One of the most effective approaches is to use an AICPA review course as a tool to prepare for the financial statements analysis portion of the exam. There are a variety of different such courses on the Internet today that can help to prepare for the CFA exam. However, if you don’t have the time to sit in a classroom and learn by yourself, then the option of hiring a private tutor for the analysis portion might be just what you need.
Using a prepared test preparation package can save you a tremendous amount of time. Rather than sitting in a classroom and attempt to learn all of the complex information about CFA through self-study, you can simply go into a computer and access a pre-made financial statement package that has been created by an experienced financial analyst. In turn, when you sit in a classroom, you have to rely upon the memory of a previous student who may not have been properly taught all of the nuances and subtleties involved with financial statements. However, when you sit in a computer and take an online financial statement examination, you can access and memorize all of the information that you will need for the actual test.
Furthermore, in addition to saving time, you also save money. Since most financial statements are prepared in a spreadsheet format, if you are reviewing financial statements from multiple vendors, each vendor’s financial statements must be interpreted and then compared to the other vendor’s financial statements. If you are trying to prepare for this type of complex analysis, chances are there are many different software programs out there that will provide you with a wide variety of different options to choose from. However, if you spend your time learning only one program, you have to make certain that the software is the best choice for the type of financial statements that you need to prepare for.
Another benefit of having an integrated approach to financial statements is the ability to compare data from different modules. This means that you can determine which module is the best for your financial statements needs and then eliminate modules that do not meet your needs. For example, if you are preparing for the US government financial statement exam, you need to be sure that all of the information that is presented fits in the format required. Otherwise, you would need to have all financial statements converted to a variety of formats such as Microsoft Excel. Or, you would have to convert your financial statements to a variety of different formats depending upon the nature of the questions that you are being asked to analyze.
In addition, an integrated approach to financial statement analysis saves time by eliminating the need for repetitive, data mining analysis. While repetitive financial statement analysis can be useful in some circumstances, it often leads to data mining problems. Basically, data mining occurs when a person takes various small pieces of information and combines them into a large, overarching statement. If this happens, in addition to repeating what has been previously noted, there is also the possibility of missing important parts of the financial statements that were not included in the initial data set. As a result, it can actually take quite a bit of time analyzing financial statements using an integrated approach to financial statement analysis before coming to any conclusions.
Finally, an integrated approach to financial statement analysis can save money because it makes sure that the financial statements are prepared correctly and for the right purposes. For example, if you have prepared financial statements on your own, without relying on an integrated approach to financial statements, you might not be aware of data errors, which could cost you money in terms of potential fines and penalties. By using an integrated approach, you are more likely to notice errors early, which could reduce the amount of potential fines and penalties as well as save you money by allowing you to make changes more quickly. As well, an integrated approach means that you will be able to compare one financial statement with another, since the format is consistent throughout. Therefore, you can look at the differences between financial statements from a variety of sources and come to conclusions regarding the state of your financial health.
All in all, incorporating an integrated approach to financial statements into your financial statements can be very beneficial. If you want to take my Financial Statement Test, then by all means do so! What’s more, if you take advantage of the many resources on the internet that are designed to help you prepare for these tests, such as my free financial statement worksheet, you should be able to get the best prep possible. Also, my free report on preparing for the MBE and TESOL assessments (which evaluate your understanding of financial statements) can be downloaded free upon request.