Accounting Basics

About this Course

This course is designed to address foundational accounting practices to help news entrepreneurs record, analyze and report on their business’s financial information and transactions. It will help new and aspiring entrepreneurs set up their accounting systems and processes, but will also cover best practices that news leaders can retroactively apply.

About the Instructor

Lisa Hunter is the Director of Finance and Operations at LION Publishers. Lisa oversees LION’s financial management, financial planning, and organizational operations. After her first career chapter leading nonprofit program evaluation teams, Lisa pivoted to finance: she got an MBA and went on to serve as Finance Manager at KIPP Northern California and Finance Director at Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center. Lisa believes that the budget is the highest expression of an organization’s values. She is excited to contribute to NEA to help news businesses strengthen their Mission Support infrastructure (finance and operations). More on Lisa.

Course Lessons

Creating a Chart of Accounts

In this lesson, we’ll discuss creating a chart of accounts to organize your financial reporting.

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Cash vs. Accrual Accounting

In this lesson, we’ll discuss the differences between cash accounting and accrual accounting and the story each tells about your organization’s finances.

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Forecasting Cash Flow

Cash flow forecasting helps organizations estimate cash inflows and outflows to identify potential cash flow problems and adjust accordingly .

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