Finance for the Non-Financial Manager
Program Objectives
Regardless of job function, if you are in a management position, chances are that you are also responsible for financial policy and a budget. Through Finance for the Non-Financial Manager, you will learn how the impact of your financial decisions affects the performance of your unit and profitability of your organization. You will gain a better understanding of finance and accounting concepts for the competitive edge necessary for your organization's growth and success. You will leave this program with improved general financial knowledge and communications skills, and an in-depth understanding of the impact your decisions have outside your functional area.
Who Should Attend
This program is for managers or executives working in functional areas such as marketing, sales, manufacturing, or engineering, as well as supervisors or general managers who want to increase their financial acumen to better plan and measure their group's performance. Prior knowledge of finance is not necessary.
Program Benefits
Participants will have the opportunity to build their own "financial toolbox" with essential financial analysis tools, sources of financial data, and evaluative processes and enablers that allow for application to their specific needs. Take-aways include:
- Understanding financial statements
- Communicating comfortably using financial terms
- Using financial forecasting techniques
- Evaluating performance through financial modeling using spreadsheets
- Understanding how to apply the time value of money and valuation approaches in making financial decisions
- Improving organizational performance
Program Content
The intent of Finance for the Non-Financial Manager is to create unique value for you and your organization with a particular focus on:
Financial Statements and Analysis
- Income statements, balance sheets, and statements of cash flow
- Performing ratio analysis to gauge performance and growth
Financial Evaluation
- Understanding key financial concepts such as margins, turnover, and growth rate measures
- How to apply the above concepts to evaluate your firm, your competitors, and suppliers
- Internet-based sources of information to perform financial analysis
Financial Concepts
- Using asset pricing models to evaluate risk and return trade-offs
- Alternative measures of performance and how to use them to evaluate investments
- How to compute and use the cost of capital
Understanding Key Strategic Financial Management Decisions
- Capital budgeting
- Capital structure
- Working capital management
Valuation Principles
- Applying valuation principles to capital investment decisions
- Understanding alternative approaches to valuing investments and evaluating risk
- Evaluation methods for mergers and acquisitions
Capital Markets
- Hands-on experience in the Rogers Family Trading Room to gain an appreciation for markets
Global Financial Models
- Foreign exchange exposure
- International capital budgeting
Faculty Leaders
Faculty Director
Dr. Chris Muscarella, Professor of Finance, L.W. 'Roy' and Mary Lois Clark Teaching Fellow, Smeal College of Business, Penn State
Faculty Leaders
Dr. Laura Field, Associate Professor of Finance, Smeal College of Business, Penn State
Dr. David Haushalter, Associate Professor of Finance and Academic Director of the Rogers Family Trading Room, Smeal College of Business, Penn State
Dr. Michelle Lowry, Associate Professor of Finance, Calderwood Faculty Fellow in Business, Smeal College of Business, Penn State
Mr. Kenneth Pasch, Instructor in Accounting, Smeal College of Business, Penn State
Fees
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