General Information
Promotional Video
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Instructor Bio
Alex Edwards is a Full Professor and the Area Coordinator in the Accounting area. His research is focused on taxation and capital markets and has been published in leading academic journals including the Accounting Review, the Journal of Accounting and Economics, the Journal of Financial Economics, Management Science, Contemporary Accounting Research, the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis, and the Journal of the American Taxation Association. He serves as an editor for Contemporary Accounting Research. Before entering academics, Alex worked as a tax specialist and auditor with KPMG LLP.
Target Audience
Private companies are a large and important part of the economy. Toronto has become one of the top destinations for entrepreneurs to start their ventures. This course provides accounting (financial, managerial, and taxation) related skills that are useful in these companies. Students who are interested in working for, or working with entrepreneurial companies should take this course.
Prerequisites
- RSM1220 – Financial Accounting and Reporting: A Global Perspective
- RSM1222 – Managerial Accounting
- RSM1201 – Fundamentals of Strategic Management
- RSM1231 – Finance I: Global Capital Markets and Valuation
- or with approval from the instructor
Format
12 weekly 2-hour sessions
Course Mission
This course will introduce the accounting tools and develop the accounting skills related to the role of a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at a private, entrepreneurial company. The structure of the course will follow the life-cycle of a company that begins as a start-up, and will cover the tax, managerial, and financial accounting related issues of key importance at early stage private companies. Topics include organizational structure, key performance indicators and budgeting, equity structure and compensation, internal and external financial reporting, the role of external accountants, fundraising (equity and debt), exits and IPOs.
Course Scope
After taking this course, students should have an understanding of the major taxation, financial accounting, and managerial accounting issues for early stage private companies.
Evaluation and Grade Distribution
| Component | Due Date | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Class Participation | Ongoing | 20% |
| Term Test | Class 6 | 15% |
| Group Assignment | Class 11 | 25% |
| Final Exam | Exam Period | 40% |
Required Resources
Entrepreneurial Finance and Accounting for High-Tech Companies, by Frank Fabozzi