AMA's Finance Workshop for Non-Financial Executives

Achieve a complete financial education in four intensive days and become prepared to make powerful, informed business decisions. This comprehensive program covers all essential principles of corporate finance, from understanding cash flow dynamics to creating shareholder value at the corporate level. Using actual case studies and annual reports from major U.S. public companies, you will develop the ability to communicate intelligently with finance colleagues, make better-informed business decisions, analyze financial statements with improved understanding, comprehend financial market operations, and recognize that enhancing shareholder value is fundamental to corporate strategy.

Who Should Attend:

This program is designed for experienced managers, general managers, directors, vice presidents, and top executives in sales, marketing, production, manufacturing, and other managerial positions throughout the organization who need a comprehensive foundation in corporate finance principles.

Note: You will need a calculator for this seminar.

Core Topics You Will Master:

Accounting Essentials

• Recording and booking transactions accurately
• Understanding cash and accrual accounting methods
• Mastering the fundamentals of assets, liabilities, and capital

Reading and Interpreting Annual Reports

• Reading and understanding comprehensive financial statements
• Understanding SEC requirements and regulatory compliance
• Interpreting auditor opinions and their implications
• Understanding the critical importance of financial statement footnotes

Viewing Your Firm From a Finance Perspective

• Understanding your organization as an investment opportunity
• Identifying different classes of investors and their objectives
• Mastering weighted average cost of capital and economic value added
• Understanding the critical importance of cash and timing in business
• Understanding leverage, risk, and their implications

Evaluating Financial Statements

• Computing financial ratios to assess liquidity, profitability, leverage, and risk
• Applying the DuPont formula for comprehensive analysis
• Understanding the strengths and limitations of financial ratio analysis

Operational Budgeting

• Constructing and effectively using budgets for operations
• Identifying and avoiding common budgeting pitfalls
• Applying advanced budgeting techniques, variance analysis, and hierarchical structures

Time Value of Money

• Computing time value calculations for financial decisions
• Applying compound interest principles and present value concepts

Capital Budgeting

• Preparing and using capital budgets for strategic investments
• Applying time value of money principles to capital decisions
• Using mathematical techniques to evaluate investment opportunities

Financial Market Valuation Approaches

• Understanding how financial markets value companies and investments
• Applying value models and financial concepts to enhance shareholder value

Cost Analysis and Profit Planning

• Categorizing costs to improve decision-making
• Determining break-even levels for quantity, price, and cost
• Understanding operating leverage, volume, and price risk exposure

How You Will Benefit

• Develop a comprehensive grounding in corporate finance principles
• Reduce the likelihood of financial errors in your managerial decisions
• Master how accounting and bookkeeping operate within organizations
• Gain deep insights into financial statements and what they can and cannot reveal
• Understand how budgeting integrates with accounting and the primacy of cash flow
• Develop greater insight into corporate finance principles, including interest calculations and return on investment
• Learn how firms allocate capital to investment opportunities
• Master the skills needed for buy versus lease decisions
• Learn how to leverage cash discounts offered by vendors
• Increase profit margins by understanding fixed versus variable costs
• Monitor operating results effectively to achieve long-term financial goals