Finance Acumen For Non-Finance Managers

Finance Acumen For Non-Finance Managers

Introduction

Finance Acumen For Non-Finance Managers: From Financial Understanding To Business Decision-Making

This programme is designed for Junior, Middle and Senior Managers who do not have a background in Accounting or Finance, but who recognise that limited financial knowledge may affect their ability to make informed business decisions and effectively discharge their responsibilities.

Non-financial managers are the backbone of an organisation, playing a critical role in driving operational performance and achieving business objectives. Developing a sound understanding of essential financial concepts and techniques enables them to interpret financial information more effectively and apply it confidently in their day-to-day decision-making.

Tailored specifically for non-financial managers at all levels, this programme is also highly relevant to entrepreneurs and business owners across various industries. The programme adopts a practical, hands-on approach, using relevant examples and real-world business situations to help participants develop the financial knowledge and skills required to make better, more informed business decisions.

Outcome

At the end of this programme, participants will be able to:

- Understand fundamental accounting and finance concepts, financial statements, costing principles, budgeting techniques and investment appraisal methods.
- Apply financial tools and techniques to interpret financial information, analyse business performance, manage costs, prepare budgets and assess investment opportunities.
- Analyse financial statements, business performance, costs, budgets and cash flows using appropriate financial ratios, trends and analytical techniques.
- Evaluate business performance, pricing decisions, budget variances, cash flow requirements and investment proposals to support sound business decisions.
- Demonstrate the ability to use financial information and practical financial techniques confidently in day-to-day managerial decision-making.

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No	Topic	Topic Description
1	Foundations of Finance & Accounting for Business Managers	Essential Finance & Accounting Terminology Key Users and Uses of Financial Information Fundamental Accounting Concepts & Accounting Equation Understanding the Basic Financial Statements Three Fundamental Principles of Finance Essential Financial Information for Business Decision-Making
2	Overview and Purpose of Corporate Financial Statements	Statement of Profit or Loss & Other Comprehensive Income Statement of Financial Position Statement of Changes in Equity Statement of Cash Flows Understanding the Difference Between Profit & Cash Navigating Other Key Sections of the Annual Report Case Study: Analysis of a Public Listed Company
3	Financial Statement Analysis & Business Performance Evaluation	Purpose and Importance of Financial Ratio Analysis Horizontal & Vertical Analysis Trend and Comparative Analysis Liquidity & Short-Term Financial Health Profitability & Performance Analysis Activity & Efficiency Ratios Capital Structure & Leverage Analysis Investment & Market Performance Ratios Case Studies & Hands-on Financial Analysis Exercises
4	Cost Management & Business Decision-Making	Fundamentals of Costing & Cost Classification Fixed, Variable & Semi-Variable Costs Direct & Indirect Costs Identifying and Understanding Cost Drivers Costing for Pricing & Business Decisions Break-Even Analysis & Margin of Safety Cost-Volume-Profit (CVP) Analysis Inventory Valuation & Cost Management Case Studies & Hands-on Costing Exercises
5	Budget Preparation, Performance Monitoring & Cash Flow Forecasting	Purpose and Importance of Budgeting Improving the Budget Preparation Process Budgeting Approaches & Methodologies Types of Business Budgets Budget vs Actual: Basic Variance Analysis Cash Flow Forecasting & Management Case Studies & Hands-on Budgeting Exercises
6	Investment Appraisal & Capital Investment Decisions	Introduction to Investment Appraisal Payback Period Analysis Net Present Value (NPV) Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Return on Investment (ROI) Project Evaluation & Capital Budgeting Decisions Hands-on Investment Appraisal Exercises & Case Studies

Expert

Sonia Ram CA(M), FCMA, CGMA, AAIA

Sonia Ram, is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (since 2004) and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (since 2005). She is a seasoned finance professional with extensive industry and training experience. She began her career in finance as an auditor, building a strong foundation in financial controls and compliance. From 1996 to 2002, she served as a lecturer at a local college, delivering courses in Accounting and Statistics to diploma and undergraduate students across multiple disciplines. Sonia has held managerial roles for more than a decade, within several multinational corporations in the electronics manufacturing sector. Her responsibilities spanned Corporate Reporting, Costing, Budgeting and Forecasting, as well as Performance Improvement initiatives. She also played a key role in leading MRP system migration projects and establishing W-Desk frameworks for SOX compliance, including conducting in-house training programmes to support implementation. She is a Certified Microsoft Office Specialist in Excel, with strong hands-on expertise in the MS Office suite. She remains committed to continuous professional development, keeping abreast of evolving industry standards and practices. Currently, she provides training and consultancy services to multinational clients across manufacturing, trading, retail, and logistics sectors, specialising in Finance, Accounting, Accounting Standards, and Microsoft Excel. She is also an HRDF Accredited Trainer, having obtained her certification in February 2024.