Student guide Faculty of Economics A.Y. 2007/08

The aim of the course is to comprehensively and systematically analyse the contents of financial statement documents, enabling students to appraise their significance and, by re-examining the information they contain, formulate a judgement on the economic-financial standing of the firm.

Following a brief review of the ideas introduced in the Accounting and Financial Statements module of the Business Economics course, students will go on to study the logic of accounting entries more in depth.

The subsequent lectures will therefore cover the methods for drawing up financial statements intended for publication, focusing in particular on the problems of valuing the principal asset and liability entries which together determine the financial results for the period. With respect to this, the general and specific principles laid down by the Civil Code will be examined, and the provisions of the Italian Accounting Principles illustrated.

Students will then be introduced to the topic area of statutory financial statements and their relationship with the rules for determination of income tax.

The course ends with a more in-depth investigation of the rationale and applications of the fundamental balance sheet analysis tools (reclassification, indexes and financial statement) essential for formulating a judgement on the economic performance of the firm.