Reading Financial Statements course in Amsterdam

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.

Read the full description of the Reading Financial Statements course

All dates in Amsterdam

None of the dates suitable? In-company takes place on a day of your choosing, and the course also runs in other cities.

Where in Amsterdam

Who you'll be taught by in Amsterdam

• Luis Finance and tax trainer Rating 8,9 from 162 evaluations
• Gert Trainer in Financial Management and Strategy and Business Innovation Rating 10,0

What participants thought

• “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.”

  P. Steur - HDD BV- Reading Financial Statements

• "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."

  G. Cappon - CBS- Reading Annual Accounts

• “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!”

  G. Schurman - Agora- Reading Financial Statements

• "The course ties in well with everyday practice."

  - Reading Financial Statements

Frequently asked questions

What prior knowledge do you need for the Reading Financial Statements course?

No prior financial knowledge is required for the Reading Financial Statements course. The course has been developed precisely for people who do not deal with finance on a daily basis, such as board members, managers from marketing, HR, sales or IT, in-house lawyers, solicitors, shareholders and investors. Financial jargon and difficult definitions are explained in plain language, so that you learn to read and interpret annual accounts from scratch.

Who is the Reading Financial Statements course suitable for?

The Reading Financial Statements course is intended for professionals who do not work with finance on a daily basis but who do have to make decisions based on annual figures. Think of directors and managers from marketing, HR, sales or IT, in-house lawyers, solicitors, shareholders and investors. You learn to read, interpret and see through a set of financial statements.

Which topics are covered in the Reading Financial Statements course?

In the Reading Financial Statements course you cover the balance sheet, the profit and loss account, the notes and the accounting policies. You learn to interpret financial indicators and ratios, the difference between commercial and tax-based annual figures, and how to spot accounting tricks such as window dressing. The statutory requirements, the role of the accountant and strategic decision-making based on annual figures are also covered.

Do you receive a certificate after the Reading Financial Statements course?

Yes, on completion of the Reading Financial Statements course you receive a certificate of participation from Learnit. This certificate confirms that you have successfully completed the classroom-based course and that you are able to read, interpret and analyse annual accounts. You can use the certificate to demonstrate your basic financial knowledge to an employer or client, or within your personal development plan.

Can the Reading Financial Statements course also be taken in-company?

Yes, the Reading Financial Statements course can also be taken in-company. This is useful if several colleagues want to learn at the same time how to read and interpret a set of financial statements. The programme is tailored to the practice of your organisation, so that the examples and exercises match your own annual figures. The classroom course ; for in-company you receive a tailored quote.

What is the difference between the Reading Annual Accounts course and a complete bookkeeping course?

The Reading Annual Accounts course focuses on interpreting existing annual figures, not on drawing them up yourself. You learn to understand the balance sheet, income statement, notes and accounting policies, to interpret financial indicators and to see through flattered figures (such as window dressing). A bookkeeping course, by contrast, teaches you how to process transactions, make journal entries and build up a set of annual accounts yourself. That This course lasts (classroom-based,) and is intended for people who take decisions on the basis of annual figures: board members, managers from marketing, HR, sales or IT, corporate lawyers, shareholders and investors. You do not need a financial background. Choose this course if you want to be able to read and analyse annual reports; choose a bookkeeping programme if you have to keep the books yourself.

When should you choose a classroom Reading Financial Statements course rather than a YouTube tutorial or e-learning?

A classroom course makes sense if you want to discuss financial statements from your own practice and learn to interpret them in a targeted way. At Learnit You may bring along your own financial statements and go through them together with the trainer. You will not get that from a YouTube tutorial or a standard e-learning. An intake takes place beforehand, so that the content matches your background and learning objectives. Tricks such as window dressing and profit steering are also covered, with direct feedback on your questions. For self-study, a book or online video will suffice if you only want to recognise concepts. If you want to learn to interpret your organisation's figures and underpin strategic decisions, a classroom course is more effective.

How do I know whether the Reading Financial Statements course offers enough depth for my role as an investor or supervisory board member?

The Reading Financial Statements course focuses on interpreting annual figures, not on drawing them up yourself. For investors, shareholders and supervisory directors that is usually exactly what you need: you learn to get to grips with the balance sheet, the profit and loss account and the notes, to interpret financial indicators and to recognise flattered figures (such as window dressing and earnings management). The difference between commercial and tax-based figures and the role of the accountant are also covered. The course lasts If you want to go deeper into the valuation models (DCF, multiples, due diligence), this is a good basis but not an end point. For strategic decision-making based on annual figures it is generally sufficient, partly because you may bring along your own financial statements.