Math for Business Operations

Applied Accounting with Excel

Three-Statement Storyboard

How do today's journal entries flow into a narrative of profit, solvency, and cash health that investors can trust?

Duration: 2 weeksDifficulty: Advanced
Driving Question
Students will dissect real company financial statements and map narrative threads to specific line items, creating a comprehensive financial story for investors.

How do today's journal entries flow into a narrative of profit, solvency, and cash health that investors can trust?

Performance Task
This mirrors real investor pitches where integrated financial statements and KPI dashboards are essential for due diligence and investment decisions.

Mock Investor Demo Day

Present investor one-pager and interactive Excel workbook to mock investor panel as if seeking funding for your startup.

  • Complete three-statement model with accurate cross-references
  • Interactive dashboard showing key financial metrics and ratios
  • Professional one-pager summarizing financial narrative
  • Live demonstration of Excel functionality and insights
  • Q&A response addressing investor concerns about financial health
Assessment Milestones
Aligned to implemented student lessons

Day 3: Income Statement Built with Correct Formulas

Milestone

Complete income statement constructed from Unit 1 trial balance data

  • All revenue and expense accounts properly categorized
  • Formulas correctly reference trial balance source data
  • Net income calculation matches underlying journal entries
  • Professional formatting with clear section headers

Day 5: Advanced Automation: Three‑Statement Link Engine

Milestone

Implement robust three‑statement links with scenario control and validation checks

  • Use structured references (Tables) throughout with XLOOKUP/SUMIFS rollups
  • Scenario switch (e.g., SWITCH/CHOOSE) correctly updates drivers and KPIs
  • Validation flags surface issues (A=L+E, NI → RE, cash reconciliation, missing IDs)
  • Model updates correctly with added rows and new accounts using the advanced dataset

Day 6: Balance Sheet Linked and Retained Earnings Reconciled

Milestone

Integrated balance sheet with proper account linking and equity reconciliation

  • Assets, liabilities, and equity properly categorized and linked
  • Retained earnings reconciles with income statement net income
  • Balance sheet equation maintains perfect balance
  • Cross-sheet references work correctly

Day 7: Cash Flow Statement Built Correctly

Milestone

Indirect method cash flow statement with proper reconciliation

  • Operating activities properly adjust net income for non-cash items
  • Investing and financing activities correctly categorized
  • Cash flow statement reconciles with balance sheet cash changes
  • Formulas properly link to income statement and balance sheet
Lessons (10)
Click a day to open the detailed lesson plan
Day 1
Launch & Explore: Financial Statement Detective Work
Entry event using real 10-Q filing to understand integrated financial statements
45 minutes
Day 2
Skill Introduction: Income Statement Construction
Direct instruction on building Income Statement from trial balance data
45 minutes
Day 3
Application Practice: Income Statement Independent Build
Students independently build Income Statement with peer debugging support
45 minutes
Day 4
Excel Mastery: INDEX/MATCH & Named Ranges
Hands-on INDEX/MATCH and named ranges to create dynamic links
45 minutes
Day 5
Advanced Automation: Three‑Statement Link Engine
Implement scenario switch, mapping, SUMIFS rollups, and validation checks
45 minutes
Day 6
New Skill Focus: Balance Sheet Linking & Retained Earnings
Direct instruction on Balance Sheet construction with cross-sheet linking
45 minutes
Day 7
Model Completion: Cash Flow Statement Construction
Build Indirect Cash Flow Statement and complete three-statement integration
45 minutes
Day 8
Presentation Prep: KPI Dashboard Design
Design interactive KPI dashboard with charts, sparklines, and financial ratios
45 minutes
Day 9
Mock Panel & Revisions: Expert Critique Session
Expert critique from local CPA on workbook and presentation with revision time
45 minutes
Day 10
Presentations + Peer Review (Single‑Phase PBL)
Final presentations to mock investor panel with interactive workbook demonstrations
40 minutes
Quick Actions
Prerequisite Resources
Files referenced in student lessons
Unit 3 Financial Statement Templatesdownload
Sample 10-Q Financial Statement Excerptdownload
KPI Dashboard Examplesdownload
Financial Ratio Quick Referencedownload
Investor One-Pager Templatedownload
Unit 3 Advanced Practice Datasetdownload