Financial Acumen for Managers

Financial acumen has become a key competency for success in today's increasingly competitive business world. This course is designed to quickly provide operating managers and directors with the financial skills they need to gain competitive advantage. Participants will learn how to analyze financial information to quickly spot strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for improving financial performance. The course begins with an overview of accounting & financial reporting, transitions into analysis of financial performance, and concludes with strategies for enhancing profitability and enterprise value. Teaching methods employed include group discussions of financial issues currently in the news, short examples, and detailed case problems for analysis and decision making.

10-Dec-2012 -- 11-Dec-2012ChicagoUSD$2475
NY Institute of Finance - Chicago9:00am - 4:30pm Instructional Method:
Group-Live
Instructor(s): [ Marc Cherney; ] Mon Tue Level: Basic

CPE CREDITS
14.0
Operating managers, managing directors, division managers, senior advisors, consultants, and others responsible for managing corporate financial resources.
No advance preparation required.
Students will be able to:
  • Strengthen the quality of their communications with senior financial professionals
  • Describe assumptions & limitations inherent in a company's financial statements
  • Describe how today's key financial issues affect a company's reported profitability
  • Quickly identify strengths & weaknesses in a company's financial performance
  • Use profitability analysis to make better operating decisions
  • Manage the impact of key drivers affecting a company's stock price
  • Use relevant financial information to make better merger & acquisition decisions
Module 1-External Perspective: View from the outside
Accounting & Financial Statements
  • Understanding accounting rules
  • Understanding financial statements
  • Quality of earnings analysis
  • Asset valuation issues
  • Liability recognition issues
  • Case problem: Interpreting financial results

Analyzing results: financial ratios

  • Liquidity & cash flow
  • Solvency & credit risk analysis
  • Rate of return analysis
  • Assessing financial performance using DuPont analysis
  • Case Problem: Evaluating financial performance

Mudule 2 - Internal perspective: View from the inside
Cost Analysis & Decision Making
  • Fixed vs. variable costs
  • Cost-volume-profit analysis
  • Marginal cost analysis
  • Pricing & Outsourcing Decisions
  • Case problem: Special pricing decisions

Maximizing shareholder value: what makes stock prices rise (or fall)?

  • Business model analysis
  • Economic vs. accounting value
  • Fundamental vs. technical analysis
  • Impact of mergers & acquisitions
  • Forecasting future stock prices
  • Case problem: Merger & acquisition decisions

Lunch is included for all students taking day classes.