(Duration: 2-5 days per module, depending on requirement)

Introduction

All organisations, or corporations, come into existence for a purpose, or mission, – generally to provide a product (either goods or services) – and in order to achieve this they require resources in the form of labour, and invariably materials and equipment, not to mention finance. They also need to formulate how the purpose will be brought about. This starts with expressing the purpose as a series of objectives and then proceeds with a strategy and tactics for implementation. Generally, the resources, in particular the finance, will not be provided unless and until the providers can be convinced of the sense of the purpose and objectives of the organisation.

This course will equip participants with knowledge that will enable them to exercise judgement and technique to make commercial value added decisions in strategic financial management and are able to adapt to factors affecting those decisions.

Course objective

Upon completing this course, the participants will be able to:

· prepare reports for management explaining and evaluating the financial consequences of strategic decisions

· identify and evaluate appropriate sources of finance, their risks and costs

· assess potential investment decisions and strategies

· understand the impact of the global business environment

· explain, demonstrate and recommend suitable risk management techniques

· understand the significance of cash management and the treasury function in the commercial environment

· select the techniques most appropriate to optimise the employment of financial resources

· analyse and evaluate financial information relating to past and future business performance

Course Outline

Module 1: Understanding Financial Statements, Forecasting and Budgeting

· Introduction to Corporate Finance and the Financial Markets

· Introduction to Financial Statements - Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow

· Financing and Working Capital Management

· Financial Statement Analysis

· Statistics - Probability Theory, Sampling Theory and Simple Forecasting

· Simple Budgeting and Preparing Forecast Financial Statements

Module 2: Investment Appraisal and Performance Appraisal

· Financial Mathematics (DCF) and applications in Stock Valuation and Analysis

· Introduction to Investment Appraisal

· Cost of Capital - the Discount Rate

· Risk and Risk Assessment

· Performance Appraisal

Module 3: Further Topics in Investment Appraisal

· Further Investment Appraisal and Stock Valuation Techniques

· Adjusting the Discount Rate for Different Risks

· Portfolio Theory and The Capital Asset Pricing Model

· Adjusting Beta values for Different Levels of Financial Risk

Module 4: Further Topics in Corporate Finance

· Theories of Stock Price Determination

· Dividend Policy

· Strategy Formulation - seeking Sustainable Competitive Advantage

· Mergers & Acquisitions

· Corporate Reorganisations

Module 5: Futures, Options & Swaps - Risk Management Applications

· Introduction to Derivatives and Risk Management

· Foreign Exchange and Currency Risk Management

· Interest Rates and Short-term Interest Rate Risk Management

· Long-term Interest Rate Risk Management including Swaps

· Commodity price Risk Management - energy/metals/soft

· Credit Risk Management

Module 6: Treasury Management

· Introduction to Corporate Finance and the Financial Markets

· Introduction to Financial Statements

· Financing and Working Capital Management

· Financial Statements Analysis and Credit Analysis

· Statistics - Probability Theory, Sampling Theory and Simple Forecasting

· Budgeting and Preparing Forecast Financial Statements

· Financial Mathematics (DCF) and applications in Stock Valuation and Analysis

· Dividend Policy

· Derivatives and Risk Management

· Foreign Exchange and Currency Risk Management

· Interest Rates and Short-Term Interest Rate Risk Management

· Long-term Interest Rate Risk Management including Swaps

· Credit Risk Management

Who should attend?

Senior Management, Finance Managers, Finance Executives and those whose job revolve around corporate finance and treasury.