Accounting (Graduate) (ACGB)

ACGB 0001. Fund Act I (Peking Univ). (4.5 Credits)

ACGB 6111. Financial Accounting & Reporting Data Analysis. (3 Credits)

MBA CORE COURSE This core course in accounting is required of all Gabelli graduate students in every concentration. Provides insights into how accounting information can be used by investors and creditors to measure the results of business operations. Students requiring more in-depth accounting knowledge can select electives in financial and/or managerial accounting as their advisers suggest.

Attribute: ASDM.

Mutually Exclusive: MMGB 6111.

ACGB 7045. International Tax and Accounting. (3 Credits)

Introduces the complexities of international taxation by focusing on the U.S. tax system's impact on U.S. companies investing or operating abroad and on foreign companies investing or operating in the U.S. Topics include tax treaties, foreign tax credits, and controlled foreign operations. It also addresses global initiatives with respect to taxation and accounting. TXGB 7010 is recommended as a prior course.

Prerequisite: TXGB 7001.

ACGB 7076. Tax Accounting. (3 Credits)

This course provides an understanding of the application of accounting standard codification (ASC) topic 740: income taxes—focusing on the financial reporting of income tax amounts on the Statement of Operations, Statement of Financial Position, Statement of Stockholders’ Equity, and the Statement of Cash Flows; tax footnote; and related disclosures. It also covers audit issues related to income tax balances, disclosures, identifying tax risks, and internal controls to mitigate such risks.

Prerequisites: TXGB 7184 or GBA Waiver IndvBus Entity Tax with a score of 070.

ACGB 7105. Financial Accounting. (3 Credits)

The course is the first of two which focuses on the theory and techniques utilized in corporate financial reporting. It provides an in-depth understanding of current and non-current assets and how they are accounted for in accordance with financial accounting standards. It emphasizes the analysis and understanding of balance sheets, income statements and statements of cash flow rather than the mechanics of their construction.

Attribute: ABEP.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 7120. External Financial Information and Reporting. (3 Credits)

The course is the continuation of ACGB 7105. It examines the standards and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with regard to their impact on financial statements. It provides an in-depth understanding of current and noncurrent liabilities and stockholders’ equity and their accounting in accordance with the accounting standards. It also covers the intricacies of the cash flow statement and its interaction with the other financial statements. The course emphasizes the analysis and understanding of financial reports rather than the mechanics of their construction, and it is designed primarily, but not exclusively, for the students in the public accounting programs.

Prerequisites: (ACGB 7105 or GBA Waiver Financial Acct with a score of 070) and (FNGB 6411 or GBA Waiver Fin Environment with a score of 070).

ACGB 7125. Financial Statement Analysis. (3 Credits)

Gives students in the general MBA program a better understanding of financial statements and the information they communicate on the operating, investing and financing activities of corporations. Focuses on the impact of financial accounting principles, disclosure standards and alternative accounting practices on financial reports. Examines and evaluates traditional and non-traditional methods of financial statement analysis.

Attribute: ASDM.

Prerequisites: (ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070) and (FNGB 6411 or GBA Waiver Fin Environment with a score of 070).

ACGB 7128. Advanced Financial Statement Analysis. (3 Credits)

Augments the concepts taught in ACGB 7125. Also introduces state-of-the-art tools based on modern financial theory for analyzing financial reports. Topics may include: off-balance-sheet financing; damage assessment and litigation regarding misrepresentation; new reporting standards; and international accounting standards and consolidation issues.

Attribute: ASDM.

Prerequisite: ACGB 7125.

ACGB 7130. Adv Ext Info & Rptg. (3 Credits)

Critically examines accounting principles and standards for corporate financial reporting with particular emphasis on mergers and other consolidations, asset sales and divestitures. Additional topics include fund accounting, foreign currency, partnerships and segment and interim reporting.

Prerequisites: (ACGB 7120 or GBA Waiver Ext FinInfoReprt with a score of 070).

