MYCPE ONE

Why EBITDA Doesn't Spell Cash Flow, But What Does? 1 Credit 1 Credit

Jul 27, 2026, 02:30 PM EDT

Why EBITDA Doesn't Spell Cash Flow, But What Does? 1 Credit 1 Credit

  • Rating

    4.4

  • Reviewed on

    February, 2025

  • Subject Area

    Finance

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Jul 27, 2026, 02:30 PM EDT

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AI Review Summary

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Learning Objectives

  • To analyze how EBITDA is calculated and why it is used as a measure of cash flow.
  • To discuss why EBITDA is not an accurate measure of cash flow. 
  • To identify how to use two better measures of cash flow for assessing your borrowers’ repayment ability—operating cash flow and free cash flow.

Course Overview

“You never know what is enough unless you know what is more than enough.”

The challenge here is to explain what we mean when we say cash flow. In recent decades bankers have seen several top contenders for the cash flow definitional sweepstakes—traditional cash flow, operating cash flow, and EBITDA. The ascendant definition has been EBITDA, largely because of its popularity with the investment community, and its use there has given it a certain cache among corporate bankers and commercial lenders.

EBITDA is a popular measure of cash flow, but it is not accurate, and bankers and investors who rely on it as a reliable indicator of repayment ability will be deeply disappointed. 

This CPE webinar includes several examples and a case study to illustrate why EBITDA is flawed and how to apply better cash flow tools.

Major Topics Covered in this Webinar:

  • Definition of EBITDA
  • Origins of EBITDA—its relationship to traditional cash flow (TCF)
  • Problems with TCF, EBITDA, and adjusted EBITDA
  • SEC crackdown on EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA
  • Alternatives to EBITDA—Operating Cash Flow, Net Cash after Operation, Net Cash Income, Cash after Debt Amortization,  and Free Cash Flow.
  • Case Study

This CPE Finance Webinar will explain why EBITDA does not measure cash flow and what more accurate measures are available.

On Demand Credits for All Qualifications

Live Webinar Credits for All Qualifications

License details Credits Status
Finance for Certified Public Accountants (CPA-US) 1 CPE Approved
Financial Reporting for Certified Management Accountants (CMA) 1 CPE Eligible
Finance for Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) 1 CPE Eligible
Finance for Delaware Licensed Public Accountant (DE-LPA) 1 CPE Approved
Cash Flow Forecasting for Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) 1 CE Eligible
General finance principles and financial concepts for Certified FP&A Professional (FP&A) 1 CE Eligible
Finance for Certified Business Appraiser (CBA)/Master Certified Business Appraiser (MCBA) 1 CPE Eligible
Finance for Iowa Licensed Public Accountant (IA-LPA) 1 CPE Approved
Finance for Maine Licensed Public Accountant (ME-LPA) 1 CPE Approved
License details Credits Status
Finance for Certified Public Accountants (CPA-US) 1 CPE Approved
Corporate Finance for Certified Management Accountants (CMA) 1 CPE Eligible
Finance for Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) 1 CPD Eligible
Finance for Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) 1 CPE Eligible
Finance for Delaware Licensed Public Accountant (DE-LPA) 1 CPE Approved
Cash Flow Forecasting for Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) 1 CE Eligible
General finance principles and financial concepts for Certified FP&A Professional (FP&A) 1 CE Eligible
Finance for Certified Business Appraiser (CBA)/Master Certified Business Appraiser (MCBA) 1 CPE Eligible
Finance for Iowa Licensed Public Accountant (IA-LPA) 1 CPE Approved
Finance for Maine Licensed Public Accountant (ME-LPA) 1 CPE Approved

Additional Information

Credit

1

Credit

1

Course Level

Intermediate

Instructional Method

QAS Self Study

Group Internet Based

Pre-requisites

None

Advance Preparation

None

NASBA APPROVED

MY-CPE LLC, 1600 Highway 6 south, suite 250, sugar land, TX, 77478

MY-CPE LLC is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

About Instructor

Dev Strischek

Dev Strischek | MBA

Principal, Devon Risk Advisory Group, LLC

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A frequent speaker, instructor, advisor and writer on credit risk and commercial banking topics and issues, Dev is principal of Devon Risk Advisory Group and engages in consulting, speaking and training on a wide range of risk, credit, and lending topics. As former SVP and senior credit policy officer at SunTrust Bank, Atlanta, he was responsible for developing, implementing, and administering credit policies for SunTrust's wholesale lines of business--commercial, commercial real estate, corporate investment banking, capital markets, business banking and private wealth management. He also spent three years as managing director and credit approver in SunTrust's Florida commercial lending and corporate investment banking areas, respectively. Prior to SunTrust, Dev was chief credit officer for Barnett Bank's Palm Beach region. Besides stints at other banks in Florida, Kansas City, and Ohio, Dev's experiences outside of banking include CFO of a Honolulu construction company, combat engineer officer in the U.S. Army, and college economics instructor in Hawaii, Missouri, and Florida. A graduate of Ohio State University and the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking, he earned his M.B.A. from the University of Hawaii.

