Course Description

This course shows how to interpret key financial statements highlighting the questions and areas that matter. It identifies warning signals that managers need to be aware of and shows how to understand key performance indicators to drive profitability.
Delegates will learn how to appraise capital projects with confidence, allowing them to make the best decisions for their business.

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Course Objectives

• Understanding of financial accounts and reports

• The use and understanding of financial concepts

• Analytical skills to interpret financial results using ratios

• Gain the Ability to manage budgets more effectively

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• The Business Cycle: understand how money flows in a business

• Business objectives: use financial data to achieve business targets

• Financial information required for decision-making

• Understanding Financial Statements:

  • The profit and loss statement

  • The cash flow statement

  • The balance sheet

  • Knowing what to look for in company financial statements

• Accounting policies and how to stop abuses

• Profit vs. Cash and other key financial ratios, how to use them effectively

• Budgeting

  • The what and why of budgets

  • Preparation, how to start, how to finish a budget

  • Estimate or guesstimate?

  • Over budget, under budget – what are the consequences?

  • Budgetary control – it’s essential

  • Behavioral implications

• Working capital management

  • Cash flow management

  • Cost control and reduction

• Improving margins and sales in your business

  • Break even analysis

  • Balancing sales with profitability

• Capital Investment techniques

  • The right balance between short-term and long-term capital

  • Risk analysis

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Mike graduated from Birmingham University, UK with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Honors) in 1980. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants England and Wales and a Member of the Faculty of Finance and Management.

Mike spent 17 years working with PricewaterhouseCoopers (“PwC”) in London as both an auditor and management consultant. In 1993, he was made Director of the PwC Business Finance Training Group, and has acted as a training and development consultant to a number of industries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, with clients that include Shell, Nokia and AOL. Mike spent four years responsible for management training for the Audit practice of Coppers & Lybrand across the Middle East region.

Mike provides training and development to support performance improvement initiatives at both Board and junior management levels across a broad range of industries. Specializing in Finance, Business Planning and Management Development programs designed to improve the commercial and Business focus of participants.

Mike has authored published articles on the subject of Performance Management and has created a range of business simulations and exercises, including the Finance board game simulation called CashPlus©, which has been used successfully with over 100 companies as a way of learning the principles of business finance, whilst ensuring the learning is both memorable and fun.

Mike also provides Financial consulting, ranging from advising Finance Departments on how best to support the business through to 1-to1 coaching.

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