MASTER CLASS: ACCOUNTING & FINANCE

Introduction to Accounting
• The importance of accounting information
• The role of the Finance Function
• The accounting equation and financial accounting systems
• Recording facts and applying judgement
• Preparing the Income Statement and Balance Sheet
• Accounting principles and accounting standards
Accounting Reports
• The format and contents of the Income Statement
• The format and contents of the Balance Sheet
• The effect of depreciation and impairment on profit
• Identifying and valuing inventory
• Preparing the Cash flow Statement
• The importance of cash flow in business
Management Accounting for Control and Decision-Making
• Collecting and analyzing costs
• The structure of direct and indirect costs
• Dealing with overheads – absorption costing or ABC?
• Cost-Volume-Profit and break even analysis
• Decision making – make or buy
• Decision making – the effect of limiting factors
Communicating the Plan Through Budgeting
• Corporate planning and corporate objectives implemented through budgeting
• The budgeting process and timescale
• Sales budget forecasting techniques
• Cascading the budgets across the whole business
• Preparing functional budgets and the cash budget
• Budgeting principles, methodologies and applications
Measuring Performance to Inform Decision Making
• Monthly management reporting
• Setting and using standards
• Identifying and calculating variances
• Operating and planning variances – who is responsible?
• Measuring responsibility centre performance, ROI, RI and EVA
• Non-financial performance – the Balanced Scorecard
Finance and Financial Information
• Finance & Accounting
• Developing a Strategic Financial Plan
• Financial Information: – Internal & External
• Evaluating Financial Performance to improve Liquidity, Profitability, & Efficiency
• Working Capital Management
• Cash Flow Statements and Calculating Free Cash Flow
Financing the Business and the Cost of Capital
• Sources of Long Term & Short Term Finance
• The Optimum Capital Structure – Equity or Debt?
• Calculating the Cost of Equity and Meeting Shareholder Expectations
• Calculating the Cost of Debt – Fixed or Floating Rate
• The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)
• The Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
CAPEX – Analysis of Investment Decisions
• Strategic Issues facing Organisations Today
• Preparing Project Cash Flow Forecasts in Excel
• Capital Investment Appraisal Techniques: Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) and Payback
• Discounted Cash Flow Appraisal Techniques: NPV and IRR
• Capital Rationing and the Profitability Index (PI)
• Dealing with Risk in Investment Appraisal – RAROC
Financial Risk Management
• Risk and Uncertainty in Business
• Identifying & Measuring Financial Risk
• How to Manage Risk – The Four Ts
• Managing Exchange Rate Risk
• Managing Commodity Price Risk
• Managing Interest Rate Risk
Corporate Governance
• Recognising the needs of stakeholders
• The Role and Scope of Corporate Governance
• Agency Theory: The Role of Directors & Shareholders
• The Role of External & Internal Auditors
• The Role of the Audit Committee
• Emerging trends in Corporate Governance

1ST BATCH: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 — Friday, January 23, 2026.

2ND BATCH: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 — Friday, May 15, 2026.

3RD BATCH: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — Friday, September 11, 2026.

The training methodology integrates lectures, interactive discussions, collaborative group exercises, and
illustrative examples. Participants will acquire a blend of theoretical insights and hands-on practical
experience, emphasizing the application of learned techniques. This approach ensures that attendees return
to their professional environments equipped with both the competence and self-assurance to effectively
implement the acquired skills in their responsibilities.