Introduction

A new and highly participative 5-day course which provides a good understanding of the essentials of the successful management of financial performance in modern companies: combining a theoretical framework, focused on rigorous benchmarking of competitive position, with real-life practical examples, exercises and case studies.

In today’s business world of increasingly rapid change and intense competitive pressures, successful companies must strive to maintain leading-edge performance management processes, especially in the area of cash flow and value optimization.

Success begins with the establishment of clear strategic aspirations. These must then be translated throughout the organization into a series of cascaded plans and objectives which must be simultaneously both challenging and practical.

Management’s role does not end with the finalization of detailed plans and budgets, but becomes increasingly important in ensuring the business responds effectively to competitive challenges and an ever-changing business environment.

Management must also be proactive in monitoring performance, identifying material deviations rapidly, taking corrective actions and persistently motivating and stretching the organization.

In addition, they must regularly review the performance management processes themselves, and ensure that they evolve in line with corporate best practices.

Seminar Objectives

• Acquire an Understanding of the Fundamentals of the Successful Management of Corporate Financial Performance, from the Development of Strategy through Planning and Budgeting to Performance Monitoring and Control

• Develop Practical Experience of the workings of a Best Practice Financial Performance Management Model, and of How to Improve Corporate Financial Performance in Real-Life

• Raise Financial Skills

There will be a strongly participative, learning-by-doing, style, making extensive use of short case studies (both numeric/ analytical and non-numeric/descriptive) and syndicates, as well as open plenary discussion sessions.

Given the relatively advanced nature of the course, and the frequent practical exercises, it is advisable that participants are reasonably numerate and have some prior familiarity with the financial basics (profit and loss accounts, balance sheets, discounted cash flow)

The Course consists of several modules (see outline below). Some modules will include short revision/refresher sessions on accounting and DCF basics. Each day will comprise several sessions, introducing new material to build on the learning in the previous sessions.

The Seminar Manual includes copies of all the slides used, as well as a Glossary of Financial Terms and a short Guide to DCF.

• Experienced management and staff who wish to gain an up-to-date and broader perspective on how industry leaders continually improve their financial performance, learn about current best practices, and improve their competencies in this area
• Recent company recruits who need to learn about modern corporate financial performance management processes, and develop their competencies in this area
• People from outside business who require a thorough conceptual and practical introduction to the performance management processes and techniques adopted by the leading players

PART ONE: THE FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK AND LANGUAGE.