In business, many decisions have a direct impact on financial performance, making it crucial for professionals to understand the financial implications of their actions. Finance is a central function in any organization, and whether you are in a financial or non-financial role, it is essential to grasp its importance. Accounting serves as the language of business, and mastering this language is one of the most valuable skills a manager can have. By enhancing your understanding of best practices in finance and accounting, you can significantly improve your effectiveness in decision-making.
Participants will gain the following competencies:
- A deeper understanding of how profit, assets, and cash are interconnected
- Enhanced skills for managing the finance function within an organization
- Improved analytical abilities for making informed financial decisions
- Knowledge of a broader set of proven financial tools for better decision-making
The Mastering Finance and Accounting training course is intended to help participants achieve the following goals:
- Comprehend how the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement interrelate
- Identify key metrics for managing and improving financial performance
- Leverage financial statements to assess an organization's financial health and strategic position
- Use relevant tools to evaluate investment opportunities for the future
- Optimize the funding and financial management of the business
- Understand the importance of financial management in aligning with the organization’s broader business strategy
The Energy Mastering Finance and Accounting training 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 particular needs of their workplace.
- 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
Day One: 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
Day Two: 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’s Solver to manage cash-flow
- Identifying Key Financial Ratios
Day Three: 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
- Using tools like the Altman Z Score to measure Financial Health
- Accounting Principles, Auditing and Corporate Governance
Day Four: 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
- Cost Models
Day Five: 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
- Capital Asset Pricing Model
- EVA … the advantages and disadvantages