This course introduces financial management within an organizational context, focusing on how finance supports strategic decision-making. Learners explore business structures, financial objectives, ethical considerations, agency relationships, and financial markets while gaining insight into the role non-financial managers play in financial performance.
Module 1: Finance and the Organization
Role of finance in business
Responsibilities of financial managers
Finance versus accounting
Module 2: Business Organizations and Financial Objectives
Sole proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations
Ownership and structure implications
Wealth maximization versus profit maximization
Module 3: Ethics and Social Responsibility in Finance
Ethical decision-making in financial management
Corporate social responsibility and sustainability
Impact on stakeholders and firm value
Module 4: The Finance Department and Managerial Roles
Structure and functions of the finance department
Interaction between finance and non-financial managers
Decision support and internal controls
Module 5: Agency Relationships and Governance
Principal–agent relationships
Conflicts of interest and agency costs
Incentives, monitoring, and alignment strategies
Module 6: Principles of Financial Management
The five foundational principles of financial management
Risk–return tradeoff
Time value of money and valuation concepts
Module 7: Financial Markets
Overview and purpose of financial markets
The five key financial markets
Market efficiency and information flow
Module 8: Corporate Financing and the Firm Life Cycle
Internal and external financing sources
Rules and constraints of corporate financing
Financing across the business life cycle
Module 9: Stock Markets and Trading Mechanisms
Functions of the stock market
Primary and secondary markets
Trading venues: exchanges, OTC markets, electronic networks
Module 10: Interest Rates and Financial Impact
Determinants of interest rates
Role of inflation, risk, and maturity
Impact of interest rates on organizational decisions
After completing this course, the learner will be able to:
Identify and differentiate the three primary forms of business organizations and their structures
Explain the fundamental objectives of a corporation, including wealth versus profit maximization
Recognize the influence of ethics and social responsibility on financial decisions
Describe the structure and functions of the finance department
Define principal–agent relationships and methods for reducing conflicts of interest
List and explain the five foundational principles of financial management
Identify and describe the major financial markets relevant to managers
Explain corporate financing sources, rules, and life‑cycle stages
Describe the role of the stock market and its trading venues
Analyze interest rate determinants and their impact on organizations
Certificate of completion
This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.