Navigating The Financial Maze

Programme Coverage – Step One

The ‘Financial Levers’ of operating a successful business Using financial statements: Balance Sheet – a snapshot of assets and liabilities Income Statement – summary of trading performance Cash Flow Statement – a business ‘bank statement' Important areas of management focus: Cash control / Asset utilisation / Profit generation Using the CAP approach to evaluating business performance applying financial KPI’s and trend analysis Understanding the Stock Market perspective and shareholder expectations Unravelling the mysteries of Financial Terminology and the ‘jargon’ used by accountants How to measure Success in a business How to measure Stability and Risk in a business

Programme Coverage – Step Two

Recognising the link between financial and operational objectives Understanding the volume-cost-profit relationship Management of costs - Fixed and Variable costs / Direct and Indirect costs / Overhead costs Analysis of product and service costs Understanding the Contribution approach to performance reporting and decision taking Price Setting and Discounting decisions - Considering the implications of alternative pricing decisions / Using Breakeven and Sensitivity Analysis techniques Evaluating the effectiveness of resource use (people, equipment, processes etc.) Evaluating business options using alternative Financial Appraisal techniques Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Planning