Executive Education in Accounting: Degree Overview

Learn about executive education programs in accounting. Get information on seminars and certificate programs, requirements and course topics to make an informed decision about your education.

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Executive Education Programs in Finance and Accounting

Many university business schools offer executive education programs. These seminars provide four to five days of intense financial instruction for managers and executives who do not have finance backgrounds but need to know how to use financial data in business. The programs are also open to executives who want to update their financial knowledge. These programs do not award degrees, although graduates may receive certificates.

Participants learn to use the basic principles of accounting and finance to make sound business decisions through hands-on training, workshops, discussions and case studies. Understanding how financial statements are generated is an important aspect of these education programs. The executives study the relationships between growth, profitability, cash flow and liquidity. They also learn about differing financial approaches and how to apply them in various situations.

Educational Prerequisites

There are no firm educational requirements, but participants should have at least a bachelor's degree. These programs are best suited to middle to senior-level managers and executives who have little academic background in finance or accounting. Some programs are recommended for executives with five or more years of experience.

Course Topics

Executive education programs in accounting teach participants the language of finance and how to communicate with the finance professionals in their own companies. They learn to analyze financial statements, make use of the information they contain and use that information to help make financial decisions. Topics covered during these programs may include:

  • Calculating ratios
  • Shareholder value management
  • Effective budgeting
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Reducing risk exposure
  • Working capital management

Popular Career Options

An executive education program is useful to people in many areas of business, including executives in:

  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Human resources
  • Engineering
  • Manufacturing

Continuing Education Options

For those interested in a more thorough study of accounting and finance, many universities offer graduate programs with such a focus. For instance, there are MBA programs that would allow you their students to further their knowledge in the field through courses in taxation, financial accounting, and managerial accounting, to name a few. These programs usually take 1-2 years to complete, and have flexible schedules to accommodate working professionals.

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