ACGB 7136. International Accounting. (3 Credits)

Provides students with an understanding of accounting problems and issues encountered by multinational corporations (MNCs) operating in an international environment. Most businesses today, large and small, have customers or clients throughout the world. The course covers the general problems facing MNCs, which will prepare students to interpret financial statements of MNCs.

Attribute: ABIB.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 7140. Valuation of Intangibles. (3 Credits)

This class focuses on the identification, economic characteristics, valuation, and accounting of intangible assets and intellectual property (IP). Valuation techniques include the analysis of transactions for comparable assets, discounted projected cash flows from use in operations or from royalty streams, and replication cost. Case studies are used to illustrate how intangible assets and IP are valued in practice and how merger and acquisition transactions can succeed or fail depending on whether intangible assets and IP are properly valued. The accounting analysis focuses on both the determination of cost and the periodic assessment for impairment.

Prerequisites: ACGB 7120 or ACGB 7125 or GBA Waiver Ext FinInfoReprt with a score of 070.

ACGB 7155. Managerial Accounting Analysis. (3 Credits)

MBA FLEX CORE COURSE For students in the general MBA program, focuses on product and service cost determination and using cost analysis in management decision making, control and performance evaluation. Oriented toward the manager as a user and interpreter of accounting information. Teaching includes case analysis and problem-solving.

Attribute: ABEP.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 7160. Internal Reporting & Control. (3 Credits)

The objective of this course is to provide students with an understanding of IT internal controls, including the IT audit function as it relates to Sarbanes Oxley. Emphasizes the identification of information technology control weaknesses as well as their impact on risk management.

Prerequisites: ACGB 7171 or GBA Waiver Audit Acct Sys1 with a score of 070.

ACGB 7171. Auditing of Accounting Systems I. (3 Credits)

Familiarizes students with the audit procedures required under Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS). Among the topics covered are audit planning, evaluating internal control, auditing transaction cycles and audit reports. Directed toward students in the public accounting programs who plan to take the Uniform Certified Public Accountant examination.

Prerequisites: ACGB 7105 (may be taken concurrently) or GBA Waiver Financial Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 7176. Advanced Audit Concepts and Practices. (3 Credits)

This class focuses on audit-testing techniques and the current auditing environment. Audit-testing techniques include statistical sampling and analytical procedures. The class will also cover recent trends in audit litigation, IRS uses of statistical methods, and forensic techniques. Conducted as a seminar, students will work individually and in groups on case studies and a term paper. Oral and written presentations are required.

Prerequisites: GBA Waiver Audit Acct Sys1 with a score of 070 or ACGB 7171.

ACGB 7184. Individual and Business Entity Taxation. (3 Credits)

Explores the sources and ideas underlying tax laws and their development in relation to fiscal and social policy. Emphasizes the application of basic concepts in tax planning for individuals and businesses. Topics include gross income, exclusions, deductions, credits, property transactions, basis and the alternative minimum tax.

Attribute: ABEP.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 7185. Derivatives and Analytics for Accounting. (3 Credits)

This course is designed to provide a broad introduction to both the valuation of derivative securities and the accounting for derivative securities used for both speculative and hedging purposes. Specific accounting standards related to derivatives will be used to provide guidance on the accounting for these securities. Microsoft Excel is used extensively to both value and account for the derivative securities.

Attribute: ISEL.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719B. Forensic Accounting. (3 Credits)

In this course, we will emphasize financial crimes components of forensic accounting and, as such, address financial statements fraud. We will also examine other financial crimes, such as embezzlement.

Prerequisites: ACGB 7105 or GBA Waiver Financial Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719C. Financial Accounting/Financial Statement Analysis. (3 Credits)

This course will provide students with an introduction to concepts, vocabulary, procedures, and uses of financial accounting. We will adopt several different points of view, including that of users, preparers, auditors, regulators, and standard setters.

