Who Should Attend?

This programme is specially designed for managers, sales and marketing personnel, account managers, executives, etc., who recognise that in order to further their own careers, they would benefit from a greater understanding of how the financial side of their business operates. This course is concerned with the provisions and use of accounting information for managers and other senior staff within organizations. It provides them with the basis to make informed business decisions that will allow them to generate higher revenues.

About the Programme

Successful profit centre managers / revenue generators can be even more productive if they have a clear understanding of the financial and commercial considerations that impact on their business. This course is designed to fill this particular knowledge gap in a fast moving format that never gets boring.

The course tutor takes a practical, flexible, view of financial matters and translates the jargon, conventions, and formats of accounting into simple, easy to understand, language. The delegates will feel comfortable with using financial terminology, and have a clear understanding of what they mean, and how they impact on the bottom-line of the individual delegate's business.

Case study work and practical exercises form an important part of this programme and are reinforced by lively tutor-led discussions.

Course Objectives

• Understand and interpret a basic Balance Sheet
• Understand and interpret a basic Profit & Loss Account (Income Statement)
• Analyse accounts in order to make effective business decisions
• Assess ways of improving working capital
• Understand the basics of costing and utilise breakeven analysis
• Identify pricing strategies and their impact on gross margin and mark-up
• Understand different sources of business finance
• Understand different budgeting techniques
• Utilise different budgeting techniques
• Utilise variance analysis to assess budget performance
• Apply and assess the merits of the key investment appraisal techniques
• Evaluate the importance of non-financial factors affecting investment decisions

What You Will Gain

• Greater credibility with customers, distributors, and others who expect an understanding of financial matters to feature in any business negotiation
• A knowledge of the financial data required to make better business decisions
• An ability to read behind accounts and hold your own at any finance meeting
• A much clearer understanding of the importance of good financial control in your company or organization

Programme Contents

DAY ONE

• Understanding Key Financial Statements
• The Profit & Loss Account
• The Balance Sheet
• Cash Flow Statement & Forecast
• Interpreting Financial Statements
• Ratio Analysis
• Horizontal & Vertical Analysis

DAY TWO

• Costing Decisions
• Cost Types
• Break-Even Analysis
• Pricing Decisions
• Mark-Up Vs Gross Margin
• Pricing Strategies
• Budgeting Approaches & Variance Analysis

DAY THREE

• Sources Of Finance
• Investment Appraisal Techniques
• Payback Period
• Average Rate Of Return
• Discounted Cash Flow
• Net Present Value
• Internal Rate Of Return
• Other Factors Affecting Investment Decisions

3 Days - Non-Residential

Delegate spaces available on the following course dates: