This is a 2-day course packaged for operational and functional managers who have little/some knowledge of accounting and finance, but who need to understand finance to be able to perform their jobs better and/or to interface with Finance department staff.

This course introduces you to the scope of finance and the areas that you will need to know to understand financial statements and their usefulness in decision-making. The framework of accounting (assumptions, principles and concepts) and the fundamental concepts of risk-reward, financial analysis, and investment appraisal will be covered. As cashflow is the centre-piece of finance, you will learn how to read cashflow statements and cashflow management techniques.

Participants will each receive a complimentary copy of the book “The Essence of Corporate Cashflow Sustainability” to be autographed by the author and trainer Michael Matthew Lee.

Objective

At the end of the 2-day course, you will be able to:

1. articulate the scope of finance


2. read finance statements and understand the interrelationships


3. apply financial ratios to analyse financial statements


4. analyse cashflow statement and its implications to the business


5. articulate investment appraisal concepts and their applications

Outline

1. The scope of finance and what a non-finance manager needs to know about finance


2. The framework of accounting (assumptions, principles and concepts)


3. Debits and credits re-visited


4. Objectives of financial accounting
   a. Maximization of profit
   b. Maximisation of wealth


5. Goals of financial management
   a. Profit-risk approach
   b. Liquidity-profitability approach


6. Financial statements - Statement of financial position (Balance Sheet), Profit & Loss statement, and Cashflow statement - How to read them and understand their inter-relationships.


7. Cashflow statement analysis - step by step approach


8. Cashflow management techniques


9. Budgetting and forecasting - understand the processes and the monitoring of variances


10. Financial statement analysis - ratio analysis and interpretation


11. Investment appraisal - risk/reward, time value of money, discounted cashflow (DCF), net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), payback period.

Who should attend

This course is designed for managers, senior executives, newly-promoted managers, operations managers and functional managers who need to understand finance in the course of their work and in interfacing with finance staff.

Methodology

This course will be conducted in an environment conducive to learning where quizzes and group work will also be used to reinforce learning. Illustrations and examples from the trainer’s and participants’ experiences will be shared.

Testimonial

Knowledgeable and applied experience to the course!
Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities

Very clear explaination and teaching.
Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities

Michael Matthew Lee's Profile

Michael Matthew Lee is a trained teacher, lecturer, C-suite coach, and facilitator, and is himself a life-long learner. Being trained, he is skilful in explaining difficult concepts in a simple and understandable manner. With his more than 40 years of corporate working experience, which include serving as Group CFO of 3 large Main Board public-listed groups, and as CXO (MD/CEO/COO) of various companies across industries, he specialises in Finance and Strategic Marketing, and is exposed to senior executive management practices, issues, and challenges.

He authored the book “The Essence of Corporate Cashflow Sustainability” launched in June 2022 and has written 15 accounting & finance articles. His 2nd book “Corporate Growth & Cashflow Sustainability” was launched on 6th Jan 2024.

Michael Matthew Lee’s credentials are:
Chartered Accountant (ISCA)
Chartered Marketer (CIM(UK))
Associate CVA
MBA (Finance, NUS Business School)
MBA (Strategic Marketing, University of Hull)
BAcc (NUS); DipM (UK); PDipM (APAC); ACTA; PMC. CertEd
ASEAN CPA; FCA(Singapore); FCPA(Aust); FCCA(UK); FCIM(UK); MSID.