ACGB 719D. Accounting Information Systems. (3 Credits)

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the subject of computer-based accounting information systems. The four critical objectives are a sound understanding in business processes, transaction cycles, internal controls and the systems components of each.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719E. Data-Based Operation Controls. (3 Credits)

The primary focus of the class will be on the use of data-driven analytics to help managers make key operating and strategic decisions. A secondary focus will be on the use of data-driven analytics for the purpose of internal control.

Prerequisite: ACGB 7155.

ACGB 719F. Accounting Controls. (3 Credits)

Attribute: ASDM.

Prerequisite: ACGB 7155.

ACGB 719G. Audit Data Analytics. (3 Credits)

Introduces audit and accounting students to data analytics foundations, methods and tools. It reviews industry applications and trends. Students will do hands-on projects analyzing audit and other accounting data.

Attributes: ASDM, BUAN, ISEL.

Prerequisite: ACGB 7171.

ACGB 719H. IT Audit and Information Assurance. (3 Credits)

This course will present an overview of the various elements of IT Audit and Information Assurance. Basic IT audit and information assurance concepts will be discussed and analyzed. General IT and application controls will be covered along with how the controls underlie SOX Section 404 Legislation. The course will also examine business processes, technologies and controls relating to financial reporting. Key components of information systems, including operating system security, database controls, network safeguards, systems development and application maintenance will also be covered. Technology processes supported under COBIT 5 will be discussed along with risk assessment techniques. The challenges around information assurance, data governance and privacy will be explored in detail.

Attributes: ASDM, BUAN, ISEL.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719J. Industry Analysis and Strategic Planning. (3 Credits)

Discusses techniques for analyzing the long-term attractiveness of different industries and develops a framework to understand the nature of competition and the relative competitive position of firms within industries. Emphasizes global factors that affect industry attractiveness and competitive positioning. In particular, highlights the impact of differences in and the competitive advantages of nations and trade, as well as the development of global standards for the long-term profit potential of industries. While this course emphasizes the industry level, it also includes competitive factors of firms within industries to introduce a framework for strategic planning at the firm level.

Attribute: ASDM.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719L. Sustainability Disclosure & SASB Standards. (3 Credits)

This course enables students to develop a deep understanding of industry standards and expanding regulations and guidance on sustainability by examining current company disclosures and evaluating to what level such disclosures reflect the company’s associated industry standard. Students will form their own views on how companies’ disclosures compare to the standards with respect to their relevance, fair representation, and usefulness in helping investors assess performance on material sustainability topics.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719M. Financial Modeling for Accounting. (3 Credits)

Develops (using Excel) the type of financial models that businesses use every day to analyze a wide range of financial problems and make decisions. Covers modeling of financial statements and models in many other important practical areas, such as time value of money, project evaluation, bonds, investment management and derivatives. Emphasizes using most powerful and useful tools in Excel, such as logical functions, PivotTables, Data Table, Scenario Manager, and Goal Seek to solve problems that closely resemble real-life situations.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719N. Business Risks In A Global Digital Economy. (3 Credits)

Our global, digital world has created a complex landscape with unprecedented challenges and risks for business. This course analyzes the ever-changing challenges companies face in this new environment. Lectures will discuss government policies, strategies, and tactics driving enforcement activity and outline the most effective approaches for preventing, detecting, and responding to these risks. Students will gain an understanding of these challenges in both the private and public sectors in varying industries.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719P. Professional Practice Research Seminar. (3 Credits)

The course will seek to expose students to issues and challenges faced by practitioners and regulators involved in financial reporting and capital markets. It intends to develop the ability to identify fundamental problems and frictions and think about approaches to address them. The course will foster critical thinking, identification and problem-solving skills, and ability to locate and analyze academic, professional, and regulatory information, as well as the ability to express oneself clearly and effectively. We will rely on and harness knowledge that participants have acquired in other courses. Some issues and problems of interest may require some form of data analysis. This may include the need to quantify and assess the scope of the issue, its economic magnitude, and its evolution over time. In some cases, the actual question or solution entirely depends on identifying and assessing the cost and benefit of the policy, phenomena, or behavior. Data-driven decision making will be a component of this course.

