Introduction to Accounting for Non-Accountants

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This training is designed for participants without an accounting background who wish to gain a clear and structured understanding of business accounting fundamentals in order to read, understand and interpret financial information relevant to their professional activities.
Specific rules applicable to entities subject to a distinct regulatory framework are not covered by this programme, except for contextual reference.

At the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• understand the role of accounting in management and decision-making,
• identify the main legal and regulatory sources governing accounting,
• read and analyse simplified financial statements,
• communicate effectively with accountants, auditors and advisors,
• identify key financial indicators and understand the limits of accounting information.

1. The role of accounting in a company

• Accounting as a key management and decision-making tool
• Users of financial statements (management, shareholders, stakeholders, authorities)
• Accounting and business decisions

2. Legal framework and sources of accounting rules

• Overview of the accounting legal framework
• Main sources of accounting rules applicable in Luxembourg
• Distinction between accounting rules and legal rules
• Purpose and limitations of annual accounts from a legal perspective

3. Essential accounting concepts

• Assets and liabilities: what the company owns and owes
• Income and expenses: understanding result formation
• Fundamental accounting principles

4. Understanding and reading a balance sheet

• Structure of the balance sheet
• Identification of main items
• Guided reading and interpretation
• First insights into financial strengths and weaknesses

5. Understanding and reading a profit & loss account

• Structure of the profit & loss account
• Analysis of income and expenses
• Understanding how profit or loss is generated
• Link between business activity and financial performance

6. Practical case study

• Case study based on a fictitious company
• Guided analysis of a balance sheet and income statement
• Identification of key financial signals
• Discussion and Q&A based on practical professional situations

• Interactive lectures.
• Group discussions and participant exchanges.

A certificate of attendance is issued at the end of the training.

The training is delivered by a senior accounting and business advisory professional who delivers professional training programmes within institutional and regulated frameworks, particularly in legal, economic and managerial contexts.