This article outlines our strategy for tutoring accounting students, particularly in the Principles of Financial Accounting course at the Stern School of Business, NYU, by breaking down the process into key components: course objectives, teaching format, course descriptions, case studies, required textbooks, key questions, and the role of teaching faculty. Here is an outline:

Private tutoring has been proven to speed up learning and understanding. GraduateTutor’s tutors provide both one-on-one tutoring and in small group tutoring. Our goal is to reinforce classroom learning, clarify challenging concepts, and provide clarity and depth of understanding. GraduateTutor’s accounting tutors offer tutoring for all of NYU Stern’s accounting courses. Please email or call us if we can provide you accounting tutoring. 

Objectives of the Principles Of Financial Accounting Courses at the Stern School of Business

The primary objective of our tutoring Principles Of Financial Accounting Course students at the Stern School of Business is to provide the basic skills necessary to understand and analyze financial statements as well as to prepare you for more advanced accounting courses. In the financial accounting context, this includes understanding how to analyze and record financial transactions, interpret financial reports, and apply these skills in real-world scenarios.

By the end of the Principles Of Financial Accounting course at the Stern School of Business, I should be able to:

  1. Get a solid grasp of the key concepts in financial accounting.
  2. Understand how accountants analyze and record transactions.
  3. Read and make sense of annual reports and use that info to evaluate how a company is doing.
  4. Be “fluent” in the language of business. This means you can sum up and break down the results of business transactions through financial statements.

Prerequisites for Principles Of Financial Accounting Course

One would think that there are no prerequisites for an introductory course at the undergraduate level like the Principles Of Financial Accounting Course. However, at the Stern School of Business, the Principles Of Financial Accounting Course requires you to have done at least one semester of coursework at NYU before selecting the course.

This is surprising because even the graduate level and MBA level financial accounting course, Financial Accounting and Reporting COR1-GB.1306 – B01.1306, does not require a prerequisite!

Teaching Format Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at the Stern School of Business

The teaching format of the Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at the Stern School of Business is primarily lecture-based. Students are expected to come prepared for Principles Of Financial Accounting classes by reading the assignment material and attempting the questions. Each session starts with a review of the key topics. This is followed by working through problems or case studies that align with those topics. The format can vary depending on the topic and the professor’s style. Some topics may need more hands-on problem-solving, while others might need more case examples.

Our tutors use a blend of reinforcement, application, and discussion when tutoring the teaching format Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at the Stern School of Business. We try to ensure that:

  • Students understand the difference between financial accounting and management accounting.
  • Key financial accounting concepts taught in each session are understood and practiced.
  • Dive deep into the assigned readings and work through the problems or case studies with the accounting students.
  • Engage in discussions with the students on real-world applications of the accounting concepts covered each session.

Principles of Financial Accounting Course Tutoring Plan

As graduate-level MBA tutors, we strive to provide students with a solid understanding of the Principles of Financial Accounting course. In Principles of Financial Accounting, the course is typically divided into two main parts: foundational concepts and applied accounting practices.

Foundational Accounting Concepts: The first part covers the basics, such as the accounting cycle, financial statements, accrual accounting, the balance sheet equation, journal entries, etc.

Applied Accounting Practices: The second part, applied accounting practices, delves into specific accounting topics like revenue recognition, inventory management, and the handling of long-term assets and liabilities.

As a tutor, we build on each section and bridge the gap between these two sections, ensuring the student is prepared for both theoretical questions and practical applications.

Case Studies Used in Principles of Financial Accounting at Stern School of Business

Case studies are an invaluable tool in tutoring because they offer real-world applications of the theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom. In financial accounting, case studies such as those from Apple Computer Financial Statements or the Mini Case of Breda Enterprises Inc. provide students with opportunities to apply their learning to real business scenarios. Working through these cases during tutoring sessions helps students develop analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex financial data. Unlike the Graduate Programs and MBA programs at Stern, where students use HBS/Darden/Stern case studies, the undergraduate program mostly uses cases in the textbook to teach the financial accounting concepts in focus.

Required Textbook for Financial Accounting at Stern School of Business

The required textbook for the course is Financial Accounting by Robert Libby, Patricia Libby, and Frank Hodge. Over the years, different faculty have used different editions of this book or different combinations of authors with Libby and Libby. The Libby and Libby financial accounting textbooks have become the gold standard at the MBA level. The McGraw-Hill Connect online platform is used to administer pre-class assignments and homework problems. As a tutor, we ensure that students are not only familiar with the textbook content but also proficient in using the Connect platform for completing accounting assignments and practice problems. Often, it is frustrating for students to figure out the format for decimal points and percentages wasting significant amounts of time.

