Workshop - Finance for Non-Financial Managers - Demystifying Business Accounts

Workshop Aims

1. Explain the finance and accounting jargon, in layman’s terms, to enable the non finance manager or professional to read and understand published or management accounting information provided by a client business.

2. Through practical examples and activities show how the financial statements and management information can be used to assess the performance and health of the business.

3. Provide an understanding of how the use or lack of internal business controls can increase or decrease the financial risk within a business.

Who Should Attend

Professionals who rely on financial information provided by a client to assess the level of risk or appropriate financial products required.

Professionals who would like to improve their understanding of accounting or financial jargon used in business accounts.

Topics Covered

Session 1 - Understanding Business Accounts

o Explanation of the jargon used in business accounts for large, small and medium sized business.

o Extracting the business story from the published accounts

 Is past performance an indication of future performance?

 Establishing the questions that need to be asked to complete the picture and assess the financial health or the organisation.

o Reading self employed business accounts and supporting information that can be requested.

o Accounting rules that may be used to improve the results.

Session 2 – Using Management Accounts and Forecasts

o The difference between management accounts and published business accounts

o The story they tell and how to critically review the information to ensure it makes sense. Is it robust enough to withstand future risks in the relevant industry?

o The importance of internal controls and how their absence increases risk.

o Reviewing the cash flow forecast and how it connects to the forecasted profit statement.

o Implications of any future TAX or regulatory related obligations that may impact the business in the short term

This workshop will be interactive and the delegate will benefit from bringing along real examples of finance issues they have encountered, or jargon that they would like explained. Practical exercises and materials will be provided.

Delegates will be asked to complete a pre-workshop questionnaire to ensure that specific questions or issues can be covered on the day.

How to book

This Workshop is being significantly subsidised by the IIB, bringing the cost down to only £40 per person including buffet lunch. There is a maximum number of 10 participants.

To register your place, please email robin.giles.cii@googlemail.com with your name and CII pin number as soon as possible by Thursday April 14th.

If you have any special requirements e.g. regarding diet, access, hearing etc., please let us know when booking your place.

Payment is due at the time of booking and the confirmation of booking will contain details of how to pay and will serve as the invoice for payment.

A certificate of attendance is available, if requested at the time of booking. These will be mailed to participants after the event.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Alan Boyce, ACII President

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