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FINANCE PATHWAY - BUSINESS FINANCE PATHWAY

Curriculum Planning Levels
The performance indicators are assigned to one of six curriculum-planning levels that represent a continuum of instruction ranging from simple to complex. The levels can serve as building blocks for curriculum development in that students should know and be able to perform the performance indicators at one level before tackling more complex skills and knowledge at the next level. These levels can also be used as the basis for developing an unduplicated sequence of instruction for articulation between high school and postsecondary marketing courses. The six curriculum-planning levels are:

Prerequisite (PQ) – Content develops employability and job-survival skills and concepts, including work ethics, personal appearance, and general business behavior.

Career-Sustaining (CS) – Content develops skills and knowledge needed for continued employment in or study of finance based on the application of basic academics and finance skills.

Specialist (SP) – Content provides in-depth, solid understanding and skill development in all finance functions.

Supervisor (SU) – Content provides the same in-depth, solid understanding and skill development in all finance functions as in the finance-specialist curriculum and in addition, incorporates content that addresses the supervision of people.

Manager (MN) – Content develops strategic decision-making skills in all finance functions needed to manage a business or department within an organization.

Owner (ON) – Content develops strategic decision-making skills in all aspects of finance that are needed to own and operate a business.

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FIN BF 12.1.0

Business Law

FIN BF 12.1.0

K&S Statement: Understands business’s responsibility to know, abide by, and enforce laws and regulations that affect business operations and transactions.

FIN BF 12.1.1

Understand regulations governing business finance to adhere to government requirements.

  1. Explain laws and regulations pertaining to business finance (SP)

Explain the nature of business taxation (SP)

  1. Describe regulations and laws governing ownership change transactions (MN)

FIN BF 12.1.2

Explore the role of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in the regulation of business finance to adhere to government requirements.
Discuss the impact of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Corporation Finance on business finance (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.0

Financial Analysis

FIN BF 12.2.0

K&S Statement: Understands tools, strategies, and systems used to maintain, monitor, control, and plan the use of financial resources.

FIN BF 12.2.1

Understand fundamental financial concepts to appropriately manage business finances.

  1. Discuss the nature of depreciation (SP)

Describe the nature of cash flows (SP)

FIN BF 12.2.2

Acquire knowledge of efficient capital markets to make suitable financial decisions.

  1. Explain the role of efficient capital markets in business finance (SP)

FIN BF 12.2.3

Explore capital budgeting to understand the capital expenditure decision-making process.
Discuss the capital budgeting process (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.4

Perform calculations to assist in capital budgeting decision-making.

  1. Calculate the initial investment associated with a proposed capital expenditure (MN)
  2. Determine operating cash inflows (MN)

Determine terminal cash flow (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.5

Conduct cash flow analysis to select an acceptable capital expenditure.

  1. Discuss the nature of relevant cash flow analysis (SP)
  2. Explain the nature of the payback period (SP)
  3. Calculate the payback period  (MN)
  4. Discuss the use of net present value (NPV) (SP)
  5. Explain the relationship between the internal rate of return and net present value (SP)
  6. Calculate the net present value (NPV) (MN)

Calculate the internal rate of return (IRR) (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.6

Understand financial planning in business finance to strive for business goals.

  1. Discuss the financial planning process (SP)

Discuss the nature of short-term (operating) financial plans (SP)

  1. Describe the nature of long-term (strategic) financial plans (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.7

Conduct cash planning to determine a company’s short-term cash requirements.

  1. Explain the use of cash budgets (SP)
  2. Cope with uncertainty in cash budgets (MN)
  3. Prepare a cash budget (MN)

Evaluate a cash budget (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.8
  1. Conduct profit planning to forecast business profit.
  2. Discuss the use of pro forma statements in profit planning (SP)
  3. Develop a pro forma income statement (MN)
  4. Prepare a pro forma balance sheet (MN)

Evaluate pro forma statements (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.9

Understand short-term financial management to manage current assets and current liabilities.
Describe the nature of short-term financial management (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.10

Understand the fundamentals of valuation to make appropriate financial decisions for the company.

  1. Discuss the role of project valuation in capital allocation decisions (MN)
  2. Discuss methods for valuing flexibility (MN)

Discuss the valuation implications in business finance (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.11

Utilize a company’s financial statements to analyze its financial situation.

