Introduction
Most strategic and operational business decisions rely on fundamental knowledge of financial management including the ability to speak and understand the language of finance. While this knowledge is an essential skill for leaders and managers throughout the organization, it is also a prerequisite for both finance professionals who need to make day-to-day decisions as well as accounting professionals who wish to advance their careers. Those without a clear understanding of financial statements analysis and management are unable to communicate professionally with finance managers and business leaders. This course consists of modules that clarify financial terminology and concepts giving you the required tools to communicate fluently with top executives and articulate business investment and project proposals to decision-makers.
Course Objectives of Certified Financial Management Professional
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Apply financial analysis techniques to generate conclusions and recommendations regarding business performance
- Utilize their macro-finance understanding from a strategic and operational perspective
- Design dynamic strategic financial planning models
- Demonstrate an understanding of mergers, acquisitions, takeovers, and corporate control
- Compare how equities and fixed income securities are priced
- Develop a practical understanding of corporate finance, cost of capital, and capital budgeting
Course Methodology of Certified Financial Management Professional
The course uses a mix of interactive techniques such as brief presentations by the consultant, group exercises, case studies, and the use of Excel to apply the knowledge acquired throughout the course followed by participants' presentations of the results.
Target Audience of Certified Financial Management Professional
Finance professionals, finance managers, corporate controllers, financial controllers, treasury professionals, chief accountants, accounting managers, senior accountants, banking professionals, and corporate business professionals.
Course Outlines of Certified Financial Management Professional
Day 1
The scope of financial analysis and management
-
- Introduction to the three pillars of financial management
- Operating, investing, financing decisions
- An inside look at the key financial statements
- The building blocks of financial statements analysis
- Vertical analysis and common size financial statements
- Horizontal and trend analysis
- Liquidity analysis
- Solvency analysis: debt and equity
- Efficiency and working capital management
- Balances of cash
- Balances of accounts receivable
- Balances of inventory
- Balances of trade payables
- Using short term bank facilities
- The cash conversion cycle
- Profitability analysis: margins and returns
Day 2
Strategic financial planning and forecasting
-
- Overview of the financial planning process
- Revenue forecasting: bottom-up versus top-down
- Forecasting cost of goods sold
- Forecasting fixed and variable costs
- Forecasting balance sheet accounts
- Using days sales outstanding
- Using days of inventory on hand
- Using days of payables
- Fixed assets forecasting
- Retained earnings and dividend pay-out policy
- Building 12 monthly forecast for a seasonal business
- Modeling 'what-if' analysis
Day 3
Mergers, acquisitions, and corporate control
-
- Methods of acquisitions
- Types of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As)
- Motives for mergers and acquisitions
- 5 phases to the M&A process
- The process of due diligence
- Reasons behind failed mergers
Day 4
Financing decision: the right mix of debt and equity
-
- Valuation fundamentals of financial instruments
- How to price a bond before issuance
- How to price a stock before offering
- The weighted average cost of capital
- Impact of debt-to-equity ratio on the cost of funds
- Deciding on the mix of debt and equity
- Optimal financing structure
Day 5
Capital budgeting and investment decisions
-
- Practical applications of the time value of money using Excel
- Future value calculations
- Present value and NPV calculations
- Internal rate of return
- Verifying loan installments based on effective interest method
- The capital budgeting process
- Forecasting incremental cash flows
- Deciding on the appropriate discount rate
- Identify working capital commitment
- Net present value: key decision-making criteria
- Internal rate of return for decision making
- Discounted payback period
- Profitability index
About London
The UK capital of London is a city that combines the old and the new. It is as equally famous for the latest fashion and innovation as it is for its impressive heritage. London's attractions range from the Royal Palace to the DIY atmosphere of its markets. It is also a picturesque city of parks and of course, the majestic Thames River. The city extends for miles beyond its ancient core and each neighborhood has its own charming atmosphere for visitors to explore. London also wears its status as a world city proudly and the influence of different cultures is plain to see in the food and fashion of the capital.
Things to do and places to visit in London
With so many attractions in London, anyone can find something to delight them. Art lovers will enjoy the world-renowned museums and galleries, most of which are free. Sports fans are spoilt for choice by the city's array of football clubs. Theatre and music fans have a vast list of venues to visit, whilst shopaholics have Harrods, Oxford Street, Camden and much more to look forward to after arranging flights to London.
Some unmissable London attractions include:
- Seeing priceless masterpieces in the Tate Britain or the National Gallery.
- Watching the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
- Visiting Trafalgar Square's famous monument.
- Marveling at the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London.
- Getting a bird's eye view of the city from the London Eye.
- Tasting one of Brick Lane's famous curries.
- Browsing the exclusive shops of Knightsbridge.
- Visiting a market – Spitalfields for antiques, Camden for clothes or Borough Market for street food.
- Admiring design from around the world in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
- Looking for clues at the home of fiction's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes.
- Strolling through one of the lovely parks, including Hyde Park, St James' Park or Kew Gardens.
- Eating Britain's most famous dish, fish and chips.
- Watching the street performers in Covent Garden.
- Enjoying the views at a South Bank cafe.