Finance for Non-Finance Managers

Course overview

Managers in ministries, state corporations, NGOs and private firms make decisions every day that shape the finances of their organisations, yet many were never trained to read a balance sheet or question a budget. This finance for non-finance managers course gives them the confidence to understand financial information, ask the right questions of their finance colleagues and take decisions with the numbers in view.

Participants learn how the three main financial statements fit together, how to judge performance and financial health with a small set of ratios, and why profit and cash are not the same thing. They then apply finance to everyday management decisions: costing and break-even, pricing, working capital, simple investment appraisal and the basics of budgeting and funding. Excel is used throughout for practical work, including a short session on presenting financial data clearly. Examples come from both public and private organisations in the region, so participants from any sector can relate them to their work.

Participants leave able to read and discuss financial reports with confidence and to weigh the financial consequences of their decisions.

What you will be able to do

• Explain the purpose and structure of the main financial statements
• Interpret key ratios for profitability, liquidity and solvency
• Distinguish profit from cash flow and explain why both matter
• Apply costing and break-even analysis to management decisions
• Manage working capital to protect liquidity
• Appraise simple investment proposals using payback and discounted cash flow
• Use Excel to analyse and present financial information

Who should attend

For managers, directors and senior officers without a finance background who use financial information to plan, decide or report.

• Senior managers and directors
• Heads of department
• Programme and project managers
• Engineers and technical managers
• Board members without finance training
• Entrepreneurs and business owners
• Procurement and operations managers

Course outline

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