ACCT 370 is Liberty's financial statement analysis course in the BS in Accounting. Its written work is one group forum, a four-part Excel project analyzing a listed company against two or three competitors, and a financial analysis report of at least 2,000 words on the same company.
Liberty's catalog lists the course as ACCT 370 Financial Statement Analysis, 3 credit hours; Canvas and the course guide file print it as ACCT370.
What ACCT 370 covers
The catalog description: This course examines the fundamental techniques of financial statement analysis and their application to strategic planning and decision-making. The course covers the analysis and interpretation of financial information including the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows.
The course examines the fundamental techniques of financial statement analysis and their use in strategic planning and decision-making, covering the analysis and interpretation of the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows. The text is Revsine et al., Financial Reporting and Analysis.
Connect homework and four Connect exams carry about 540 points and have no guide here. Everything else builds on one company you choose in Week 1: it must trade on a recognized exchange such as the NYSE or NASDAQ, and the instructor must approve it by email.
Textbook named in the published guide: Revsine et al., Financial Reporting and Analysis (2018). Check the current edition in your Canvas section.
ACCT 370 assignments, week by week
Every graded written assignment in the published guide has its own how-to guide below. Quizzes, exams, checklists and class introductions are left out because there is nothing to write.
| Week | Assignment | Points | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excel Project Part 1 | 50 | Excel workbook (Part 1) |
| 2 | Group Discussion Board Forum | 65 | Thread at least 750 words; replies at least 350 words |
| 3 | Excel Project Part 2 | 50 | Excel workbook (Part 2) |
| 5 | Excel Project Part 3 | 50 | Excel workbook (Part 3) |
| 7 | Excel Project Part 4 | 50 | Excel workbook (Part 4) |
| 8 | Financial Analysis Report | 200 | At least 2,000 words |
Week 1: Excel Project Part 1
Company information and historical balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements for your company and 2 to 3 competitors, in Excel. How to write ACCT 370 Week 1 Excel Project Part 1.
Week 2: Group Discussion Board Forum
A 750-word thread in Week 2 and two 350-word replies in Week 3, each with 2 peer-reviewed sources beyond the textbooks and the Bible. How to write ACCT 370 Week 2 Group Discussion Board Forum.
Week 3: Excel Project Part 2
Ratio analysis for your company and its competitors, in Excel. How to write ACCT 370 Week 3 Excel Project Part 2.
Week 5: Excel Project Part 3
Horizontal and vertical analysis of the statements, in Excel. How to write ACCT 370 Week 5 Excel Project Part 3.
Week 7: Excel Project Part 4
Projected financial statements for your company, in Excel. How to write ACCT 370 Week 7 Excel Project Part 4.
Week 8: Financial Analysis Report
A report of at least 2,000 words on the company from the Excel project, combining market research and your quantitative analysis, with at least 8 reputable sources beyond the textbook and the Bible. How to write ACCT 370 Week 8 Financial Analysis Report.
How ACCT 370 is graded
The published schedule totals 1,010 points. The Excel project parts are 50 each (200), the financial analysis report 200, and the forum 65 (thread 40, replies 25). Connect homework is 175, the four exams 360 and the checklist 10.
| Graded item | Points |
|---|---|
| Financial Analysis Report | 200 |
| Excel Project Parts 1 to 4 | 200 |
| Group Discussion Board Forum | 65 |
| Connect Homework (8) | 175 |
| Connect Exams (4) | 360 |
| Course Requirements Checklist | 10 |
The published scale puts an A at 900 to 1010 points.
Week timing in the published guide: Each course module/week (except Module/Week 1) begins on Tuesday morning at 12:00 a.m. (ET) and ends on Monday night at 11:59 p.m. (ET). The final module/week ends at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday.
How to approach ACCT 370
Choose your company in Week 1 and email the instructor for approval right away; Part 1 is due that same week. Pick a company with two or three clear competitors (Home Depot and Lowe's, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, Delta and United).
Download three years of 10-K financial statements for the company and its competitors from SEC EDGAR; every part of the project and the report uses them.
Questions students ask
What company can I use for ACCT 370?
A company traded on a recognized stock exchange, such as the NYSE or NASDAQ, approved by your instructor by email, analyzed against 2 to 3 competitors.
How long is the ACCT 370 financial analysis report?
At least 2,000 words in current APA, with at least 8 reputable sources in addition to the textbook and the Bible.
Working through ACCT 370 now?
Tell us the week and the assignment. A tutor who knows the course replies with a plan for the draft.