Prerequisite: ACGB 7105.

ACGB 719R. Programming with Python. (3 Credits)

Do you want to be able to solve business problems through programming/coding? This courses introduces key programming concepts, techniques, and tools. Students will learn programming/coding using the widely used Python programming language.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 719S. US/UK Sustainability Communication and Reporting. (3 Credits)

This course will enable students to develop a deeper understanding of the risks and opportunities of being a sustainable business and the similarities and differences of sustainable communications between companies in the U.S. and in the U.K. Students will have the opportunity to travel to the U.K. and hear directly from leaders of industry about the challenges they face when trying to identify, evaluate, and report the issues that will allow them to operate as a sustainable business. Students will research companies in the U.K. and the U.S. to compare and contrast how different companies are handling similar situations with a focus on how they are using the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals to evaluate risk exposure and to communicate to their stakeholders.

Prerequisite: ACGB 6111.

ACGB 719T. Accounting Internship Seminar. (3 Credits)

Internships are experiential learning activities designed to provide students with opportunities to make connections between the theory and practice of academic study and the practical application of that study in a professional work environment. This course provides students with the unique opportunity to engage with multi-national service corporations and through the completion of weekly exercises and a final reflection paper, earn academic credit. Students will gain relevant experience and professional connections and ultimately accelerate their career.

ACGB 719U. Sustainability Reporting and Finance. (3 Credits)

Financial decisions worldwide are increasingly influenced by the unique risks of the 21st century. All activities demand focus on sustainability issues—from the looming impacts of climate change and risks associated with health and safety to credit and investment gaps that limit business opportunities and hamper economic progress in many parts of the world. As the challenges of scarcity of resources, the search for profits through efficiency, and impact of climate change continue to mount, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data become essential for prudent decision-making. Along with several multinational investment banks, Dow Jones has a sustainability index indicating that the search for profitability through efficiency has transcended trends and become the new corporate norm. Students in this course study finance, corporate disclosures, and sustainability reporting practices as integrated subjects, beginning with an introduction to financial and reporting principles and moving through financial analysis and industry-focused disclosures. Additionally, the course covers diverse aspects of sustainable reporting and offers tools for effective risk assessment.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of .

ACGB 7811. Accounting -Internship. (1 to 3 Credits)

This course is intended for students with an Accounting internship for this trimester that wish to receive academic credit for it. The course will begin with an orientation session and will be followed by additional meetings with students. The course instructor will provide additional details to enrolled students.

ACGB 819A. Valuation and Modeling for Accounting. (1.5 Credits)

This course expands on valuation techniques discussed in Modern Financial Analysis and Valuation Techniques. Students will have the opportunity to learn the modeling techniques used by today's Wall Street practitioners associated with Discounted Cash Flow Analysis, Merger Analysis, Purchase Price Allocations and Synergy DCFs.

Attribute: ASDM.

Prerequisite: ACGB 819B (may be taken concurrently).

ACGB 819B. Modern Financial Analysis. (1.5 Credits)

Learn how the financial services industry applies valuation techniques in a deal context! In this mini-course, you will demystify the theory behind the analytics and ultimately appreciate the “art” and “science” of valuation analytics. What is a company worth? What is someone willing to pay? The answers depend on: who the seller is; who the potential buyer(s) is; the context of the transaction and the current market conditions.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 819C. ESG and Purpose Driven Business. (1.5 Credits)

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) covers a broad range of ever-increasingly essential business issues. ESG concerns are becoming part of mainstream business discussions, and they require that companies consider more than just profit but create value for all stakeholders. Through interactive lectures, games, in-class exercises and reflection, you will finish with a well-grounded approach to making the purpose-driven business a reality.

Prerequisites: ACGB 6111 or GBA Waiver Fundamentals Acct with a score of 070.

ACGB 8999. Independent Study. (2 to 3 Credits)

Accounting Tutorials.