Understanding Finance to Influence Strategic Decisions

Why Attend

A good understanding of strategic analysis and decision-making and the links between these and finance enables all managers at every level to make better strategic decisions and achieve improved performance.

Overview

Course Outline

Schedule & Fees

Course Methodology

Instructor-led training that uses interactive learning methods, including class discussion, small group activities, and role-playing

Course Objectives

Develop strategic thinking, and use the strategic management process to develop missions and objectives and carry out strategic analysis and decision-making; Forecast financial data using various Excel® models; Understand the structure of the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement, and analysis of the cash operating cycle, for improved financial performance, and better management of working capital and cash flow; Identify the alternative sources of finance and financial (or capital) structure, and evaluate the models of optimum capital structure and minimization of the weighted average cost of capital (WACC); Use the technique of discounted cash flow (DCF) for capital budgeting and evaluation of capital project investment, using net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), equivalent annual cost (EAC), and the profitability index (PI); Use the techniques of uncertainty analysis and risk analysis and develop appropriate risk management tools of insurance and hedging of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

Target Audience

Target Competencies

n/a

Fundamentals of Strategic Planning

What is strategy?
Strategic management
Strategic analysis
- Mission
- Objectives
- Strategic decision-making
The strategic planning process
Environmental analysis
Resources analysis
Strategic choice and strategic decision-making
Strategic implementation
Corporate objectives and accountability
Forecasting financial data

Fundamentals of Financial Statements

Financial statements
Balance sheet
Income statement
Alternative asset valuation methods
Cash flow statement
Common size (or horizontal) trend analysis of financial statements
Vertical trend analysis of financial statements
Segmental analysis of financial statements
Value-added analysis of financial statements
Understanding the cash flow cycle and the operating cycle
Break-even and multiple product break-even analysis

Capital Structure and Leverage

Sources of funds
Capital cost models
Cost of equity
Cost of debt
The weighted average cost of capital (WACC)
Can we determine a company’s optimal capital structure?
Capital structure models
Preparing projections to determine financing needs

Capital Budgeting

Future values, present values, and DCF
Capital budgeting principles
Methods of evaluating capital investment projects
Accounting rate of return (ARR) and payback
Net present value (NPV) versus internal rate of return (IRR)
How do you choose which method to use?
Equivalent annual cost (EAC) method
Capital budgeting methods
Capital asset pricing model (CAPM) versus arbitrage pricing theory (APT)
Does it make a difference whether we lease or buy?

Managing Financial Risks

The value of perfect information (VOPI)
Types of risk
Risk management principles
Talking to your bankers about managing risk
How to develop the tools for your company?
How to minimize risk?
Insurance and hedging
Interest rate and foreign currency exchange rate risk

$4475

Amsterdam

Country: Neatherlands

Duration: One week

Date: 06–10 Oct 2025

$1875

Kampala

Understanding Finance to Influence Strategic Decisions

Overview

Course Outline

Schedule & Fees

Course Methodology

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Target Competencies

$4475

Country: Neatherlands

Duration: One week

Date: 06–10 Oct 2025

$1875

Country: Uganda

Duration: One week

Date: 09–13 Feb 2026