Global Learning for Operational Leaders
Professional training course
Professional Skills for Finance and Accounting
Classroom
16 sessions
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Online / Live
16 sessions
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Introduction
Course overview
Why Attend
This course covers the essential skills needed for finance staff to excel in their companies. From macro level management and financial overview to personal organization and time management, various skills are put into practice to help participants become more successful at the workplace.
Course Methodology
This course relies on a variety of individual and team exercises supported with role plays as well as individual and group presentations and Excel workshops.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Identify the relationship between the various financial statements
- Explain the characteristics of 'delegation' and apply various personal organization management techniques
- Evaluate skills and attitudes of finance staff and identify their communication personality styles
- Practice some of the essential Excel skills to increase efficiency and productivity
- Apply finance policies and procedures to add value and communicate effectively with other departments
Target Audience
Financial managers, financial controllers, finance department heads, chief financial officers, accounting managers, senior finance officers, accountants, finance staff and analysts.
Target Competencies
- Interpreting financial statements
- Delegation
- Communication
- Organization
- Time management
What you will achieve
Learning objectives
- Identify the relationship between the various financial statements
- Explain the characteristics of 'delegation' and apply various personal organization management techniques
- Evaluate skills and attitudes of finance staff and identify their communication personality styles
- Practice some of the essential Excel skills to increase efficiency and productivity
- Apply finance policies and procedures to add value and communicate effectively with other departments
Who should attend
Target audience
- Financial managers, financial controllers, finance department heads, chief financial officers, accounting managers, senior finance officers, accountants, finance staff and analysts.
- Target Competencies
- Interpreting financial statements
- Delegation
- Communication
- Organization
- Time management
Methodology
Learning approach
- This course relies on a variety of individual and team exercises supported with role plays as well as individual and group presentations and Excel workshops.
Course content
Course outline and key learning areas
Module 1
The macro finance picture
- Understanding the accounting cycle
- The income statement
- The balance sheet
- Changes in owners’ equity statements
- Cash flow statements
- The relationship of financial statements
- Functions of management
- Elements of a vision for finance and accounting department
- Effectiveness versus efficiency
- Supporting the operating departments
Module 2
Personal organization and time management
- The new skills set
- Delegation and priorities
- Delegation characteristics
- Rules of delegation
- Handling meetings effectively
- Maintaining clean desk policy
- Managing your in-box
- Peak performance time
Module 3
Managing the finance function
- Hiring the best people
- Identifying recruitment criteria
- Developing interviewing skills
- Interpersonal communication
- Fundamentals of communication skills
- Personality communication styles
- The attitude and skills matrix
- Evaluating finance staff performance
- Employee motivation tools
Module 4
Key Excel functions and tools to enhance efficiency
- Consolidating multiple sets of data
- Applying control at the data entry through data validation
- Reconciling accounts by using 'vlookup'
Module 5
Organizing the finance function
- Teamwork skills in finance and accounting
- Assessing the need for team building program
- Finance as a project
- Organizing by function
- Organizing by purpose
- Staff duties and responsibilities
- The need for review and authorization procedures
- The authorization matrix and control of processes in organizations
- Cross training and backup strategies
- Scheduling the monthly accounting cycle
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Professional Skills for Finance and Accounting 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 14 - 18 September 2026, with additional classroom dates and mirrored Online / Live options listed in the course schedules section.
Who should attend this course?
Financial managers, financial controllers, finance department heads, chief financial officers, accounting managers, senior finance officers, accountants, finance staff and analysts., 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?
Yes. The course detail page includes both classroom sessions and Online / Live sessions, with online options aligned to the same course dates for easier planning.
Where are classroom sessions delivered?
Current classroom venues include Amsterdam, London, Istanbul, Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Geneva, Madrid.
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 accredited training hours.
Still Have Questions?
Contact the academy team for course details, delivery options, and delegate guidance.
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