Finance for Non-Finance Managers

Course Introduction

Finance can often feel like an entirely separate world, filled with jargon that creates barriers for those without a background in accounting. For many, the language of finance can seem deliberately opaque, discouraging engagement until later in their careers.

This introduction aims to change that by providing a straightforward foundation. Designed for those with little formal exposure to business finance, it uses simple, accessible models to unravel the complexities of where money comes from, how it’s used, and how it’s measured within a business context. It also demystifies the terminology that often intimidates newcomers.

While it doesn’t cover every detail, think of this guide as your essential tourist map and phrasebook for navigating the unfamiliar terrain of finance. With it, you’ll be better equipped to translate the jargon and confidently embark on your financial journey.

Who is it for?

At one level it can be an introduction or revision to finance and financial statements. At a second level, it is directed to brokers and underwriters in D & O and financial lines, for whom interpreting client accounts is essential.

It is a practical course and therefore numbers are limited to 10.

Course Objectives

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

• Describe the cash flow in a commercial firm, and the risks
• Describe the sources of funding and the implications of each
• Understand key financial concepts and how they apply in practice
• Explain and apply the financial language of measurement and reporting.
• Explain the purposes of and interpret financial statements: reading between the lines
• Apply the key ratios to measure the critical indicators of a company’s health.

Course Content

• Cashflow: keeping the business money machine working
• how different industries will display different financial characteristics
• cash v profit
• financial concepts
• sources of finance: equity and debt
• assets and liabilities
• fixed and variable costs
• creditors, debtors and credit control
• revenue, cost and break even
• depreciation and amortization
• the main financial statements
• solvency and liquidity
• key ratios and financial analysis of profit, liquidity and return.

Approach

The workshop is split into two main sections: 1) commercial cashflow, process and language, and 2) financial statements and analysis.

It is a blend of input sessions, discussion, frequent short practical exercises and a progressive case study of a real company to enable participants to learn by application.

It assumes participants need have no previous knowledge of business finance and they receive a set of stand-alone business finance notes which are written to support the course and for reference long afterwards.