Finance Course for the Non-Financial Manager

Finance. Boost your financial know-how.

Manage finance the smart way with Finance courses at the University of Sydney.

This finance course is designed for managers and other professionals who need an understanding of the financial drivers of business. It is suitable for participants who require financial management skills and knowledge as part of their role (non-financial managers).

This course provides an introduction to the concepts underlying external financial accounting and internal management accounting. You will be introduced to the skills necessary to prepare, interpret and analyse financial statements, including balance sheet, profit and loss statements. You will gain an insight into how your business decisions impact the financial reports of your company.

We will also cover budgeting, costing and key performance indicators, and clarify the often misunderstood area of accrual accounting.

Aims

This course will enable you to:

• utilise key financial terms and concepts
• analyse the 3 key financial statements – Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement
• forecast and prepare budgets
• calculate financial ratios for evaluating the health of the organisation
• calculate variances and recommend corrective action for achieving a budget.

Outcomes

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

• recognise why accrual accounting is commonly used in business
• appreciate the rationale for depreciation and amortisation of assets
• interpret a Profit and Loss Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement
• assess the financial health of a business using financial ratios
• prepare forecasts and set budgets for sales, costs and expenses using a range of methods
• calculate variances and recommend corrective action for achieving a budget.

Content

Financial terminology and concepts

• Income and expenses
• Assets, liabilities and equity

The basis for accrual accounting

• Accrual accounting versus cash accounting
• End of period recording of accruals and prepayments

Financial management of assets

• Use of depreciation
• Difference between depreciation and amortisation

Financial statements

• Interpretation of P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement
• Calculation of key financial ratios
• Interpretation of the health of a business using financial ratios

Financial forecasting

• Use of history, market conditions and the Delphi method
• Forecasting for sales, costs and expenses

Budgeting

• Budgeting for an organisation
• Defining and budgeting or profit centre, cost centres and for projects

Calculating and acting on variances

• How to calculate a variance
• Correcting for unfavourable variances
• Generating an estimate of likely performance compared to the budget

Intended Audience

Suitable for managers, team leaders, board members or individuals from a non-financial background who wish to develop their competencies for understanding their organisations' financial statements and structures.

Course examples will be provided to cater for attendees from all sectors – commercial, not-for-profit and government – indeed the course is designed to meet the needs of anyone who needs to interpret financial data in a work or board setting to assist with their decision-making.

Delivery Style

Delivered as an interactive workshop which includes lectures, group exercises and discussion.