Essentials of Business Finance

Every part of day-to-day business life has a financial implication and for employees to be successful, it is vital that they understand the financial effects of their roles, their actions or their lack of action. This programme will give you an understanding of the importance of finance in business, by examining:

• The recording of financial data
• The presentation of financial data, both internally and externally
• The use of financial data to understand and manage the business
• The purpose and implementation of the planning and budgeting process

Objective:

• Understand the way in which financial information is collected, organised and classified within the financial systems of the organisation
• Learn a range of financial analysis skills for enhancing and interpreting the financial data of the organisation
• Understand how planning and budgeting can assist managers in business, and appreciate why many organisations are replacing budgeting with other management models

Course Outline

Day 1 - Financial fundamentals

• Accounting is an information system
• Where do we get the information from?
• Who uses the information?

Day 2 – Using financial information to tell a story about the business

• The importance of profit - the Profit and Loss Account
• The importance of cash – the Cash Flow Statement
• Why profit and cash are not the same
• The Balance Sheet – what is it designed to tell us?

Day 3 – Using financial information to manage the business – part 1

• Working Capital Management
• Financial Analysis and Interpretation

Day 4 - Using financial information to manage the business – part 2

• Product Costs
• Breakeven analysis

Day 5 – Planning and Forecasting

• Constructing a budget
• Beyond budgeting
• Capital budgeting