Financial Decision-Making for Executives & Business Leaders

Day 1: Financial Foundations for Strategic Leaders

• Key financial statements and what they reveal about your business
• Understanding the role of finance in executive decision-making
• The financial language of business: profit, cash flow, and value creation
• Responsibilities of non-financial executives in financial performance

Day 2: Interpreting Financial Statements for Better Decisions

• Income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement overview
• Linking business operations to financial outcomes
• Common financial red flags and what to watch for
• How decisions affect financial statements and ratios

Day 3: Financial Ratios & Performance Analysis

• Profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and solvency ratios
• Benchmarking performance against competitors and industry standards
• Identifying financial strengths, weaknesses, and trends
• Using KPIs to support leadership decision-making

Day 4: Strategic Budgeting & Cost Management

• Budgeting as a leadership tool for alignment and control
• Cost classification and behaviour: fixed, variable, and overheads
• Cost reduction strategies without damaging performance
• Aligning budgets with strategic priorities and ROI

Day 5: Capital Investment & Business Case Analysis

• Evaluating investments using NPV, IRR, and payback period
• Making the business case for capital expenditure projects
• Prioritizing projects and funding based on financial return
• Sensitivity and break-even analysis for executives

Day 6: Forecasting & Scenario Planning

• Financial forecasting methods for short- and long-term planning
• Scenario modelling in uncertain environments
• Predicting the financial impact of strategic decisions
• Using data to inform and strengthen business planning

Day 7: Working Capital & Cash Flow Management

• Optimising liquidity, inventory, and receivables
• Managing cash flow to ensure operational continuity
• Identifying cash flow risks and mitigation strategies
• Building a cash culture across departments

Day 8: Capital Structure & Funding Decisions

• Debt vs. equity financing – what leaders need to know
• Corporate funding options and choosing the right mix
• Cost of capital and its role in executive-level decisions
• Managing investor and lender expectations

Day 9: Risk Management & Financial Resilience

• Identifying financial risks at the executive level
• Developing controls and contingency strategies
• Insurance, hedging, and diversification as risk tools
• Ensuring financial resilience during economic shocks

Day 10: Executive Financial Leadership & Strategic Alignment

• Aligning financial decisions with corporate vision and values
• Communicating financial impact to boards and stakeholders
• Leading through financial transformation and innovation
• Building a leadership plan for financial decision-making