THIS PROGRAMME HAS NOW STARTED AND IS CLOSED FOR REGISTRATIONS. WE HOPE TO RUN THE PROGRAMME AGAIN IN 2025

About this course

Corporate valuations may be sought for a variety of investment situations, such as obtaining an equity position in a firm, M&As, business restructurings, shareholder disputes, employee stock or share option plans, and leveraged buyouts. 

With more than 62,000 M&A deals worth $5.8 trillion completed in 2021, opportunities for growth are abundant. Further, buyouts backed by private equity more than doubled in 2021, exceeding $1 trillion for the first time ever. In this environment, having the ability to calculate more accurate corporate valuations becomes critical.

Investors generally rely on two main corporate valuation methods: the multiples method and the discounted cash flow (DCF) method. This seven-week programme examines the various methodologies that financial professionals use to value firms and the circumstances that support their use

This seven-week course, delivered in partnership with Columbia Business School, examines the various methodologies that financial professionals use to value firms and the circumstances that support their use.

Learning outcomes 

By completing this course, you will:

  • learn how to compute a firm’s value by applying the discounted cash flow (DCF) and multiples methods to inform your decision-making
  • understand how to apply a framework that appropriately weighs financial and economic factors that influence a firm’s valuations ​
  • gain aptitude in comparing different valuation approaches used for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), leveraged buyouts, cross-border valuations, and private firms - assessing the potential for creating maximum value in each scenario.

Key information

  • Course starts 10 June 2024.
  • There are live sessions throughout the course, where you can get your questions answered in real-time by an expert course leader.
  • Complete the course and weekly assignments to gain your certificate, which is co-branded by ACCA and Columbia Business School.
  • This course is designed for those who have familiarity with financial accounting principles and Excel; mid- to senior-level finance professionals who are involved in strategic planning, risk management, research or corporate development; those who make investment decisions on their own behalf or in non-institutional settings.