Cash Flow Forecasting and Analysis

Course overview

Organisations rarely fail because they are unprofitable on paper; they fail because they run out of cash. Delayed government payments, currency swings and slow-paying customers make cash planning especially hard in the region. This cash flow forecasting course gives finance teams and budget holders the tools to understand, predict and improve their organisation's cash position.

Participants start with the drivers of cash flow and the difference between profit and cash, then analyse operating, investing and financing cash flows. They learn to improve working capital through receivables, payables and inventory management, and to assess capital investments and funding decisions for their cash impact. The second half is hands-on forecasting in Excel: time series analysis, moving averages, regression and exponential smoothing, followed by building direct and indirect cash flow forecast models with scenarios and sensitivity analysis. Participants leave the week with a working model built on realistic data.

Participants leave able to forecast cash with greater accuracy and to give practical advice on protecting liquidity.

What you will be able to do

• Identify the key drivers of an organisation's cash flow
• Analyse operating, investing and financing cash flows
• Recommend practical improvements to working capital
• Assess the cash impact of investment and funding decisions
• Apply statistical forecasting methods in Excel
• Build direct and indirect cash flow forecast models
• Use sensitivity and scenario analysis to manage cash risk

Who should attend

For finance staff and budget holders whose decisions affect their organisation's cash. Comfort with Excel is expected.

• Management and cost accountants
• Treasury officers
• Finance managers
• Budget holders and managers
• Receivables and payables staff
• Procurement and supply chain managers
• SACCO and microfinance finance staff

Course outline

Fees are per participant in US dollars and cover tuition, course materials and your certificate. Travel and accommodation are not included.