Annual Financial Statement Analysis & Reorganization Needs
Niveau
1.Semester Master: 1. Study cycle
Learning outcomes of the courses/module
The students:
• are able to independently calculate and interpret relevant key figures from the analysis of annual financial statements.
• know which key figures from the analysis of annual financial statements are relevant for the early detection of an earnings crisis.
• know different crisis phase models and possible classifications of corporate crises.
• know the difference between performance-based and financial early warning indicators or can independently formu-late these depending on the project.
• can develop a strategic early warning system.
• are able to independently calculate and interpret relevant key figures from the analysis of annual financial statements.
• know which key figures from the analysis of annual financial statements are relevant for the early detection of an earnings crisis.
• know different crisis phase models and possible classifications of corporate crises.
• know the difference between performance-based and financial early warning indicators or can independently formu-late these depending on the project.
• can develop a strategic early warning system.
Prerequisites for the course
1.Semester: no information
Course content
I. The term crisis and the analysis via key figures
1. The recognition of a crisis
• financial accounting and annual financial statements
• performance and control variables
• reorganization and over-indebtedness audit
• crisis stages and reorganization expert opinions
2. "Crisis cockpit" and crisis indicators
• Capital structure, asset and earnings analysis
• Financial ratios with adjusted data
• Financial and performance crisis indicators
• Case study: Early Crisis Detection
II. Strategic early warning systems
• Recognizing a strategic crisis
• Group discussion: Development of solution proposals
1. The recognition of a crisis
• financial accounting and annual financial statements
• performance and control variables
• reorganization and over-indebtedness audit
• crisis stages and reorganization expert opinions
2. "Crisis cockpit" and crisis indicators
• Capital structure, asset and earnings analysis
• Financial ratios with adjusted data
• Financial and performance crisis indicators
• Case study: Early Crisis Detection
II. Strategic early warning systems
• Recognizing a strategic crisis
• Group discussion: Development of solution proposals
Recommended specialist literature
Berner, W. (2022). Reorganisation und Restrukturierung: Strukturen weiterentwickeln, ohne die Unternehmenskultur zu ruinieren. Stuttgart: Schäffer Poeschel.
Exler, M. W., & Situm, M. (2025) (Hrsg.). Restrukturierungs- und Turnaround-Management: Strategien, Erfolgsfaktoren und Best Practice für die Transformation. Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag.
Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (2022). Sanierung und Insolvenz 2022: Rechnungslegung und Beratung in der Unternehmenskrise. Düsseldorf: IDW Verlag.
Römermann, V. (Hrsg.) (2021). Praktikerhandbuch der Sanierung und Restrukturierung: Fortentwicklung des Sanierungs- und Insolvenzrechts. Herne: NWB-Verlag.
Exler, M. W., & Situm, M. (2025) (Hrsg.). Restrukturierungs- und Turnaround-Management: Strategien, Erfolgsfaktoren und Best Practice für die Transformation. Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag.
Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer (2022). Sanierung und Insolvenz 2022: Rechnungslegung und Beratung in der Unternehmenskrise. Düsseldorf: IDW Verlag.
Römermann, V. (Hrsg.) (2021). Praktikerhandbuch der Sanierung und Restrukturierung: Fortentwicklung des Sanierungs- und Insolvenzrechts. Herne: NWB-Verlag.
Assessment methods and criteria
Presentation
Language
German
Number of ECTS credits awarded
3
Semester hours per week
Planned teaching and learning method
The course, which is mostly dialog-oriented, usually consists of the triad of practical relevance, academic structuring, and the independent development of integrative case studies from immediate professional and consulting practice.
Semester/trimester in which the course/module is offered
1