnhem or online, in a group of no more than 8 participants. The price is € 625,- excl. VAT per participant, including course materials, lunch on location and a certificate of attendance. For a team or department we also deliver this course in-company.
- Immediate insight into annual figures
- You learn to see through accounting tricks
- Stronger strategic decisions
- Financial jargon explained clearly
- You may bring your own financial statements
Your trainer: Luis or Gert 164 evaluations in total, averaging 8.9. View the trainers
Do you want to really understand the financial statements of your own company or those of another business? In this course you get to grips with the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and key figures. And you learn to recognise flattered figures.
Description
Would you like to be able to read and understand a set of financial statements, without working with finance on a daily basis? This course gives you accessible insight into how financial statements are structured and what the figures say about a company's financial performance.
You learn to interpret the balance sheet, income statement and notes, and you are introduced to the most important financial indicators and ratios. Financial jargon and difficult definitions are explained clearly, so that you can translate the figures into concrete insights and points for improvement for your organisation.
You will also look at the difference between commercial and fiscal annual figures and learn to recognise commonly used accounting and tax tricks, such as window dressing and profit management. This way you will know how to see through flattering figures and use the financial statements as a reliable basis for strategic decisions.
Topics
In the course Reading Financial Statements the following topics are covered:
- What are financial statements and which forms are there?
- Why and for whom are the financial statements important?
- Which statutory requirements must the financial statements meet?
- Which parts make up a set of financial statements (balance sheet, profit and loss account, notes, accounting policies) and how do you read them?
- Financial indicators and ratios: which are there and what do they say about the financial position of the company?
- Commercial versus tax-based annual figures: what is the difference?
- Accounting and tax tricks: why are they used and how do you see through them (including window dressing and profit management)?
- What is the role of the accountant?
- How do financial statements help in making strategic decisions?
Result
After this course you know how a set of annual accounts is structured and you can read and interpret the balance sheet, income statement and notes. You know the difference between separate and consolidated annual accounts and you know which ratios appear in the annual report and what they mean.
You will recognise flattered annual figures and see through accounting and tax tricks such as window dressing and profit steering. You will know what the annual figures say about a company's financial performance and, on that basis, will be able to make well-founded strategic decisions to improve your own organisation.
Target audience
This course is intended for anyone who does not deal with financial issues on a daily basis but does have to take important decisions on the basis of annual figures. Think of directors and managers from marketing, HR, sales and IT, in-house counsel and lawyers, shareholders and investors.
Teaching method
During the course Reading Financial Statements you examine annual reports from a range of company types. You learn to recognise and understand the key financial indicators. Through short exercises and examples from your own working practice, you become familiar with the components of the annual accounts step by step.
Would you like to bring your own annual accounts? That's fine. There is plenty of scope to ask questions and discuss your own situation. You work in a small group under the guidance of an experienced trainer, so there is ample individual attention.
Prior knowledge
No specific prior knowledge is required for this course. A general interest in finance and the wish to understand annual figures better is enough. Whether you are a manager, lawyer, investor or entrepreneur: you can start straight away.
Comments
On completing the course you will receive a Learnit certificate of participation.
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
- Cancel
- Free up to four weeks before the start (cancellation terms)
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.
In-company
Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.
Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.
Request a quote More about Reading Financial Statements in-company
All start dates
1 training day. In order of date.
- Wed 4 November 2026 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00 Enrol
- Wed 25 November 2026 Utrecht · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 28 October Enrol
- Tue 22 December 2026 Utrecht · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 24 November Enrol
- Wed 27 January 2027 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 30 December Enrol
- Wed 27 January 2027 Online · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 30 December Enrol
- Mon 8 February 2027 Rotterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 11 January Enrol
- Thu 1 April 2027 Arnhem · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 4 March Enrol
No suitable start date? Send us a date request, and we'll look at the options together.
This course by city
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
The trainers for this course
Ratings from participants after completing their course, across all courses by this trainer.
What others say about this course
Reading Financial Statements course: average 8.3 from 3 reviews
"A highly competent instructor, clear explanations and practical examples that were well explained."
