Explore Finance
Finance examines financial decisions under uncertainty and competing objectives. This subject guide introduces the questions, methods and practical work that help learners understand the field before choosing a formal course of study.
A strong starting point is to connect financial reporting with corporate finance. The first develops a foundation for reasoning; the second provides a setting in which to test ideas. Keep a learning journal that records assumptions, sources and questions that remain unresolved.
Four areas to investigate
Financial reporting
Connect financial reporting to the study of financial decisions under uncertainty and competing objectives. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Corporate finance
Connect corporate finance to the study of financial decisions under uncertainty and competing objectives. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Investment analysis
Connect investment analysis to the study of financial decisions under uncertainty and competing objectives. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Risk management
Connect risk management to the study of financial decisions under uncertainty and competing objectives. Compare an introductory explanation with a worked example, then describe where the approach is useful and where it may fail.
Learn through inquiry
Compare financing scenarios for a fictional enterprise with transparent assumptions.
Begin with a question narrow enough to investigate. Decide what evidence would support an answer, document the method and explain what further work would be needed.