AS.470.627 Financial Management & Analysis in the Public Sector

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AS.470.627 section 81 Syllabus

Financial Management & Analysis in the Public Sector

Course Information:

Financial Management & Analysis in the Public Sector

AS.470.627.81 ( 3.0 Credits )

AE Spring 2026 [AE Spring 2026]

Description

This course focuses on financial aspects of public sector organizations and institutions. The objectives of this course include helping students (1) learn the basics of public sector accounting and the construction of their financial reports, (2) become more intelligent users of the financial statements of public sector organizations such as sovereign, state, and municipal institutions, and (3) better understand the factors that affect the financial condition and financial performance of such entities.

More specifically, the course focuses on (1) the financial reporting concepts and standards that are applicable to public sector organizations; (2) ratios and other summary indicators used by analysts to evaluate the financial condition and financial performance of public sector and nonprofit organizations; (3) the analysis and interpretation of financial statements of selected public sector organizations; (4) fundamental finance principles; and 5) basic principles of budget formulation.

Course Structure

Course Outline:

Session                        Course Learning Objective(s)                 Activities & Resources               Assignments/Assessments

see Course Outline Docu ment above

Required Text and Other Materials

Textbooks:

Required Textbook: Financial Management for Public, Health, and Not-for-Profit Organizations, 5th edition, by Steven Finkler, Thad Calabrese, Robert Purtell, and Daniel Smith, Prentice Hall, NYC, 2013

HBS Case studies could be downloaded from the HBS Case Studies website for a fee. You can find it here: https://hbsp.harvard.edu/import/1368792

Textbook Search:

You can search for your class textbooks via the AAP Online Bookstore here.

Minimum Technology Requirements:

Computer

The minimum operating systems for Canvas are:

Mac – OSX 11 or higher

PC – Windows 7 or higher

Also, your computer should be equipped with a Microphone and a Camera.

Note: you may use a mobile device for access, but it’s recommended you have a laptop or desktop prepared in case the mobile device has issues with any of our software.

Browser

For the best experience with our Canvas Integrations (e.g., Panopto and VoiceThread), the recommended browsers are Chrome and Firefox.

You should always use the most current version of your preferred browser. Your browser will notify you if there is a new version available. You will also need Java, Cookies, and JavaScript, but the majority of the time, this will be managed by your browser automatically. To verify these are enabled, you can check this Canvas page.

Additionally, you will need to ensure that Third Party Cookies are enabled for our integrations to work. You can do this by following these instructions.

Internet Connectivity

You will be expected to log on to Canvas frequently (daily), so a reliable internet connection is essential. We recommend that you have access to a stable internet connection with speeds of 5 Mbps or higher.

Software

Expectations for additional software or plugins will be communicated within the details of each course:

Adobe Reader – other PDF viewers are not supported.

Microsoft Office 365 - other software such as Google Drive may cause issues when converting between file types and isn’t integrated into Canvas.

Zoom – Instructors may designate real-time virtual office hours via Zoom. For more information on Zoom, please see the Zoom Quick-Start Guide.

The above list includes the most common required software used to support our online courses. Please note: Courses may or may not use all the software listed.

Support

For questions regarding Canvas or issues you are having, feel free to review the Canvas Student Resources or reach out to AAP technical support through any of the following methods:

Phone: 844-417-0874

Chat with an Expert

Email

Evaluation and Grading

Grading Breakdown:

Course Requirements                                                                   Assignment Value

Five Problem Sets (10 points each)                                                50

Five Online Discussion Topics or Thought Prompts (2 points each)     10

Four Case Write-ups (10 points each)                                             40

Grading Scale:

Grade       Range

A               94% to 100%

A-              90% to 93.999%

B+             87% to 89.999%

B               83% to 86.999%

B-              80% to 82.999%

C               70% to 79.999%

F                0% to 69.999%

There is no rounding of grades.

Assignment Description:

Online Discussion (Thought Prompt)

In certain weeks of the course, I will release thought prompts or ice breakers for you to reflect and respond. You will respond in the Blackboard discussion forum for others to see and benefit from your insight/s relating to the topic at hand. An initial posting of approximately 250 words should be made by Wednesday at 10 PM. You should also substantively contribute to the discussion by replying in at least 150 words to least one of your peers by Sunday at 10 PM.

Case Write-ups

Each student will turn in a case write-up. There are a total of 4 case write-ups. Questions will be released 1 week before on a Sunday at 9:00 am US EST. You will answer in complete sentences and use Calibri font (size 12) with 1 inch margin (top, right, left, bottom). Write-ups will be double space with a max of 3 pages. You will be penalized for deviating from the specified instructions.

Individual Problem Sets

Relating to Individual Problem sets, you could work in groups. However, each individual is required to turn in his/her answers.

Assignment Submission:

Students are required to adhere to the following guidelines when submitting written work:

Use correct citation format

Adhere to word limits for each assignment

Cite sources properly

The instructors are required to use the Turnitin tool for written assignments. Please review the JHU Ethics Statement prior to submission.

The instructors are required to use the Turnitin tool for written assignments. Please review the JHU Ethics Statement prior to submission.

Assignment Feedback:

The instructor will aim to return assignments to you within 5-7 days following the due date, depending on the length of the assignment. If there is a lengthy writing assignment the instructor may take 10-14 days to grade the assignment. You will receive feedback in the Grades area of the course which can be accessed via the navigation menu.

Learning Objectives

Program Learning Outcomes:

P1. Learn (a) basic financial accounting terms and concepts; (b) the financial statements--balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows--that firms and public sector institutions use to describe their organization; (c) the approach used to construct the financial statements; and (d) some simple ratios that capture key elements of an organization's performance.

P2. Master financial management principles consisting of valuation techniques (i.e., net present value analysis, internal rate of return analysis, and equivalent cost accounting, etc)

P3. Assess various financial challenges facing the public administrator, public policy analysts, and municipal directors today

P4. Formulate and construct budgets used in the public and nonprofit sector.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs):

CLO1: Utilize basic financial accounting terms and concepts to evaluate the financial statements--balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flows--that firms and public sector institutions use to describe their organization and the approach used to construct the financial statements.

CLO2: Construct some simple ratios that capture key elements of an organization's performance.

CLO3: Utilize financial management principles consisting of valuation techniques (i.e., net present value analysis, internal rate of return analysis, and equivalent cost accounting, etc).

CLO4: Evaluate and Assess the financial challenges facing public administrators, public policy analysts, and municipal directors.