Course: Understanding Finance to Influence Strategic Decisions

Programme Outline

The Scandinavian Academy for Training Center adopts the latest scientific and professional methodologies in training and human resource development, aiming to enhance the efficiency of individuals and organizations. Training programs are delivered through a comprehensive approach that includes:

• Theoretical lectures supported by PowerPoint presentations and visual materials (videos and short films).
• Scientific evaluation of participants before and after the program to measure progress and knowledge acquisition.
• Brainstorming sessions and practical role-playing to simulate real-life scenarios.
• Case studies tailored to align with the training content and participants work nature.
• Assessment tests conducted at the end of the program to evaluate the achievement of training objectives.

Each participant receives the training material (both theoretical and practical) in printed form and saved on a CD or flash drive. Detailed reports, including attendance records, final results, and overall program evaluations, are also provided.

Training materials are prepared professionally by a team of experts and specialists in various fields. At the end of the program, participants are awarded a professional attendance certificate, signed and accredited by the Scandinavian Academy for Training Center.

Program Timings:

• 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM 

The program includes:

• A daily buffet provided during the sessions to ensure participants comfort.
• A closing ceremony on the final day to distribute certificates and celebrate participants achievements.

Introduction

A good understanding of fundamental financial concepts enables professionals at every level to make better strategic decisions and achieve improved performance. This seminar is designed to increase understanding on how finance and accounting tools can play a significant role in supporting the strategic planning and decision-making process. It will provide insight on how financial metrics connect with other non-financial measures to assess that the organizations’ goals and objectives are met. In doing so, the seminar will also explore the role of finance and accounting concepts within practices such as budgeting, costing and performance management. Overall, this highly interactive seminar has been designed to review a number of techniques available to professionals to support their strategic decisions and evaluate the multiple performances achieved.

Seminar Objectives

The objectives of this seminar are to enable delegates to:

• Take strategic decisions supported by a solid financial understanding
• Link strategic planning with budgeting, costing and performance measurement
• Support the achievement of goals and objectives with ad-hoc resource allocation
• Understand the structure of the financial statements (income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement)
• Understand how costs behave
• Explore traditional and innovative approaches to Budgeting and Cost Control
• Use the technique of discounted cash flow (DCF) for capital budgeting and evaluation of capital project investment, using net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR)
• Connect the financial and non-financial elements of strategic decisions and analysis

Training Methodology

This seminar is presented in a very user-friendly way to suit individuals with varying levels of financial knowledge and experience. The seminar will be conducted along workshop principles with formal presentations, case studies and interactive worked examples. The seminar combines theory and practice. The purpose is to use a mix of proven learning techniques to ensure maximum understanding, comprehension and retention of the information presented.

Our aim is for this to be an enjoyable learning experience.

Organizational Impact

The organization will gain through:

• Recognition of the importance of finance and accounting as a critical component of the strategic decision-making process, and the development of managers to be able to think strategically to:
  • understand and anticipate the financial factors that form the basis of strategic decision-making
  • evaluate the financial consequences of alternative strategic decisions
  • all of which should ultimately result in better strategic planning, and improved company performance
• Increased awareness of the importance of budgeting, costing and performance measurement for strategic purposes
• Use of the financial statements and other internal financial documents such as cost analysis and budgets that will help managers make more informed and therefore better management decisions
• Use of techniques that will support the company in its more effective planning and evaluation of capital investment projects;
• Increased awareness of the connections between budgeting, costing and strategic planning
• Ability to connect financial and non-financial drivers of the business
• The sharing of knowledge gained throughout other divisions and departments of the company.

Personal Impact

Delegates will develop an understanding of:

• The influence of financial considerations on an organization’s strategic decision-making
• How to understand the financial statements: balance sheet; income statement; statement of cash flows, in order to make more informed and therefore better financial decisions
• How to link budgeting, costing and performance measurement
• How to develop and manage the financial aspects of their role more effectively, enhance their performance, broaden their role, and appreciate how their decision-making may impact on their own department or business unit and the organization as a whole
• How to interpret the connection between the financial and non-financial drivers of the business
• How to improve their self-confidence in dealing with finance and financial professionals
• How to be better placed to liaise effectively with other professionals on financial issues.

Who Should Attend?

An understanding of how finance and accounting influences strategic decision-making is crucial for every role and at every management level in the organization. In addition to interns, financial analysts, financial controllers, accountants and others active in the planning process this seminar has been designed for business professionals from:

• sales and marketing
• engineering
• project management
• purchasing
• logistics
• human resources

and any other non-financial areas that need or wish to understand the financial aspects of the strategic decision-making process.