Dev serves as an instructor at the Stonier Graduate School of Banking, the Southwestern Graduate School of Banking, and the American Bankers Association's (ABA) Commercial Lending School. His school, conference, and workshop audiences have included participants drawn from the ABA, RMA, OCC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, FFIEC, SBA, the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) and the AICPA.  He worked with RMA to develop, implement, and teach its Critical Thinking course.

Dev has written about credit risk management, financial analysis and related subjects for the ABA's Commercial Insights, the Risk Management Association's RMA Journal, the IMA’s Strategic Finance and other business professional journals. He is the author of Analyzing Construction Contractors and its related RMA workshop. A past national chair of RMA and former Florida Chapter president, Dev serves as a member of the RMA Journal's advisory board.  He represented the banking industry as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Private Company Council, which reviews and recommends changes to existing and proposed generally accepted accounting principles that make them more cost-effective for privately held companies.  Finally, he has consulted on credit risk issues with banks in Morocco, Egypt, and Angola through the US State Department's Financial Service Volunteer Corps (FSVC).

On Demand FAQs

What is Self Study (QAS)?

Self Study QAS (Quality Assurance Service) is a NASBA and other regulatory bodies approved program designed for Professionals to complete their Continuing Professional Education credits through self-paced, interactive courses that meet the highest standards of quality and compliance. Our courses qualify for credits with NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other professional organizations.

How do I earn CPE credits through self-study?

To earn CPE credits, you must complete the self-study course, pass the required assessments, and submit the necessary documentation. Credits are awarded based on the completion of course hours and successfully passing the assessments.

Are the self-study courses accepted by NASBA and other professional organizations?

MY-CPE LLC courses are accepted for continuing education credit by various professional certification programs, including NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, and HRCI. MY-CPE LLC is also recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® and SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

What are the requirements to maintain compliance with self-study courses?

To maintain compliance, you must follow the guidelines set by NASBA and other regulatory bodies, which include completing the course within the specified timeframe, passing the assessments, and keeping accurate records of your learning activities.

How can I access my course completion certificates?

After successfully completing a self-study course and passing the assessments, you can access and download your course completion certificates from your account dashboard on our platform. These certificates are recognized by NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other professional organizations for compliance and reporting purposes.

How are credits reported to governing bodies?

We issue instant credit certificates, ensuring they are valid for presentation to governing bodies. Typically, we report IRS, CTEC, CFP, IDFP, IWI, VBOA Ethics credits within 7 days – the fastest in the industry.

Live Webinar FAQs

What is a Live Webinar Group Internet-Based Credit?

A Live Webinar Group Internet-Based Credit is an interactive, real-time online seminar where professionals can earn Continuing Education credits by participating in live sessions led by experts in various fields. Our courses qualify for credits with NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM, Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other professional organizations.

How do I earn credits through live webinars?

To earn credits, you must attend the entire live webinar, actively participate in any polls or questions, and complete any required evaluations or assessments. Credits are awarded based on your attendance and participation in the live session.

Are the live webinars accepted by NASBA and other Professional Organizations?

MY-CPE LLC courses are accepted for continuing education credit by various professional certification programs, including NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, and HRCI. MY-CPE LLC is also recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® and SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

What are the requirements to maintain compliance with live webinar courses?

To maintain compliance, you must adhere to the guidelines set by NASBA and other regulatory bodies, which include attending the full duration of the webinar, participating in interactive elements, and completing any post-webinar evaluations or assessments.

How can I access my webinar completion certificates?

After successfully attending a live webinar and fulfilling all participation requirements, you can access and download your completion certificates from your account dashboard on our platform. These certificates are accepted for compliance and reporting purposes with NASBA, IRS, CFP Board, HRCI, SHRM (for PDCs), Payroll Org, FP Canada, and 25+ other professional organizations.

How are credits reported to governing bodies?

We issue instant credit certificates, ensuring they are valid for presentation to governing bodies. Typically, we report IRS, CTEC, CFP, IDFP, IWI, VBOA Ethics credits within 7 days – the fastest in the industry.

Reviews and Ratings

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Very Good (37%)

Average (13%)

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GH

Ginny Haralson, CPA (US)

5

Enjoyed the content and found the site vey easy to use. An excellent variety of topics and subject matter relevant to my job makes myCPE an excellent value.

BB

Brent Burrows, CPA (US)

5

This was a very good webinar and I agreed almost 100% with opinions of the presenter.

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