“Understanding the components of the annual accounts better and also looking at them from a bank's point of view. Working with them more often so I can form a picture of where an organisation stands more quickly.”
"A pleasant course in which you get a good impression of the highlights of annual reporting and annual accounts (accounting policies, balance sheet, P&L, cash flow statement) in two half-days. Plenty of scope for interaction and specific questions. You don't really do practice exercises, but in my view working out cases in detail is not the purpose of this course either. Given my background I already had quite a lot of prior knowledge and I mainly appreciated being able to refresh some theory here and there, dot the i's and put forward specific matters I have come across in my current work."
"Good, substantial training course; tailored to the participant's question."
"An interesting course, in which practical examples are discussed alongside the theory. Luis is a highly qualified trainer."
"A great course if you want to gain enough knowledge within a few hours to understand a set of annual accounts and interpret them in broad terms. Some financial insight is required - then it is a perfect fit."
"The course ties in well with everyday practice."
"Just take it! You learn an enormous amount and you leave a good deal more competent."
"The Reading Financial Statements course is highly suitable for someone who is not a 'hard core financial' but who does know something about it from earlier study or work experience and wants to raise their knowledge to a higher level efficiently in a single day. Particular attention is paid to what the figures really say about a company or institution, and also to what they definitely do not say. The professional learning environment and the group size mean that participants can also learn from each other and that individual learning needs can be addressed, even when these go somewhat deeper into the subject matter."
"An excellent course and a good introduction to the financial statements and their components for non-accountants; accessible and interesting, with a very knowledgeable and pleasant trainer."
"A pleasant course, in which time is taken to explain things. I also found the pace at which the material was covered agreeable."
“This course gives you basic knowledge of annual accounts, the balance sheet and the profit and loss account. You learn how they are structured, what the figures mean and which choices lie behind them. The course is practical and substantial; during the course you are challenged to practise the material with a number of assignments. In-depth material is provided so you can take it further. An excellent foundation!”
"A useful course in which you learn how a set of financial statements is structured and what you can read from it. Thanks to the small group and the interactive way of teaching during our training day, we were also able to zoom in on specific parts of the financial statements. I found the course a perfect match for my wishes and expectations."
"A very illuminating course that can be taken without prior knowledge. Clear explanations and a pleasant pace."
Training formats
Classroom
1 day€ 625,-- Pleasant venue with a good trainer
- Small groups
- Inspiring and motivating
In-company
Bespoke trainingOn request- 100% for your group
- Bespoke training
- At your place or ours
Workshop
Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request- Suitable for events
- Interactive and inspiring
- Large groups too
Private training
At our place or yoursOn request- 100% just for you
- Achieve a lot in little time
- Whenever you want
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel free of charge?
Yes. Up to four weeks before the first day of the course you can cancel free of charge, without giving a reason. You then receive a credit note or, if you have already paid, a refund. If you cancel later, you pay part of the course fee: 25% between four and two weeks before the start, 75% in the two weeks before it and 100% in the final week. Moving to another start date is free of charge up to two weeks before the start, after that 50%. Sending a colleague in your place is always possible. Read the cancellation terms.
What prior knowledge do you need for the Reading Financial Statements course?
Who is the Reading Financial Statements course suitable for?
Which topics are covered in the Reading Financial Statements course?
Do you receive a certificate after the Reading Financial Statements course?
Can the Reading Financial Statements course also be taken in-company?
What is the difference between the Reading Annual Accounts course and a complete bookkeeping course?
When should you choose a classroom Reading Financial Statements course rather than a YouTube tutorial or e-learning?
How do I know whether the Reading Financial Statements course offers enough depth for my role as an investor or supervisory board member?
Can I bring in my own annual report or that of my employer during the Reading Financial Statements course?
How does this Reading Financial Statements course relate to what an accountant or controller does day to day?
What do you learn in this course about recognising flattered or 'window-dressed' annual figures?
What does the Reading Annual Accounts 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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Next start: Wed 4 November 2026 in Amsterdam
Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so you can secure a place now.