Finance for Non-financial Managers

The programmes within this Management and Leadership pillar are not “off-the-shelf” courses. They are designed as a menu of development options that can be combined, adapted and shaped to reflect what is really happening in the day-to-day reality of managing people and performance. What is often framed as a need to “upskill managers” typically reveals a deeper challenge – clarity of role, consistency of behaviour, confidence in decision-making or the ability to lead through uncertainty.

These outlines are therefore best read as catalysts for discussion – prompts to help you reflect on how management is currently experienced across your organisation and what kind of development will genuinely change how people lead, support and hold others to account. In practice, the most effective solutions often draw on complementary elements from across our other pillars – Communication, Personal Development, Business Development and Senior-Level Leadership and Talent Development. Every intervention we deliver is built in partnership with you, around your culture, your people and the outcomes you need to achieve.

By the end of this programme participants will be able to:

• Interpret core financial statements and performance indicators
• Understand budgeting principles and operating within financial plans
• Apply financial ratios to assess performance
• Distinguish key cost classifications and their influence on profitability
• Recognise the value of capital investment evaluation
• Use financial information to contribute to confident decision-making

1. Foundations of Financial Literacy

• Why financial insight is critical for managers
• Common financial terminology and its application

2. Understanding Financial Statements

• Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement
• Assessing organisational performance and position

3. Budgeting and Financial Planning

• The budgeting cycle and its objectives
• Reviewing and contributing to departmental budgets

4. Financial Performance Indicators

• Key ratios and their interpretation
• Assessing trends and improvement opportunities

5. Costs, Profitability and Value

• Cost behaviour and classification
• Impact on pricing, margin and business outcomes

6. Investment and Capital Decisions

• Evaluating financial viability of business initiatives
• Supporting strategic choices with robust data

There are no specific prerequisites for this course.

Attendees may also be subsequently interested in

• Mastering Business Analytics: Leveraging Data for Informed Decision Making

Managers, supervisors and professionals who:

• Contribute to budgeting or operational financial reporting
• Require financial insight to support decision-making
• Need confidence when interacting with finance specialists

Relevant across all sectors where financial accountability and performance outcomes are required.