DAY 1

Introduction and objectives

An introduction to a business model showing:

• where companies get their money from – a brief introduction to a company’s capital structure and investors’ expectations
• what companies spend money on – an overview of the assets employed within a business and efficient asset utilisation
• relevant ratios

The profit and loss account

• what the profit and loss account looks like and what it tells you
• different cost structures and their effect on profitability
• the accounting adjustments and the manager’s role in matching costs to revenues
• relevant ratios

The balance sheet

• what the balance sheet looks like and what it tells you
• relevant ratios
  

DAY 2

Reflections on learning from day 1

The cash flow forecast

The cash flow statement

•  what the cash flow statement looks like and what it tells you
  

The inter-relationships between the financial statements 

Improving profitability

• different costing methods and their role in decision making and improving profitability
• the manager’s role in improving profitability

Business planning

• preparing and managing a budget

How to read the accounts

• a review of a set of published accounts

Action planning and review.