If you are looking for courses to elevate your corporate finance skills in 2024, here is my recommended list of the top 5 courses.
I have discussed the course highlights, ratings, and pricing of each so that you can have a complete picture.
Let’s get started.
Introduction
Before I get into the course details, here is what corporate finance means. Corporate finance is a branch of finance that teaches you to handle a corporation’s financial activities, including sourcing capital, managing resources, and making decisions that maximize shareholder value.
It involves studying financial strategies, investment decisions, funding options, and financial risk management.
Here are the key aspects of Corporate Finance:
- Capital Budgeting
- Capital Structure
- Working Capital Management
- Financial Risk Management
- Dividends and Return of Capital
With a corporate finance course, you will have the skill and expertise to maximize a shareholder’s value, balance financial risk with business probability and prediction, and effectively allocate resources for maximum returns.
In simplest terms, you will become an essential asset for any company that is looking to grow.
For beginners, here are some examples of Corporate Finance in action:
- A company decides whether to build a new factory or expand an existing one.
- They raise funds by issuing bonds or equity to fund a major acquisition.
- Managing cash flow to ensure day-to-day operations can continue without interruption.
There are many corporate finance training programs for the course, but selecting the right one can be challenging, especially if you are a beginner this is where this article will be helpful.
Professional Finance Courses for Career Growth
If you’re serious about advancing your corporate finance career, you can look into these 5 corporate finance courses to elevate your corporate finance skills.
1. Corporate Finance Institute (CFI) – Financial Modeling and Valuation Analyst (FMVA®)
Course Overview: CFI FMVA program is one of the most popular corporate finance courses for finance professionals. This program covers essential topics such as financial modeling, financial statement analysis, and advanced valuation techniques.
Course Ratings: 4.9/5
Why Choose This Course?
- Recognized industry-wide certification
- In-depth coverage of financial modeling
- Hands-on case studies and Excel-based applications
Course Duration: Self-paced course; typically completed in 4-6 months.
Course Highlights:
- 54+ courses and 100+ hours of video content
- 200+ interactive exercises
- Interactive exercises and case studies
- Comprehensive training in Excel-based financial modeling
- Blockchain certificate of completion
Best For:
- Investment Banking
- Private Equity
- Equity Research,
- FP&A,
- Corp Dev, and more
Pricing: CFI works on membership models. Currently, you can get two memberships:
Use CFI discount code to get 40% discounts on full immersion and self study plan.
2. Coursera – Introduction to Corporate Finance (University of Pennsylvania)
Course Overview: Coursera offered by the University of Pennsylvania, this course introduces fundamentals of corporate finance, including capital budgeting, discounted cash flow (DCF), and risk management.
Course Ratings: 4.6/5
Why Choose This Course?
- World-class instruction from the University of Pennsylvania professors.
- Best for beginners
- Covers essential concepts in Corporate Finance
- Earn a certificate
Duration: Self paced online course: 7 hours to complete
Course Highlights
- In-depth lectures on the time value of money, risk, and return
- Exercises to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios
- Flexible learning at your own pace
- 4 Assessments included
Best For:
- Beginners starting their financial journey
- Financial Analysts
Pricing: Enroll For Free
3. Udemy – Corporate Finance: Financial Analysis and Decision Making
Course Overview: This corporate finance training program on Udemy focuses on teaching corporate finance fundamentals, including decision-making and risk assessment.
Course Rating: 4.5/5
Why Choose This Course?
- Affordable pricing and lifetime access
- 19+ Practical lessons
- Learn the basics of budgeting, financial forecasting, and cash flow management
- 383 downloadable materials
- Certificate of completion
Duration: Self-paced: approximately 163.5 hours of video content.
Course Highlights
- Learn financial planning, capital raising, and investment decisions
- Real-world examples of corporate finance in startups
- Learn to calculate the cost of debt, cost of equity, and weighted average cost of capital (WACC)
- Learn to apply NPV, IRR, and payback period
- Learn risk management with standard deviation, beta, and diversification
Best for:
- Accounting professionals
- Business owners and managers
- Finance professionals and analysts
Pricing: $89.99 for a lifetime access
4. edX – Professional Certificate Corporate Finance (Columbia University)
Course Overview: edX Columbia University’s Introduction to Corporate Finance program is another introductory program that covers various aspects of corporate finance, including capital markets, governance, and long-term financial decisions.
Course Ratings: 4.5/5
Why Choose This Course?
