Core Finance Skills

Introduction

Strong financial understanding is essential for professionals who contribute to organisational decision-making and performance improvement. The Core Financial Skills training course equips participants with the knowledge required to interpret financial information, evaluate business activities, and understand the risks organisations face in today’s dynamic economic environment. It provides practical insight into analysing financial statements, assessing investment opportunities, and measuring organisational performance in order to support sustainable growth and profitability.

Financial reports such as the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement contain critical information about the financial health of an organisation. However, interpreting these documents effectively requires the ability to apply appropriate analytical tools and financial techniques. This course develops the skills needed to transform financial data into meaningful insights that support better management decisions and improved organisational results.

This GLOMACS Core Finance Skills training course will emphasise:

• Understanding annual reports and other key financial information sources
• Applying financial tools and analytical techniques to evaluate organisational performance
• Managing and allocating financial resources effectively
• Assessing capital investment opportunities and business valuations
• Identifying and managing financial and operational risks

Objectives

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Examine and interpret key components of an organisation’s annual report
• Apply financial ratio analysis to assess performance and financial stability
• Use analytical approaches to project future financial outcomes
• Evaluate how accounting policies influence reported financial results
• Understand the relationship between profit, cash flow, and financial sustainability
• Assess the financial implications of investment decisions and business valuations

Training Methodology

This training course will be run along with workshop principles, with formal presentations that include practical illustrations and relevant worked examples used to apply the financial tools and techniques in a real-world environment. Interactive team-based exercises and case studies reinforce the application of each of the learning ideas and topics enclosed. These are reinforced with the help and advice of the Instructor and his extensive real experience and knowledge of financial statements and analysis. Group discussion will promote the exchange of experiences and ideas. Difficult mathematical concepts are minimised wherever possible and handled in a visual way that is easy to understand – our aim is for this to be an enjoyable learning experience.

Organisational Impact

Organisations will gain value from participants who complete this training course through improved financial awareness and stronger analytical capability, including:

• Greater understanding of financial statements and their strategic relevance
• Enhanced ability to monitor and improve organisational performance
• Identification of operational challenges and development of practical solutions
• More informed financial and managerial decision-making
• Improved evaluation of financing options and investment opportunities
• Stronger capability to recognise and manage financial and business risks

Personal Impact

Participants will strengthen their professional capabilities and gain:

• A clearer understanding of financial and accounting terminology
• Practical knowledge of financial analysis tools and techniques
• Insight into the relationship between profitability and cash flow
• Greater confidence when addressing financial information and decision-making
• Skills to identify and evaluate financial risks and performance issues
• Opportunities to exchange perspectives and experience with other professionals