Mastering Finance and Accounting Course

Course Details

There are many decisions made in business which have an impact on financial performance, therefore, understanding the exact financial outcomes of such decisions are vital for every business professional. Finance is a core process/function in business which requires your attention, whether you are a financial, or non-financial, professional. Accounting is the language of business; understanding and applying this language to your business, in general, remains the single most valuable competence of management. Prepare yourself by enhancing your personal competence in identifying best practices in finance and in accounting.

Participants will develop the following competencies:

• A better understanding of the link between profit, assets and cash
• Develop skills to better manage the finance function within an organisation
• Make better financial decisions using improved analytical skills
• Draw upon a wider range of useful and proven financial tools

Learning Objectives

• The Mastering Finance and Accounting course aims to enable participants to achieve the following objectives:
• Identify the relationships between, financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows)
• Recognize the key measures in managing financial performance
• Utilize financial statements to evaluate the financial/strategic performance of an organisation
• Apply the correct tools to evaluate future investment opportunities
• Manage the funding of the business in the most efficient and effective manner
• Recognize the part Financial Management plays in the overall Business Strategy

Course Outline

Managing Profits and Funding

• The role of financial management CFO, Treasurer, and Controller
• The need for Financial Information
• Sources of Financial Information
• Creating and managing the Income Statement
• Creating and managing the Balance Sheet
• Financial Statements and footnotes

Cash Flow and Cash Management

• The importance of cash-flow
• Managing the Cash gap
• Causes and effects upon cash of the 2008 Credit Crisis
• Money instruments
• Using Microsoft Excel Solver to manage cash-flow
• Identifying Key Financial Ratios

Measuring and Managing Financial Performance

• Why Return on Capital Employed is so important
• Marginal Performance Improvement How small changes can create big gains
• Managing Working Capital
• Measuring Corporate Valuation
• Accounting Principles, Auditing and Corporate Governance

Financial Strategy and Balancing the Scorecard

• Taking a strategic financial approach
• Vision, Mission, and Objectives from a Financial Perspective
• Creating cascading financial objectives
• Balancing the Scorecard
• How business culture impacts financial performance

Capital Projects and Managing Funding

• Net Present Value and Internal Rate of Return
• Balancing Debt and Equity
• Weighted Average Cost of Capital
• Investment Screening Criteria

Who Should Attend

Financial and non-financial professionals who wish to test their high performance and high potential knowledge, skills and attitudes with other similar individuals

Anyone who wishes to reinforce their knowledge of financial functions/processes and who requires a more integrative financial view

Methodology

The Mastering Finance and Accounting course course will combine presentations with interactive practical exercises, supported by video materials, activities and case studies where applicable. Participants will be encouraged to participate actively in relating the principles of finance and accounting to the needs of their workplace.