Outline
This programme is designed to strengthen your understanding of finance, giving you knowledge and confidence to apply it effectively for the benefit of your organisation and your career. We take the fear out of financial information by explaining concepts in clear, everyday language and demystifying the jargon that can sometimes get in the way of your working day.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course you will:
- Be confident in your understanding of financial jargon
- Be able to read financial statements and interpret the figures
- Understand how to manage key aspects of you job to optimise financial outcomes for the business
- Have improved decision making skills based on financial information
Course Content
The Business Model
Partnership, corporate, not-for profit: how are these choices made and what are the implications of those choices? We look at the raising of capital and the implications of the various routes available. Cashflow management is a key risk area and driven by everyday decisions. Team leaders need to understand how they play their part in optimising this key resource. Topics include:
- A model of how all of this ties together
- Business structure
- Raising capital
- Gearing
- Working capital control
- Fixed and variable cost
- Tangible and intangible assets
Profit and Loss
Everyone knows that organisations should be profitable, so we look at the benefits of retaining profit in the business and the consequences where it goes wrong. You will often hear different types of profit talked about and it is important that we appreciate the differences. Our daily decisions drive profit and we need to look at the drivers and what we can to positively to manage them. Key topics:
- A simple model to indicate how to maximise profit
- The impact of waste
- Gross and Net profit
- Retained profit
- Margin and breakeven
- How to identify specific areas for improvement in your area of responsibility
Understanding the Reports
As our responsibilities increase, we need to read and understand financial documents. The world of finance has its own language, as do all specialist business areas. However, you will need to be able to understand and use the terms and concepts in your decision making. Here we draw together terms we have encountered during the programme and see how they are used in reporting. We will also look at the structure of the reports and how to read them. Topics include:
- Profit and loss accounts
- Balance sheets
- A look at some of the key analytical ratios
Budgets
As part of corporate planning, budgets give us direction for the year ahead. Done well they are motivational. Understanding the thinking behind the numbers will create confidence and enhance your ability to communicate them to others in the team and around the business. Topics include:
- Types of budget
- A budget is not just a piece of paper with numbers on it
- Planning and creation
- Assumptions
- Control and variance analysis
Open Course Information
| Duration | 1 day, 09.30-16.30 |
|---|---|
| Member cost pp | £395+VAT |
| Non-member cost pp | £592.50+VAT |
| Details | Free parking, lunch provided |
In-House Course Information
This course is available for in-house delivery at a cost of £2,005+VAT for members, reflecting their learning discount. Please contact us for more information about non-member pricing.
The only additional cost is facilitator expenses, such as travel, where applicable. The course can be delivered in person or virtually for up to 12 delegates.
To learn more or discuss your specific requirements, please get in touch with us.
The Trainer
This course is facilitated by Peter Black. With a strong foundation in banking and corporate finance, Peter now specialises in financial awareness and business finance training. His career began with 16 years at Barclays Bank International, where he held various leadership roles, including managing compliance audits across Europe and leading corporate finance sales teams. His expertise in financial operations, sales strategy, and team leadership now informs his training approach.