Course Overview
Financial management is vital for businesses of all sizes. It forms an integral part of organizational management and cannot be confined solely to the finance team. Effective financial management involves planning, organizing, controlling, and monitoring financial resources to achieve organizational goals.

Key Features
This course provides participants with practical knowledge and skills in:

• Core concepts of finance and accounting
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Preparing and analyzing financial statements
• Efficient and effective budgeting techniques
• Using financial indicators for strategic planning

Learning Objectives
Participants will learn to:

• Understand basic accounting concepts, terminology, principles, processes, and procedures relevant to business operations.
• Apply principles to safeguard assets and ensure accurate accounting records.
• Differentiate between accrual and cash basis accounting.
• Appreciate the role of accounting in business operations.
• Navigate the accounting cycle and explain the components of an annual report.
• Analyze financial statements to assess business performance and support decision-making.
• Prepare balance sheets and income statements accurately.
• Evaluate financing options and identify when to use each.
• Develop and manage budgets effectively, integrating advanced planning and control techniques.
• Align the budgeting process with long-term strategic goals.
• Build an integrated planning, budgeting, and reporting system.
• Provide timely and actionable information to decision-makers.
• Apply management tools to enhance budgeting and drive profitability.

Target Audience
This course is designed for:

• Professionals with financial responsibilities
• Managers seeking a better understanding of accounting methods
• Professionals responsible for planning, budgeting, and management reporting
• Corporate governance directors and compliance officers
• Board members wanting insight into budgeting and planning
• Professionals in financial organizations

Training Methodology
The program uses a highly practical, results-oriented approach based on adult learning principles. It combines:

• Short tutor presentations with Q&A sessions
• Demonstrations and hands-on practice of analytical techniques
• Group exercises and case study discussions using real-world market information

Pre- and post-course assessments will measure participants’ learning outcomes and skill development.

Course Contents

Module 1 – Company Objectives & Fundamentals of Finance & Accounting

• Key Topics:
  • Measuring company performance
  • Introduction to finance terminology
  • Purpose of financial analysis and reporting
  • Accounting as an information system
  • Accounting equation and GAAP principles
  • Understanding the accounting environment and annual reports
  • Role of external auditors and users of financial information
  • Cash vs. profit, profit and profitability
  • Differentiating finance and accounting

Module 2 – Financial Statements: Understanding & Analysis

• Key Topics:
  • Balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement
  • Importance of financial ratios
  • Horizontal, vertical, and trend analysis
  • Key ratios: liquidity, solvency, activity, and profitability
  • Limitations of ratio analysis

Module 3 – Management Accounting

• Decision-Making Techniques:
  • Cost behavior: fixed, variable, semi-fixed costs
  • Cost reduction and profit improvement strategies
  • Costing methods: full absorption, marginal, ABC
  • Cost-volume-profit analysis and break-even analysis
  • Contribution margin calculation
• Working Capital Management:
  • Definition and strategies for managing current assets and liabilities
  • Balancing profitability and liquidity
  • Trade-offs between profitability and certainty

Module 4 – Budgeting & Strategic Management Framework

• Key Topics:
  • Budget objectives, types, and development processes
  • Role of budgeting in organizational performance
  • Identifying problems and limitations of budgetary control
  • Capital budgeting techniques and cash flow management
  • Activity-based budgeting and cash budget preparation
  • Case study exercises

Module 5 – Advanced Capital Budgeting & Evaluation Techniques

• Key Topics:
  • Business risk and cost of capital
  • Classifying investment projects
  • Analyzing investment and operating cash flows
  • Time value of money and required rate of return
  • Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Modified IRR (MIRR)
  • Profitability Index (PI), payback and discounted payback periods
  • Capital rationing and evaluation of different techniques