This course offers an in-depth overview of the finance and accounting world. Part 1 emphasizes the capital markets impact on corporate finance, risk, and governance. Part 2 emphasized the internal workings of the finance/control function as it communicates with external and internal constituencies to provide information for decision making under uncertainty.

No preparation is necessary except to bring an open mind and a budget document or other financial documents of interest.

By combining techniques with analysis, problems and examples with real case studies, and supporting theories the course provides delegates with key finance terminology and practice. This course not only presents the key financial tools generally used, but also explains the broader context of how and where they are applied to obtain meaningful answers. It provides a conceptual backdrop both for the financial/economic dimensions of strategic business management and for understanding the nature of financial statements, analyzing data, planning and controlling.

The course is targeted at providing a university-quality ‘MBA’ overview of finance/accounting, planning/control, risk management, and corporate governance. Participants are expected to be high-potential learners seeking the next level of learning. Additional bibliographies, readings, and spreadsheets will be provided as takeaways.

• Improved appreciation for the finance/accounting/governance approach
• Better integration of business plans and strategic intent
• Reduced inter-functional territorial battles
• Improvements in communications between staff and line management
• Higher productivity during the decision making process
• Increased skill set in all phases of finance/accounting/governance
• Greater ability to participate in and to lead the finance/accounting process
• Recognizing the increased professionalism to deal with the current and future topics
• Increased recognition by the organization of their learning and professional commitment
• Challenging themselves in an immersive learning environment

Attendees are expected to be intellectually curious with a commitment to learning that requires significant personal effort. The nature of the course and of the materials dictate that interaction, commitment, and debate are the core components of the learning process. While no particular level of prior knowledge is needed, there is an assumption that the attendees are committed to immersing themselves in a learning situation.

Mini-MBA: Finance, Risk Management and Corporate Governance

The Challenge of Corporate Financial Reporting

• The Value Creating Company
• The Practice of Corporate Financial Reporting
• The Concepts from IASB, FASB, SEC, OECD, ad infinitum
• Dynamic Perspective of Business Financial Statements
• The Nature of Financial Statements
• The Context of Financial Reporting – roles played
• A Dynamic Perspective of Business
• Organizational planning framework
• Investor Relations roles
• Investment analysts roles
• The product / information / decision support cycle
• Strategic, tactical, and operational forecasts
• The strategic approach to business planning
• Various strategic and tactical approaches to business planning
• The Nature of Budgeted Financial Statements

Assessment of Corporate Financial Reporting

• Management’s perspective
• Owners’ perspective
• Lenders’ perspective
• Private Equity’s view
• The flow of money in business
• Funding business operations
• Developing the business plan
• Identification of key value drivers
• Short-term versus long-term market issues
• Some Special Issues

The Case for Corporate Governance

• Pro Forma Financial Statements and their use internally and externally
• Cash Budgets – why analysts are so interested
• Strategic intent – why are analysts so interested
• Sensitivity Analysis for risk management in governance
• Principal-Agent theory and applications
• The Enron, Ahold, and Parmalat effects
• Stakeholder perspectives when governments are involved directly
• Independence in fact versus appearance
• What alternatives are available

Risk Management as an integral part of Corporate Financial Reporting and of Corporate Governance

• Understanding uncertainty and risk/opportunity
• Identifying strategic financial risks
• Identifying operational risks
• Identifying functional financial risks
• Assessing financial risks in each perspective
• Finding our personal risk profile (appetite for risk)
• Clarifying desired outcomes, expected outcomes, and actual outcomes
• Performance measures – the need for FRM/ERM
• Quantitative and qualitative risks
• Developing FRM/ERM strategy – do we need a CRO?

Value-Based Management as the Integration Process

• Definitions of Value – do they trust our plans?
• Value to the Investor Community – different investment profiles with different expectations
• Business Valuation from multiple perspectives
• Managing for Shareholder Value
• Shareholder Value Creation in Perspective
• Evolution of Value-Based Methodologies
• Creating Value in Restructuring and Combinations beyond planning and reporting- the case for real change!
• Value to the Investor, Lenders, Employees, Customers, Stakeholders
• Governing for Shareholder Value
• Evolution of Finance, Risk Management, and Corporate Governance
• Why Net Present Value is the decision criterion

A variety of methodologies will be used during the course that includes:

·         (30%) Based on Case Studies

·         (30%) Techniques 

·         (30%) Role Play

·         (10%) Concepts

·         Pre-test and Post-test

·         Variety of Learning Methods

·         Lectures

·         Case Studies and Self Questionaires

·         Group Work

·         Discussion

·         Presentation

This rate includes participant’s manual, Hand-Outs, buffet lunch, coffee/tea on arrival, morning & afternoon of each day.

Daily Course Timings:

    08:00 - 08:20       Morning Coffee / Tea

    08:20 - 10:00       First Session

    10:00 - 10:20       Coffee / Tea / Snacks

    10:20 - 12:20       Second Session

    12:20 - 13:30       Lunch Break & Prayer Break

    13:30 - 15:00       Last Session