Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting
Build your financial fluency and learn how accounting principles and financial tools drive smarter business decisions, guided by Ivey faculty Steve Foerrester and Felipe Restrepo in a flexible, self-paced format.
Price
$690.00 CAD $640.00 CAD
Start anytime
10 hours 
Online Self-Paced Start anytime
Self-Paced
10 hours
$690.00 CAD
$640.00 CAD
Financial literacy is essential for navigating today’s business landscape. In this self-paced course, Ivey faculty guide you through the fundamentals of finance and accounting, from interpreting financial statements to applying key ratios this course will give you the foundational knowledge successful leaders need to understanding of financial fundamentals.
Designed for professionals from all backgrounds, the course blends core theory with practical application. Through interactive modules, self-assessments, and summary sessions, you’ll learn how to evaluate financial health, analyze profitability, and make data-driven decisions with confidence.
You’ll leave with a solid understanding of finance and accounting principles, a digital certificate, and the ability to apply financial reasoning across business functions, from budgeting and operations to strategy and leadership.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the accounting equation and distinguish between different forms of business ownership.
- Build and interpret core financial statements including the income statement and balance sheet.
- Apply key financial ratios to assess profitability, liquidity, and operational efficiency.
- Use concepts like EBIT, EBITDA, and contribution margin to evaluate business performance
- Calculate present and future value, and apply time value of money principles to investment decisions
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This self-paced course includes approximately 10 hours of content, designed to be completed within a 90-day window. You’ll progress through interactive modules, complete knowledge checks, and receive instant feedback through our AI-first LMS.
Course Roadmap
Module 1: Fundamentals of Accounting
Start with the basics—learn how accounting tracks business activity, explore different forms of ownership, and understand the accounting equation.
Module 2: Building Financial Statements
Dive into transaction analysis and the mechanics of debits and credits. You’ll explore key accounts, adjusting entries, and how financial statements come together—culminating in a hands-on self-assessment where you’ll build your own.
Module 3: Interpreting Financial Statements
Learn how to read and analyze income statements and balance sheets. This module helps you connect financial data to business performance, with guided exercises and assessments to sharpen your interpretation skills.
Module 4: Financial Ratios
Discover how financial ratios reveal the health of a business. You’ll explore profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and growth metrics—including EBIT and EBITDA—and practice applying them through targeted self-assessments.
Module 5: Managerial Accounting
Shift from reporting to decision-making. This module introduces managerial accounting tools that empower strategic choices, including contribution margin analysis and cost behavior—supported by interactive exercises.
Module 6: The Time Value of Money
Understand how time affects the value of money. You’ll learn to calculate present and future value, explore compounding, and apply net present value and annuity concepts to real-world investment decisions.
Dates & Fees
Start anytime
Duration: ~10 hours (self-paced)
Access: 90 days from enrollment
Tuition: $500 CAD
Certificate: Digital credential upon completion
No prerequisites required. Enroll anytime and learn at your own pace.
This course is part of Ivey Essentials bundle. Complete all six to earn a certificate in foundational business skills.
This course is designed for professionals who want to strengthen their financial literacy and apply it to real-world business decisions. No prior accounting or finance experience is required.
Ideal participants include:
- Managers and analysts seeking to understand financial performance.
- Entrepreneurs and product leaders managing budgets and investments.
- Professionals preparing for an MBA or executive program.
- Learners looking to sharpen their financial and strategic thinking.
Stephen Foerster
Professor, Finance
Stephen Foerster has taught Finance at the Ivey Business School since 1987 and previously taught at the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), where he received an MA and Ph.D. He obtained the Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) designation in 1997 and is a recipient of Ivey’s Teaching Innovation Award and the Dean Carol Stephenson Excellence in EMBA Teaching Award.
