Making a difference

Financial Skills for Executives

A high level of financial literacy is essential For senior managers and executives in the public, private and NGO sectors. Finance plays a critical role in the control and monitoring of an organisation as well as being an important tool to help managers make short and long-term planning decisions.

This course will examine the techniques that can be used to manage organisations more effectively and will enable participants to improve analytical skills, communicate more effectively and become more effective decision makers.

Who should attend
Executives and managers at all levels in the public, private and NGO sectors who wish to improve their knowledge of finance and strengthen their managerial skills.

How you will benefit
By the end of the course you will be able to:

• analyse and interpret financial information with confidence
• assess the financial implications of business decisions on a more informed basis
• participate in the budget cycle and improve the quality of budgets
• use budgets and plans as a tool to communicate ideas and control costs

Course profile
Accounting knowledge and applications

• Accounting concepts refresher
• Public and private sector accounting
• Financial and management accounting
• International differences

Interpretation of financial accounts

• Structure and content of financial statements
• Assessing financial health
• Calculation and interpretation of ratios
• Cash flow analysis
• Understanding what lies behind the numbers

Effective planning and control

• Preparing, writing and monitoring budgets
• Types of cost and breakeven analysis
• Value-for-Money, measures of economy, efficiency and effectiveness

Funding and project evaluation

• Investment appraisal techniques
• Time value of money
• Sources of finance and the financing decision