  1. Discuss the analysis of a company’s financial situation using its financial statements (SP)
  2. Discuss external forces affecting a company’s value (SP)
  3. Explain how value is created for a company (SP)

Analyze a company’s financial situation (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.12
  1. Calculate business ratios to evaluate company performance.
  2. Discuss the use of financial ratios in business finance (SP)
  3. Determine business liquidity (MN)
  4. Calculate corporate activity ratios (MN)
  5. Calculate corporate debt ratios (MN)
  6. Calculate business profitability (MN)
  7. Calculate market ratios (MN)
  8. Discuss the use of benchmarks when analyzing ratios (MN)

Describe bankruptcy prediction models (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.13

Utilize capital market securities to secure financing for a company.

  1. Discuss ways to determine the best financing option for a company (MN)
  2. Determine financing options for a company (MN)
  3. Discuss the nature of corporate bonds (MN)
  4. Discuss the cost of long-term debt (MN)
  5. Determine the cost of long-term debt (MN)
  6. Discuss the issuance of stock from a corporation (MN)
  7. Calculate the cost of preferred stock (MN)
  8. Discuss the cost of common stock (MN)

Calculate the cost of common stock (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.14

Acquire fundamental knowledge of dividends to assist in the distribution of dividends.

  1. Explain forms of dividends (SP)
  2. Explain the nature of dividend reinvestment plans (DRIPs) (SP)

Describe the effect of a firm’s dividend decisions on its external financing requirements (MN)

  1. Discuss the residual theory of dividends (MN)
  2. Describe the impact of dividends on the value of the firm (MN)
  3. Explain the nature of a dividend policy (MN)

Discuss factors to consider when deciding on the form of dividend distribution (MN)

FIN BF 12.2.15

Analyze ownership change transactions to aid in corporate growth and development.

  1. Compare mergers and acquisitions (SP)
  2. Explain the nature of hostile takeovers (SP)
  3. Discuss issues that arise from mergers and acquisitions (MN)
  4. Explain methods for evaluating potential merger/acquisition targets (MN)
  5. Evaluate potential merger/acquisition targets (MN)

Discuss the nature of restructurings (MN)

FIN BF 12.3.0

Professional Development

FIN BF 12.3.0

K&S Statement: Understands concepts, tools, and strategies used to explore, obtain, and develop in a business finance career.

FIN BF 12.3.1

Explore the fundamentals of business finance to build a foundation for employment in the field.
Describe the nature of business finance (SP)

FIN BF 12.3.2

Understand ethics in business finance to behave appropriately in the workplace.

  1. Discuss business ethics for business finance (SP)

Discuss corporate responsibility issues in business finance (MN)

FIN BF 12.3.3

Acquire knowledge of corporate governance to be aware of restraints under which business finance functions.

  1. Discuss corporate governance issues in business finance (MN)

Describe the components of a well-governed company (e.g. board of directors, reporting, transparency, internal and external audit functions) (MN)

FIN BF 12.3.4

Understand careers in business finance to determine which role and responsibilities best match personal abilities and traits.

  1. Explain the role and responsibilities of financial managers (SP)
  2. Explain the role and responsibilities of a financial analyst (SP)
  3. Describe the role and responsibilities of a controller (SP)

Describe the role and responsibilities of a risk manager (SP)

  1. Discuss the role and responsibilities of a treasurer (MN)
  2. Discuss the role and responsibilities of a chief financial officer (BFO) (MN)

FIN BF 12.3.5

Explore licensing and certification in the field of business finance to enhance professional development.
Explain professional designations in the field of business finance (e.g. BF, BFA, CCM, CTP, BFM, etc.) (SP)

FIN BF 12.4.0

Risk Management

FIN BF 12.4.0

K&S Statement: Understands risk –management strategies and techniques used to minimize business loss.

FIN BF 12.4.1

Manage risk to protect a business’s well-being.
Discuss the relationship between risk management and business finance (SP)
Discuss the nature of risk measurement (SP)
Measure risk (MN)
Explain the nature of interest rate risk (SP)
Manage interest rate risk (MN)
Explain approaches to financial risk management (MN)
Discuss the use of derivatives in financial risk management (MN)
Evaluate the risks of derivatives (MN)
Discuss reasons to integrate risk management into business operations (MN)
Identify business risks (MN)
Integrate risk management into business operations (MN)

FIN BF 12.4.2

Understand enterprise risk management to participate in a company-wide risk management program.
Discuss the nature of enterprise risk management (MN)

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