Steve’s main teaching and research interests are in the Corporate Finance and Capital Markets areas. He has written the books Financial Management: A Primer, Financial Management: Concepts and Applications, and has written over 100 case studies and notes. He been a consultant and executive training course designer and facilitator in portfolio management, finance for non-financial executives, value based management, risk management and other investment areas to such companies as Alcan Inc., Bank of Montreal, BMO Nesbitt-Burns, Canadian Investor Relations Institute, Canadian Securities Institute, Falconbridge, Harris Bank, Institute of Canadian Bankers, J.D. Irving, Noranda, Royal Bank, RBC Asset Management, RBC Dexia, Scotia Capital Markets, Siemens, Syngenta, the Toronto Stock Exchange, and Torstar.
Steve is a member of the Advisory Board of Canadian Investment Review and Financial Economics Network (FEN) Courses, Cases and Teaching Abstracts Journal and a member of the Editorial Board of Financial Analysts Journal and Pacific-Basin Finance Journal. Steve is currently a member of Western's joint pension board and was formerly a director and chair of the Investment Committee of Foundation Western (Western’s alumni endowment fund) and was on the Advisory Board of Tremont Capital Opportunity Trust.
Courses
Felipe Restrepo
Associate Professor of Finance
Felipe Restrepo is an Associate Professor of Finance and the Paul Desmarais/London Life Faculty Fellow in Finance at the Ivey Business School. Professor Restrepo holds a PhD and a Master of Science in Finance from Boston College, along with a BS in Economics from EAFIT University in Medellin, Colombia.
At Ivey, Dr. Restrepo has taught in the HBA and MSc programs, and he has been the recipient of the David G. Burgoyne Teaching Award (2019 and 2024) and of Ivey’s Early Career Research Impact Award (2021). Before transitioning to academia, Dr. Restrepo spent five years working in the financial industry in Colombia. His roles included serving as a Project Manager in the Derivatives and Risk Management division at Bancolombia (NYSE: CIB), and as a Quantitative Analyst in the Economic Research Department at Valores Bancolombia.
Dr. Restrepo’s research expertise lies in the intersection of corporate finance and financial intermediation. His research focuses on the financial and real effects of bank transaction taxes, on the impact of credit rating policies on firms’ investment and financing decisions, and on the process that leads to the pricing of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs). Professor Restrepo’s scholarly work has been published in leading finance journals, including the Journal of Finance, Journal of Financial Economics, and Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis.
Restrepo, a Fulbright Scholar, combines his industry experience with academic rigour, contributing to the field of finance both as a researcher and educator at the Ivey Business School.
Courses
Start anytime. Complete at your own pace.
| Length | Learning Method | Tuition Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 10 hours | Online Self-Paced |
$690.00 CAD
$640.00 CAD |
Enrollment and Payment FAQs
Click “Enroll Now” on the course page and follow the prompts to complete your registration.
We accept major credit cards. You’ll be prompted to select your preferred method during checkout.
Yes. You can forward the payment link or invoice to your employer, or contact us for assistance with corporate enrollment.
- For Cohort programs - 30 Days Before Program Start
- Cancellation: You will receive a full refund of the program fee.
- Transfer to a Later Date: No fees apply.
- Less than 30 Days Before Program Start
- Cancellation: Incurs a 25% cancellation fee.
- Transfer to a Later Date: Incurs a 15% transfer fee.
- Compassionate exceptions: Fees may be waived on compassionate grounds, please contract (Operations email).
- Unredeemed transfers: If not used within 12 months, the full program fee is forfeited.
No, the purchaser and the person taking the course must match to ensure the digital credential is given to the correct person.
Yes, please contact (Operations email) and they will set up a group invoice.
Certification and Credentials
Yes. You’ll receive a digital certificate from Ivey Business School upon successful completion of the course.
Ivey’s certificates are widely respected and can be added to your LinkedIn profile or resume.
Upon completion, you’ll receive a secure digital credential directly to your email, that can be shared and verified online.
Self-Paced Course Structure and Experience
This is a self-paced, asynchronous course with interactive modules, quizzes, and AI-powered feedback.
You’ll have access for 90 days from the date of purchase.
Approximately 10 hours in total. You can complete it at your own pace over the course of 90 days.
There are no formal exams. You’ll complete quizzes and knowledge checks with unlimited attempts.
This course is self-directed and does not include instructor-led live sessions. You may interact with other students through online activities.
