Why This Course? 

Every manager needs practical knowledge of financial management to make optimal decisions and contribute to the results. Gain this much-needed knowledge in just 2 days.

The course and the learning outcome

This 2-day course is designed to provide non-financial managers with a solid financial framework on where to develop.  Effective management depends on solid financial decisions, and as a manager, or any other individual with budget responsibility, you have to be able to: 

1. Master Key Financial Concepts and the Role of Finance

• Understand profit vs. value and the time value of money.
• Differentiate between accounting value and fair value, including GAAP vs. IFRS accounting methods.
• Recognize the finance department's responsibilities and the financial role of each manager.

2. Interpret and Act on Financial Reports

• Balance Sheet – Key indicators to monitor.
• Income Statement – EBIT, EBITDA, sales, direct/indirect costs, and margins.
• Cash Flow Statement – Cash generated, cash invested, and free cash flow analysis.

3. Analyze Performance Using KPIs (Over Time & Against Peers)

• Assess company profitability and goal achievement.
• Evaluate operational efficiency.
• Measure working capital, liquidity, and solvency.
• Determine investor value creation and market alignment.

4. Develop and Align Corporate Strategy

• Understand corporate strategy formulation.
• Analyze your organization's or department’s strategy.
• Assess market dynamics, competitors, and competitive positioning.
• Set objectives, plans, and goals in line with corporate strategy.

5. Learn how to budget (OPEX) and propose Investments (CAPEX)

• Differentiate between direct/indirect and fixed/variable costs.
• Apply budgeting techniques: incremental, zero-based, and rolling budgets.
• Conduct investment appraisals (CAPEX): NPV, IRR, and payback period analysis.
• Negotiate financial plans with internal stakeholders.

6. Monitor Performance, Identify Trends, and Take Action

• Are we on track to meet targets?
• Are objectives being achieved?
• Identify and mitigate risks.
• Implement actions to improve performance.

You will be able to interpret your organisation's financial statements and performance. Feel comfortable designing and evaluating budgets or capital expenditure projects in the light of your own organisation's performance and arguing the case for approval and acceptance. You will be able to prove shareholder value based on your managerial decisions, showing the effects on the balance sheet, income, and cash flow statement.

• Non-financial managers who need stronger financial decision-making skills.
• Department heads with budget responsibility for costs, resources, or investments.
• Operations managers seeking to improve profitability, efficiency, and working capital.
• Sales and marketing managers who want to understand margins, pricing, and business impact.
• Project managers preparing CAPEX proposals and investment business cases.
• Business unit leaders responsible for performance targets and strategic execution.
• Entrepreneurs and business owners who need practical finance knowledge to grow sustainably.
• Professionals moving into management roles who require financial confidence.
• HR, procurement, and technical managers involved in budgeting and resource planning.
• Anyone needing to interpret financial statements and speak the language of finance.

09:00 - 10:30 | The role of finance and the differences with accounting

• You will learn about the different functions of the finance department, internal and external reporting.
• Who are the key stakeholders and their roles in the organisation, and what is their importance in finance?
• The basic concepts, terminology and building blocks of financial control.

10:30 - 12:30 | Financial reporting and accounting principles

• The balance sheet and accounting principles
• The profit and loss statement, revenues and costs
• The role of the cash flow statement
• The relationship and interaction between the three main building blocks
• Critically evaluating the financial situation

12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch Break

13:30 - 14:30 | Working capital management and optimisation

• Methods for measuring inventory, accounts receivable and accounts payable

14:30 - 17:00 | Financial ratios for managers

• What are financial KPIs or ratios?
• How do they help measure and evaluate profitability, liquidity, solvency and returns?

Ratios discussed

• Return on Sales.
• Return on Equity.
• Return on Net Assets.
• EVA
• Inventory / receivables / payables turnover.
• Liquidity and debt ratio

09:00 - 10:30 | Strategy, Costing and Pricing

• Strategy concepts

• Cost concepts and methods
• Price, quantity, margins and mix
• Strategy and implications
• Different types of costs and how costs can be controlled
• Fixed, variable costs & break-even point

10:30 - 12:30 | Budgeting (OPEX)

• How do you prepare a budget?
• Operational expenditure and the role of budgeting
• Different budgeting techniques
• Variance analysis and exercises

12:30 - 13:30 | Lunch Break

13:30 - 15:15 | How do you decide on your investments - capital expenditure (CAPEX)?

• Basic principles
• Measurement tools
• The internal rate of return
• Net Present Value
• Payback

15:15 - 17:00 | Determining the return on investment

• Introduction to investment decisions
• The discount factor and discount rate
• Application of techniques (NPV, IRR and payback)
• Non-financial aspects of investment decisions
• Critical evaluation and decision-making

Sarah, Marketing Manager: "I always struggled to understand the financial reports in our meetings. This course broke it down so clearly—I now see how my campaigns impact the bottom line and can pitch ideas with real numbers to back them up."

Pieter, Operations Lead: "The course gave me a solid grasp of budgeting and cost management. It’s helped me make smarter decisions about resource allocation, and I’m way more confident discussing finances with the leadership team."

Jasper, HR Specialist: "I never thought finance was relevant to my role, but learning the basics opened my eyes. Now I can better justify hiring budgets and understand how payroll fits into the bigger picture."