What Is Financial Accounting Workshops?

Updated

Financial Accounting Workshops is a professional accounting and financial education provider founded in 1995 by John A. Harris, CPA, CFA. It is aimed at business professionals who do not have an accounting background but need to understand and apply financial accounting concepts in their work. The main audiences are CFA® Program candidates, investment bank training participants, and law firm continuing education groups.

What the site offers

The website presents itself as a source of live accounting workshops and financial education rather than a software tool or online course marketplace. Its stated purpose is to make complex accounting issues understandable and applicable to daily practice.

According to the site, the workshops are developed to complement the CFA® Program curriculum and to facilitate the learning process. The site organizes content around the CFA® Program, with navigation for Level I and Level II.

Who it is for

The provider describes its audience as professionals who need to "speak the language of business" and strengthen their analytical skills. Based on the site's own description, the main groups are:

  • CFA® Program candidates — the original target audience, particularly candidates preparing for the exam
  • Investment bank personnel — training for staff across levels of the financial organization
  • Law firm professionals — continuing education for legal personnel
  • Non-accountants in business roles — anyone who needs working knowledge of accounting without becoming an accountant

The common thread is that participants are not accounting specialists. The founder's stated goal is to make accounting accessible to people outside the accounting profession.

Who runs it

John A. Harris, CPA, CFA, established the organization in 1995. His background includes:

  • 15 years in credit and financial management in the oil and gas industry and banking
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • CFA® charterholder
  • MBA and MS from the University of North Texas
  • BBA from Texas Tech University

The site describes him as a dynamic public speaker who brings energy to presentations, and notes that thousands worldwide have attended his live workshops in preparation for the CFA® Program exam.

What to keep in mind

The site states that information published on it is intended as general guidelines and information, not as legal, accounting, tax, investment, or other advice. It also notes that laws and regulations vary widely and that the organization is not responsible for errors or results obtained from using the site.

If you are evaluating whether this provider fits your needs, the relevant questions are whether you are a non-accountant who needs practical accounting knowledge, whether you are preparing for the CFA® Program, and whether you prefer live workshop instruction over self-study materials. The site does not list pricing, schedules, or registration details in the available content, so those would need to be confirmed directly.