Master Class: Accounting & Finance

Introduction

The Accounting & Finance Master Class is designed to provide professionals with an in-depth understanding of the critical role accounting and finance play in today’s business environment. This Accounting & Finance Training Course offers an MBA-level experience, combining expert instruction, interactive discussions, and team exercises to develop essential financial acumen. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of financial reporting, management accounting, and investment decision-making. This course delves into the collection, recording, analysis, and presentation of financial data, ensuring professionals can make informed and strategic decisions. A strong emphasis is placed on corporate governance, financial risk management, and resource allocation, equipping professionals with the tools needed to drive business success.

This Accounting & Finance Course Will Cover:

• Core financial functions and accounting systems – Understanding the role of financial management in business success.
• Financial statements analysis – Mastering the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
• Budgeting and business control – Utilizing financial data for strategic decision-making.
• Investment evaluation techniques – Identifying and selecting the most profitable business opportunities.
• Financial risk management – Understanding and mitigating financial risks effectively.

Objectives

By the end of this Accounting & Finance Training Course, participants will be able to:

• Prepare and interpret financial statements, including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
• Apply accounting techniques to enhance business profitability and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and analyze corporate financial reports for better strategic decision-making.
• Assess and appraise investment opportunities to maximize business wealth.
• Identify, quantify, and manage financial risks within their organizations.

Training Methodology

The Accounting & Finance Training Course employs a range of proven adult learning methodologies to ensure maximum comprehension and retention. This includes:

• Interactive Q&A Sessions & Group Discussions – Encouraging the development of a solid financial knowledge framework.
• Real-World Case Studies – Analysing financial scenarios to explore strategic options and solutions.
• Workshops & Hands-On Exercises – Applying accounting principles to measure performance and control operations.
• Data Analysis Activities – Evaluating financial reports and investment opportunities with expert guidance.
• Team-Based Problem Solving – Encouraging collaboration to devise profitable financial strategies.

Participants will leave this Accounting & Finance Master Class with practical skills, a strong financial understanding, and the confidence to make data-driven business decisions.

Who Should Attend?

This Master Class: Accounting & Finance training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, but will greatly benefit:

• Members of the Operational Management Team
• Consultants who provide advice on operations or strategy
• Managers who have responsibility for the control of risk
• Managers who have responsibility for divisional performance
• Senior Staff members of any Department

Course Outline

Day 1:  Introduction to Accounting

• The importance of accounting information

• The role of the Finance Function

• The accounting equation and financial accounting systems

• Recording facts and applying judgement

• Preparing the Income Statement and Balance Sheet

• Accounting principles and accounting standards

Accounting Reports

• The format and contents of the Income Statement

• The format and contents of the Balance Sheet

• The effect of depreciation and impairment on profit

• Identifying and valuing inventory

• Preparing the Cash Flow Statement

• The importance of cash flow in business

Day 2:  Management Accounting for Control and Decision-Making

• Collecting and analyzing costs

• The structure of direct and indirect costs

• Dealing with overheads – absorption costing or ABC?

• Cost-Volume-Profit and break even analysis

• Decision making – make or buy

• Decision making – the effect of limiting factors

Communicating the Plan through Budgeting

• Corporate planning and corporate objectives implemented through budgeting

• The budgeting process and timescale

• Sales budget forecasting techniques

• Cascading the budgets across the whole business

• Preparing functional budgets and the cash budget

• Budgeting principles, methodologies and applications

Day 3:  Measuring Performance to Inform Decision Making

• Monthly management reporting

• Setting and using standards

• Identifying and calculating variances

• Operating and planning variances – who is responsible?

• Measuring responsibility center performance, ROI, RI, and EVA

• Non-financial performance – the Balanced Scorecard

Finance and Financial Information

• Finance & Accounting

• Developing a Strategic Financial Plan

• Financial Information: Internal & External

• Evaluating Financial Performance to improve Liquidity, Profitability & Efficiency

• Working Capital Management

• Cash Flow Statements and Calculating Free Cash Flow

Day 4:  Financing the Business and the Cost of Capital

• Sources of Long Term & Short Term Finance

• The Optimum Capital Structure – Equity or Debt?

• Calculating the Cost of Equity and Meeting Shareholder Expectations

• Calculating the Cost of Debt – Fixed or Floating Rate

• The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)

• The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)

CAPEX - Analysis of Investment Decisions

• Strategic Issues facing Organizations Today

• Preparing Project Cash Flow Forecasts in Excel

• Capital Investment Appraisal Techniques: Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) and Payback

• Discounted Cash Flow Appraisal Techniques: NPV and IRR

• Capital Rationing and the Profitability Index (PI)

• Dealing with Risk in Investment Appraisal - RAROC

Day 5:  Financial Risk Management

• Risk and Uncertainty in Business

• Identifying & Measuring Financial Risk

• How to Manage Risk – The Four Ts

• Managing Exchange Rate Risk

• Managing Commodity Price Risk

• Managing Interest Rate Risk

Corporate Governance

• Recognizing the needs of stakeholders

• The Role and Scope of Corporate Governance

• Agency Theory: The Role of Directors & Shareholders

• The Role of External & Internal Auditors

• The Role of the Audit Committee

• Emerging trends in Corporate Governance