The fear of balance sheet and cashbook was one I had to overcome upon returning to the classroom after a decade with a little knowledge of accounting as I registered for a course in Corporate Financial Accounting. With butterfly bubbles in my stomach, I had to face my fears. I entered the lectures thinking it would be difficult but the faculty made sure we felt comfortable settling for the course. We started with the role of an account manager which is “stewardship”.
Then we delved into the statements analyzing the Oando Company report. I learnt to understand how to read the reports instead of just flipping through the pages and this made the course more interesting. I started to understand the course and the little pieces began to fit together. I have always looked forward to understanding how the management teams read and analyze the company’s report and make financial decisions. The lectures that followed was so interesting that I forgot all about my fears.
The accountants in the class raised the bar and were always willing to assist, should we need further clarification or assistance and the lecturers also encouraged us to reach out to them when necessary. Learning about accounting components with examples opened my eyes to some terms that I have been using out of context. I struggled a bit and did a lot of reading to meet up with class lectures, but I did not let anything distract me as I am determined to succeed and make the best out of every opportunity available. My classmates also organized tutorials to further assist in areas of need.
Another exciting bit was being able to differentiate between Assets and Owners’ Equity; I thought it was always Assets and Liabilities. With time, I began to feel more confident in my abilities. I started to understand the concepts and formulas better, and I realized that I was able to keep up with the pace of the class. I started contributing more in class conversations, in discussions and group projects, and I felt like I was making progress towards my goals.
My experience in the corporate finance class was a bit challenging – it taught me hard work, perseverance and determination. I am gradually developing the skills and knowledge that I need to succeed in the world of business. I am excited as I continue to learn and grow while I advance in my career. I am proud of being a work in process. A little challenge is that I am not able to implement some of the things taught but I made sure to relate more with the people in the business world and I also began to understand why they made some decisions.
I am beginning to read articles related to the financial work. When not clear, I seek for clarifications with those who are more experienced than myself and I ensure to do my assignments. When I’m wrong, I pay attention to corrections. I am one of the Newest Analyst in the making.
#MMBA4