- Certificate from an Ivy League university
- Comprehensive knowledge of corporate finance concepts
- Taught by distinguished Columbia professors
- Get an accredited professional certificate
Duration: 3 to 4 months with three courses in one program.
Course Highlights:
- Understand theoretical and practical principles of finance and financial decisions
- Analyze free cash flow
- Learn valuation and discounting.
- Value stocks and bonds.
- Compute the return on any project.
- Learn to make investment decisions
- Estimate returns on assets
Best For:
- Investment banking
- Private Equity
- Financial consulting
- General management
- CFO track jobs
Pricing: $607.50
5. Harvard Business School Online – Leading with Finance
Course Overview: Harvard’s Leading with Finance course teaches you how to use corporate finance principles to make better business decisions, focusing on real-world applications and leadership.
Course Ratings: 91% of students love the course
Why Choose This Course?
- Prestigious certification from Harvard
- Focus on leadership in financial decision-making
- Self-paced course with regular deadlines for assignments
Duration: 6 weeks, six modules
Course Highlights:
- Learn how financial strategies impact business operations
- Case studies from global corporations
- Understand the critical financial features of a market
- Learn to measure value and profits
- Understand capital markets
Best For:
- People in all levels of finance, be they beginners or aspiring individuals, are aiming for leadership roles.
Pricing: $1850
Career Opportunities After Completing These Courses
Now, the main question arises: Why should you take a Corporate finance course? Is it worth it? Can you get a job after completing a course?
Once you complete a corporate finance training program, you will possess a skill set that sets you apart from your competition. While it does not mean you are being handed a job directly, you will unlock many career paths. Here are some of the roles you could pursue:
- Financial Analyst
As a Financial Analyst, you analyze financial data to assist companies in making the right investment decisions. Your knowledge of Excel skills, financial modeling, and data analysis will come in handy here.
- Investment Banker
As an investment banker, you can assist corporations with mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising. Valuation techniques, financial modeling, and deal structuring are key skills that recruiters look for, and these courses will also teach you these skills.
- Corporate Treasurer
As a Corporate Treasurer, you will manage a company’s liquidity, investments, and risk. For this role, you need knowledge of cash flow management, risk mitigation, and investment strategies. A corporate finance training program will be perfect for learning these skills.
- Risk Manager
As a Risk Manager, you will assess and manage financial risks for organizations, ensuring your company’s success. Risk analysis, financial planning, and regulatory compliance are top skills that companies look for in managers, and with a certificate in this course, you will definitely land a job.
- Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
If you are aiming for leadership roles, these corporate finance courses will be very helpful for you. With proper strategy and decision-making, Leadership skills, strategic financial planning, and capital management, you can lead a corporation’s financial operations.
Key Takeaways- Why You Should Take the Course?
Now that you know why you should take up a corporate finance course in 2024, here are some things you need to keep in mind.
- Gain Knowledge and Competence: Completing the course enhances your skills in the subject matter and makes you eligible for many job roles.
- Industry-recognized Certification: The above Corporate Finance Courses are from reputable institutions and have accredited certifications that add value to your resume.
- Practical experience: I have chosen our finance courses to include hands-on projects and case studies so that you learn to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
- Career Advancement: Completing a professional corporate finance course can make you a more competitive candidate for Financial Analyst, CFO, or Investment Banker roles.
- Leadership Development: Courses focusing on financial decision-making from a leadership perspective can give you senior roles.
Conclusion: Which Course Is To Choose
Overall, taking up a corporate finance course will only enhance your knowledge and experience, whether you are a beginner just getting to know the subject or a professional looking for a senior leadership role.
I have included the top 5 corporate finance courses in this article that will suit all.
Sign up for the one that best suits your needs and get started.
FAQs On Corporate Finance Skills
What are the best corporate finance courses for beginners?
For beginners, Coursera Introduction to Corporate Finance course by the University of Pennsylvania is a good place to start. It provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic with essential exercises and a certificate.
Is CFI’s FMVA certification worth it?
Yes, CFI’s FMVA certification is widely recognized and is known to have a high rating among students with high-quality course content and an accredited certificate upon completion.
What are some free courses to elevate your corporate finance skills?
To elevate your corporate finance skills for free, you can sign up for the edX Fundamentals of Corporate Finance course by Columbia University for free. However to earn a certificate, you will have to upgrade to a paid plan.
Where can I get a corporate finance course certificate?
To earn a certificate in corporate finance, you can enroll in CF FMVA course or Harvard Business School’s Leading with Finance program and sign up now.