Finance for Non-Financial Managers

Who and why?

The course is aimed at all managers who need to improve their knowledge of business finance, from those who have no existing knowledge to those who want a refresher. It develops a sound financial awareness appropriate to non-financial managers.  

Financially literate managers are crucial to the well-being of any organisation.  It is imperative in the current climate that managers have a working knowledge of the principles in this area.  

This course demonstrates financial concepts through real world business scenarios that your managers can relate to, showing them how their actions and decisions can impact on the organisation’s financial working.

Course overview

This course covers the financial aspects of how business works. It is aimed at managers who work at any level in the organisation and in any function. Overall, it shows how money works in a business and what is needed to make it work.

It contains information about the sources and uses of finance in a business, some essential elements of contract, the role of the banks, the underlying principles of accounting, the rules that govern finance and the key accounting documents. Aspects considered include the balance sheet and profit and loss account, accruals, fixed assets and depreciation, cash flow and budgets.

Key learning points

By the end of the course delegates will be able to:

• Read and understand the primary financial statements such as the balance sheet and P & L
• Understand the basic principles of capital appraisal
• Appreciate the importance of cash flow and the impact of their actions upon it
• Consider the implications of poor cash management and steps they can take to avoid it
• Deploy different budget cultures; top down, bottom up, last year plus and zero-based
• Recognise the importance of managing working capital and identify their contribution to this process
• Understand the rules of, and need for, budgeting
• Communicate more effectively and constructively with the finance department
• Identify ways of improving their organisation’s financial performance, through an increased awareness of its financial workings
• Learn relatively complex financial instruments such as ratios and gearing