Key Questions Addressed in Principles of Financial Accounting at Stern School of Business

The Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at the Stern School of Business addresses the following key questions:

  • How do different transactions affect a company’s financial statements?
  • What are the implications of various accounting methods on financial reporting?
  • How can one assess the quality of earnings reported by a company?
  • What strategies can be used to manage accounts receivable effectively?

We focus on these and related questions as tutors to the Principles Of Financial Accounting course, at the Stern School of Business.

Teaching Faculty Principles Of Financial Accounting Course

Understanding the expectations and teaching style of the course instructor is crucial for effective tutoring. Various Professors from the Accounting Department teach this course. In the case of this syllabus, Professor Alex Dontoh leads the course with a focus on both fundamental accounting principles and their application in evaluating earnings quality.

Past faculty members who have taught the Principles of Financial Accounting course at the Stern School of Business include:

  • Professor Stephen Ryan teaches many teaching core accounting courses at Stern, including Principles of Financial Accounting.
  • Professor Joshua Ronen who has contributed significantly to the accounting curriculum at Stern, bringing in his expertise in financial accounting and auditing.
  • Professor Dan Gode, who has an engaging teaching style and deep knowledge of accounting, Professor Gode and brings a practical application and understanding angle of accounting concepts.
  • Professor Paul Zarowin is an expert in financial reporting and earnings management.
  • Professor Eli Bartov has a strong background in financial accounting, particularly in the areas of earnings management and financial statement analysis.
  • Professor April Klein specializes in corporate governance and financial disclosure.
  • Professor Baruch Lev – A renowned scholar in financial accounting, Professor Lev has taught various accounting courses at Stern, including Principles of Financial Accounting, sharing his extensive research on the relevance and application of accounting information.
  • Professor Mary Billings focuses on financial statement analysis and the implications of accounting information on capital markets.

This is only a sample list of faculty at NYU who have taught the Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at Stern at the graduate and undergraduate level.

Grading Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at Stern

Your grade in the course will be based on several components. There are several quizzes, two midterm exams, and a final exam. The midterm and final exams will be closed book. Due to the course material’s progressive nature, all exams will necessarily be cumulative unless indicated otherwise.

Attendance and participation count for 5% of your final grade, so showing up and being engaged in class is important. Prep assignments will make up 10%, and another 10% will come from homework assignments, so staying on top of these will help solidify your understanding. The two midterm exams are significant, each contributing 20% to your overall grade. Finally, the final exam is the most heavily weighted, accounting for 35% of your grade, so make sure to prepare thoroughly.

Order of Topics in Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at Stern

Here are the topics covered in each class based on the syllabus:

PART I – THE ACCOUNTING CYCLE

Session 1: Overview Of Financial Statements and Reporting Process

Session 2: Recording Transactions & Preparing Financial Statements

Session 3: Income Measurement And Accrual Accounting

Session 4: Statement of Cash Flows

PART II – ACCOUNTING FOR CURRENT AND OTHER ASSETS

Session 5: Revenue Recognition And Accounts Receivable

Session 6: Inventory And Cost Of Goods Sold

Session 7: Long-Lived Tangible And Intangible Assets

PART III – ACCOUNTING FOR LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Session 8: Long Term Liabilities: Bonds & Capital Leases

Session 9: Reporting and Interpreting Owners’ Equity

These sessions encompass the core content areas of the course, providing a comprehensive understanding of financial accounting.

Tutoring for Other Accounting courses at the NYU Stern School of Business

We also offer tutoring for a variety of financial and managerial accounting courses taught at the NYU Stern School of Business. Here are some of the undergraduate accounting courses we tutor for.

Here are some of the MBA-level accounting courses we tutor.

Here are some of the graduate-level accounting courses we tutor.

Tutoring for Principles Of Financial Accounting Course at Stern

GraduateTutor’s accounting tutors offer tutoring for Principles of Financial Accounting at the Stern School of Business for the undergraduate, graduate and MBA students. Tutoring is a collaborative and flexible process that requires an understanding of the course material, the student’s learning style, and the course instructor’s expectations. By following the outlined approach, tutors can help students achieve academic success in courses like Principles of Financial Accounting, ensuring they are well-prepared for exams and future professional challenges.

GraduateTutor’s accounting tutors offer tutoring for all of Stern School of Business’ accounting courses. Please email or call us if we can provide you with accounting tutoring for financial accounting or managerial accounting. Or, for that matter, any other quantitative course you will encounter in a b-school program.