Caesars Palace: A Serial Introductory Financial Accounting Case

• In Event: Research Paper Session—Teaching, Learning and Curriculum

Abstract

This serial case is composed of 15 mini-cases that allow students to apply basic introductory financial accounting concepts to various business aspects of Caesars Palace® Las Vegas and its parent, Caesars Entertainment Corporation. Each mini-case is designed to take between five and 30 minutes of class time. The mini-cases can be used to help engage students in an introductory financial accounting course by applying introductory financial accounting concepts to a familiar real-life business. A broad variety of financial accounting topics are covered by these mini-cases, including financial statement analysis, property, plant and equipment, internal control, receivables, and transaction analysis.
The mini-cases are organized in the order that the topics might be taught in an introductory financial accounting course, but can be taught in any order. The first mini-case introduces highly condensed financial statements of Caesars and the student identify the relationships between the statements. In the next mini-case, the student can perform some basic financial statement analysis. Transaction analysis and accrual accounting are the topics of the next two mini-cases. Mini-cases 5 through 11 feature various accounts from the balance sheet, starting with cash and internal control and ending with stockholders’ equity. Mini-case 12 looks at earnings quality and the income statement, while mini-case 13 asks the student to analyze the independent auditor report. The statement of cash flows is featured in mini-case 14, and the mini-cases conclude with mini-case 15 which uses financial statement analysis.
The main feature of these mini-cases is that they are concise and easy for the introductory-level student to grasp. The student can apply basic financial accounting concepts to these mini-cases and can better understand the basic principles of financial accounting through this application.

Authors

• Wendy Tietz, Kent State University - Kent

• Amirali Moeini, Kent State University