Accounting and Finance for Managers

Participants shall get acquainted with

• the relevant terminology,
• the practical links between accounting, budgeting and controlling,
• the impact of their management decisions on their area of responsibility and on the bigger picture at company level,
• the importance of their personal contribution to the budgeting, decision making and controlling process,
• key performance indicators and dashboards (to be) used in their company.

• Balance sheet and P&L-account
• • what are the main objectives and principles behind the different regulatory frameworks (e.g. LuxGAAP, IFRS)
  • what are the different elements of an annual report?
  • what kind of information can / cannot be found in a balance sheet and in a P&L account?
  • how are assets and liabilities valued?
  • what are possible conclusions which may be drawn from a balance sheet and P&L account?
• Ratios and key performance indicators
• • profit and loss(e.g. EBIT, EBITDA, OCF)
  • assets & liabilities
  • solvency
  • liquidity
  • cash flow
  • ROI, ROE, ROX
  • productivity
• Different levels of results
• • profit and loss
  • incoming and outgoing payments
  • costs and revenues
• Cost Management
• • optimizing cost ≠ minimizing costs at any prize
  • which factors determine the framework for cost framework?
  • different types of costs and how to influence them
  • where is the difference between costs and charges?
  • • what do financial resources cost?
    • value adjustments: costs or charges?
    • economic risks: when to be considered?
• Cost management as management tool
• • how to set cost related objectives
  • how to motivate staff
• Cost centers
• • why cost centers?
  • how to define cost centers: some practical guidelines
• Cost per unit
• • overview of calculation methods

• Budgeting
• • external and internal factors to be respected
  • different steps of budgeting
  • how to determine amounts in the plan
  • some financial ratios
  • optimizing cost ≠ minimizing costs at any prize
  • how to present and defend a budget plan (e.g. senior management, bank)
• Case study

Managers with high level education outside accounting & finance (e.g. engineers, lawyers, doctors, ...) who want to:

• become more familiar with the tasks related to accounting and finance as well as budgeting and controlling,
• more effectively manage their professional activity and business,
• become more competent and self-confident in accounting and finance related issues,
• ask the right questions when talking to other professionals (e.g. accountants, banks, …).

At the end of the training, the participants will receive a certificate of participation delivered by the House of Training.