Global Learning for Operational Leaders
Classroom
15 sessions
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Online / Live
15 sessions
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Introduction
Course overview
This course brings together the key elements of financial statement analysis. It will enable participants to ask the right questions, see the real risks facing businesses and investors, feel more confident in their ability to comment on business activities and performance, and analyze financial health for management. These skills and the required technical knowledge will be practiced throughout the course using interactive examples and case studies, putting theory and technique into context.
What you will achieve
Learning objectives
- Explain the impact of accounting treatments and methodologies on financial statements
- Analyze the industry using Porter’s five forces model
- Apply financial ratios analysis in Excel and report recommendations
- Assess the quality of financial reports and reported earnings and cash flows
- Forecast financial statements based on the analysis of the historical performance of a company
Who should attend
Target audience
- Chief accountants, accounting managers, senior accountants, finance directors, finance managers, financial analysts, financial controllers, financial accounts managers, heads of finance departments, credit controllers, credit risk analysts, bankers, and relationship managers.
- Target Competencies
- Interpreting financial statements
- Reading annual reports
- Financial analysis
- Credit analysis
- Financial forecasting and modeling
Methodology
Learning approach
- The course uses a mix of interactive techniques, such as brief presentations by the consultant, group exercises, and real-life published financial statements analysis using Excel to apply knowledge acquired throughout the course.
Complete course outline
Course outline and key learning areas
The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.
Module 1
Financial Statements and the Annual Report
- Understanding the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement
- Other comprehensive income components
Module 2
Accounting considerations in financial analysis
- Receivables and the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) provision
- Fixed assets accounting options: Cost vs. Fair Value models
- Accounting for capital expenditures and impairment
- Impact of lease accounting
- Various investment accounting considerations
- Accounting treatment of goodwill
- Content of the annual financial report
- Non-financial elements of the annual financial report
- Types of external audit opinions
- Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A)
- Basics of Macroeconomic and Industry Analysis
- Macroeconomic factors to assess country exposure
- Indicators of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment rate, inflation and interest rates
- Deficit-to-GDP, debt-to-GDP, and GDP growth rates
- Industry analysis: Understanding Michael Porter's Five Forces shaping an industry's competitiveness
- Threat of new entrants
- Threat of substitutes
- Bargaining power of buyers
- Bargaining power of suppliers
- Rivalry of competitors
- Segment reporting in annual reports
Module 3
Financial Ratios Analysis Using Excel
- Common size analysis to improve comparability
- Calculating trends and growth patterns
- Ratio analysis to assess key aspects of company performance:
- Profitability
- Liquidity
- Efficiency and working capital management
- Financing structure and risk
- DuPont analysis
- Altman Z-score to assess potential bankruptcy
- Using graphical representation
Module 4
Assessing the Quality of Financial Reports
- Quality of financial reporting vs. quality of earnings
- Framework for assessing a company's quality of financial reports
- Potential problems that affect the quality of financial reports
- Beneish model: M-score to describe the degree to which earnings are manipulated
- Evaluating the earnings quality of a company
- Evaluating the cash flow quality of a company
- Indicators of financial position quality
- Sources of information about risk
Module 5
Financial Forecasting Techniques for Analysts
- Revenue forecasting: Bottom-up versus top-down
- Forecasting cost of goods sold
- Forecasting fixed and variable costs
- Forecasting financial position accounts
- Working capital: accounts receivables, inventory, payables
- Fixed assets forecasting
- Retained earnings and dividend pay-out policy
- Modeling financial statements forecast
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Advanced Financial Analysis (F04) cover?
This course covers Accounting and Finance through a structured five-day outline focused on practical application, discussion, and implementation planning.
When is the next available session?
The next scheduled session starts on 12 - 16 October 2026. See the course schedules section for the available dates and delivery formats.
Who should attend this course?
Chief accountants, accounting managers, senior accountants, finance directors, finance managers, financial analysts, financial controllers, financial accounts managers, heads of finance departments, credit controllers, credit risk analysts, bankers, and relationship managers., Target Competencies, Interpreting financial statements
Is bilingual course delivery available?
Yes. All course materials and presentations are provided in English, while bilingual explanation and discussion support may be available depending on the selected location and trainer availability. For example, when attending a course in Istanbul, you may request a Turkish-speaking trainer to explain the English course content in Turkish. Arabic explanation support may also be requested at this location. Other languages are available in selected cities. You can choose your preferred language support as an optional preference during registration.
How can I register for a session?
Use any Register button next to the available course dates to open the participant registration page and submit your booking request for the selected session.
Is this course available online as well as classroom-based?
Check the course schedules section for currently published classroom and Online / Live sessions.
Where are classroom sessions delivered?
Current classroom venues include Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona, London, Istanbul, Vienna, Cape Town.
How long is the training programme?
The programme runs for five days, with up to five training hours per day, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Each programme includes a total of 25 training hours.
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