PROGRAM DETAILS

Introduction

The role of the financial manager in organisations has become far more important and complex. The function of the finance manager is very diverse and they may be required to play a major role in dividend decisions, capital budgeting decisions, the capital structure of the firm, decisions in relation to mergers and acquisitions, and further investment decisions of the firm.

This course will cover the essential areas of financial analysis to ensure you are more than ready to meet the challenges ahead. You will obtain the financial analysis skills you need to add value to key business decisions in your organisation. It will help you understand the role of the financial manager in the regional and the global marketplace as it will provide you with the knowledge to reduce risk exposures of the business by applying effective risk management techniques.

Learning Objectives

Gain the critical financial analysis skills to add significant value to strategic decision making

 Identify the key tasks of the financial analyst by developing the skills to utilise cost of capital considerations and project analysis skills for business value maintenance

• Exercise the tools, models and techniques available to maximise shareholder returns and business assurance
• Implement ratio and trend analysis applications for value identification
• Improve your analysis techniques in balance sheet interpretation and application
• Reduce financial risk exposures by selection of effective financial risk management techniques and products

Target Audience

•  Group Finance Directors
• Finance Managers/Directors
• Financial Analysts
• Financial Controllers
• Financial Accounts Managers
• Heads of Finance Departments
• Credit Controllers
• Corporate Financiers
• Credit Risk Managers/Analysts
• Financial Advisors

Program Content

Module 1

 An Introduction To Accounting And Finance 

1. • The role of accounting
   • The role of finance
   • The value proposition
   • Agency management for value maintenance
   • The aim of financial management

Module 2

The Role Of The Financial Analyst And Skill-Set 

• • The knowledge application base
  • Financial market interaction
  • Business structures and forms

 The Balance Sheet Barrier – The Key To Value 

• • Key financial statements
  • The role of financial statements in safeguarding the business
  • How finance really works within an accounting framework 

• Financial Analysis In Practice (Part One) 

• • Interpreting financial statement information
  • Application of financial reporting
  • Budgeting overview and techniques

• Activities           

• • Case studies, readings and exercises

Module 3

• Financial Analysis In Practice (Part Two) 

• • Applying the skills in decision making

• Cost And Value Of Capital 

• • Traditional cost of capital measures
  • WACC
  • The tax affect
  • Capital budgeting
  • Project application
  • Interest rates and business impact

Module 4

• Investment Decisions 

• • Project costing
  • Payback techniques
  • Break even analysis
  • Risk and uncertainty in the investment decision
  • The implications of capital management
  • Yes – no pathways

 Net Present Value And Other Calculations 

• • Time value of money
  • Interest rate and inflation calculations
  • Internal rate of return
  • Economic and cash value added
  • Techniques and applications 

• Activities 

• • Case studies, readings and exercises

 Module 5

• Financial Forecasting Techniques 

• • Why you need to forecast?
  • Projected financial statements
  • Accuracy and use in decision making
  • Application and decision making
• Asset And Cash Management 

• • Cash and working capital management
  • Cash conversion cycle application
  • Inventory techniques
  • Asset classification and recording
  • Value impact of asset definition
  • Asset management techniques

Module 6

• Credit Analysis For The Corporate 

• • Accounts receivable management
  • Setting credit policies
  • Use and value of rating agencies
  • Factoring and other inventory financing techniques
  • Basic credit analysis and decision skills 

• Ratio And Trend Analysis 

• • The most common ratios
  • Interpreting and using the selected ratios
  • What is a trend and what is the value of ratio analysis
  • The value of ratio and trend analysis 

• Activities 

• • Case studies, readings and exercises

Module 7

• Financial Risk Management Techniques 

• • Overview of financial risk management
  • Major categories of financial risk
  • Market interaction
  • Tool and techniques
  • Products
  • Protection and value

• Dividend Policy Setting
  • Can you afford a dividend
  • How do shareholders get value from an investment
  • Capital structure and calculation 

• Activities
  • Case studies, readings and exercises