Certificate in Financial Management is critical for any manager, but the role can often be challenging for those with no previous training. The Financial Management Certificate is designed to provide participants with greater confidence in understanding their business/organization’s financial picture and using that information to make sound decisions.

The workshops will be delivered by instructors working in the financial industry who have experience in both private and public sector finance.

Most strategic and operational business decisions rely on fundamental knowledge of financial management. Speaking and understanding the language of finance is an essential skill for leaders and managers throughout the organization.

This understanding is also a prerequisite for finance professionals who need to make day to day decisions, and for accounting professionals who wish to advance their careers.

Without a clear understanding of financial statements and financial analysis and management, you lack credibility with finance managers and business leaders alike. This certificate in financial management course consists of modules that reveal financial terminology and concepts, giving you the tools you need to communicate fluently with top executives and articulate business investment and project proposals to decision makers.

Today, a good idea is not good enough. Leaders must demonstrate that their plan will deliver measurable results to the bottom line. To drive innovation and organizational success, leaders need to make effective business decisions that provide the most economic value to their organizations. They must have at their disposal the conceptual frameworks necessary to efficiently articulate project and investment proposals to decision-makers, as well as review and discuss plans with the organization’s finance managers.

Find out our wide range of Finance and Accounting courses options.

YOU WILL LEARN HOW TO

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 knowledge acquired throughout the course followed by participants’ presentations of the results.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION

Participants who fully attend this course and complete the test on the last day will receive a Strategic Axis Professional Certificate (SAPC). SAPC certificates are regionally recognized and can be quite valuable when applying for more senior roles within the organization or outside.

Professional Credits

This course is worth 25 NASBA CPEs.

National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA):  State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.

COURSE OUTLINE

Financial accounting and general accounting theory and concepts

The needs of the business and identifying signs of financial problems
Financial accounting and general accounting theory and concepts

The different types of accountant reports: internal and externally prepared (Compilation, Review Engagement, or Audit)

Various Financial Reporting Standards or Frameworks

Analysis of financial statements for evaluating business performance

Financial performance ratios: such as asset-based, liquidity and profitability ratios

Historical performance measures and trends to better position the business in the future

The needs of the business and identifying signs of financial problems

Module 2: The Scope of Corporate Financial Management
Introduction to the three pillars of financial management

An inside look at the key financial statements

Why is cash flow king?

The building blocks of financial analysis:

Vertical analysis and common size financial statements

Horizontal and trend analysis

Liquidity analysis

Solvency analysis

Efficiency analysis

Profitability analysis

Practical applications of the time value of money using Excel

Module 3: Cost and Managerial Accounting and Budgeting
Cost and managerial accounting theory and concepts

The role of internal reporting and reporting methods/process

Fixed, variable and mixed costing

Inventory costing methods and accounting process

What is a budget and how is it different from a forecast or projection

Capital versus operations budgeting

Pricing and cost change impacts on financial results and profitability

Module 4: Strategic and Operational Financial Planning
Overview of the financial planning process

Understanding the sustainable growth rate

Pro-forma financial statements and assumptions

Building income statement projections

Building balance sheet projections

Modeling ‘what-if’ analysis

Module 5: Financial Projections and Financial Modeling Techniques
The purpose of projections and role they play in business

How projected financial statements are prepared

Financial modeling – basic Excel review (projections, cash flow, project-based, present value etc.)

Evaluation of a new project or expansion to determine viability or cash-flow needs

Techniques for managing cash flow:

-rolling cash flow spreadsheets (month over month actual vs. budget targets)

-tracking capital and other projects to budget

Module 6: Corporate Finance, Capital Budgeting and Cost of Capital
The capital budgeting process

Net present value: key decision-making criteria

Internal rate of return

Discounted payback period

Profitability index

Weighted average cost of capital

Module 7: Financing and Raising Capital
Asset management and credit

Financial options, e.g., debt financing vs. equity financing

Raising Capital – Angel investors, venture capital

Working capital and its uses

Dealing with Lenders – how to prepare

Guarantees and security

Cash flow – debt covenants and margining

Basic principles of business valuation and its role in buying or selling a business

Module 8: Mergers, Acquisitions, and Corporate Control
Methods of acquisitions

Types of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&As)

Motives for mergers and acquisitions

5 phases of the M&A process

The process of due diligence

Reasons behind failed mergers

Anti-takeover measures

Module 9: Fiscal Controls and Fraud Prevention
Measures to detect and protect against financial fraud in the business:

fiscal controls, policies, and corporate culture

best practices

How fraud occurs

Corporate risk tolerance assessment

Corporate fraud mitigation plans and communication policies

Internal audit processes or functions

Warning signs and what to do when fraud occurs

Module 10: Stock and Bond Valuation
Valuation fundamentals of financial instruments

An inside look at common and preferred stocks

Stock valuation principles

Shares held for specific period

Stocks held indefinitely

The free cash flow approach

Fixed income securities valuation

Bonds: premiums and discounts

Module 11: Financial Decision Making
Project analysis:

Calculate return on investment, present value, payback, breakeven point analyses

Evaluate financing options for capital projects

When is it better to lease vs. buy

The impact of external factors on your financial picture:

Interest rate and market fluctuations

Currency fluctuations

Trade agreements

Taxation Overview:

Corporate Income Taxes

Payroll Taxes

Commodity taxes (HST)

Financial decision making tips and techniques

Module 12: Working Capital and The Financing Decision
Components of working capital

Conservative approach to working capital management

Aggressive approach to working capital management

Ways of financing current assets

The cash conversion cycle and cash management