INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
In an increasingly complex global economy, the ability to interpret and apply financial principles is essential for professionals across all industries. The training course on Oxford Financial Excellence Programme is designed to equip business leaders, managers, and decision-makers with robust financial knowledge and advanced practical skills.
This comprehensive two-week training course unpacks the core concepts of financial management, strategic planning, budgeting, and investment decision-making. It bridges theory and practice to help participants gain mastery in evaluating financial performance, enhancing budgeting efficiency, and managing financial risk. Whether you are responsible for budgeting, overseeing investments, or analysing financial reports, this training course empowers you to contribute confidently and strategically to your organisation’s financial success.
This training course is split into two modules:
- Module I - Corporate Financial Planning, Budgeting & Control
- Module II - The Oxford 5-Day MBA in Finance
Each module is structured and can be taken as a stand-alone training course; however, delegates will maximise their benefits by taking Modules I, and II back-to-back as a 2-week training course.
COURSE DETAILS
Objectives
Upon completing this training course on Oxford Financial Excellence Programme, delegates will be able to:
- Understand the full financial planning cycle and its strategic implications
- Utilise planning, budgeting, and control systems effectively
- Analyse financial statements and performance indicators with confidence
- Apply investment appraisal techniques to real-world financial decisions
- Identify cost-effective funding options and determine the cost of capital
- Forecast financial outcomes and manage associated risks
- Strengthen decision-making through data-driven financial analysis
Training Methodology
Using a combination of training course team exercises and individual exercises, delegates will gain both a theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics covered. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result, delegates will return to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned.
There will be a strongly participative, learning-by-doing, style, making extensive use of short case studies (both numeric / analytical and non-numeric / descriptive) and syndicates, as well as open plenary discussion sessions.
Some parts of this training course will include short revision / refresher sessions on accounting and DCF basics. Each day will comprise several sessions, introducing new material to build on the learning in the previous sessions.
The training course manual will include copies of all the material used.
Organisational Impact
Organisations that invest in this training course on Oxford Financial Excellence Programme can expect:
- Improved financial insight and planning across departments
- Stronger alignment between strategic goals and financial execution
- More informed and confident decision-makers at all levels
- Enhanced risk assessment capabilities and control over costs
- Better understanding of capital investment options and financial forecasts
- Upgraded employee financial literacy contributing to value creation
- Readiness for future financial challenges through upskilled staff
Personal Impact
Professionals attending this training course on Oxford Financial Excellence Programme will gain:
- A solid understanding of global financial principles and practices
- Hands-on experience in evaluating financial health and forecasting
- Confidence in presenting financial data and advising on investment decisions
- Stronger budgeting, planning, and control capabilities
- The ability to recognise key financial ratios and their implications
- Career growth potential through enhanced financial acumen
Who should Attend?
- Staff who wish to gain an up-to-date and broader perspective on how industry leaders continually improve their financial performance, learn about current best practices, and improve their competencies in this area
- Financial and non-financial business professionals from all functions of an enterprise
- Financial professionals wanting an update or a 'refresher' of their knowledge
- Recent company recruits who need to learn about modern corporate financial performance management processes, and develop their competencies in this area
- People from outside business who require a thorough conceptual and practical introduction to the performance management processes and techniques adopted by the leading players
DAILY AGENDA
Module I: Corporate Financial Planning, Budgeting & Control
Day 1: Corporate Financial Planning
- Strategic Planning
- The Objective of the Firm – Meeting Shareholder & Stakeholder Objectives
- Agency Theory – The Relationship between Shareholders & Management
- Creative Accounting and the Case of Enron
- Financial Management & Financial Planning – The Scope, Role & Responsibilities of Financial Management
- Preparing a Financial Plan – The Master Budget
- Forecasting Future Cash-flows and Financial Modelling
- Time Series Analysis, Correlation & Regression
Day 2: Financing the Plan
- Sources of Finance – Long Term & Short Term
- Evaluation of the Types of Finance - Equity vs. Debt Finance
- Hybrid Finance & Financial Engineering
- The Dividend Decision
- The Cost of Capital and Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)
- Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)
- Accounting Rate of Return (ARR)
- Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Capital Rationing & Payback
Day 3: Preparing & Managing Budgets to Support the Financial Plans
- Definition of Budgets, the Budgetary Process and Budgetary Control
- Types of Budgets-Fixed, Flexible, Incremental and Zero Based
- The Purpose / Benefits & Problems / Limitations of Budgets
- Setting / Implementing Effective Budgets - Eliminating the Problems
- Responsibility Accounting and Absorption Costing
- Activity-Based Budgeting / Costing (ABB, ABC)
- Variance Analysis, Cost Behaviour, Break Even Analysis & Sensitivity / What If Analysis
- What-If Analysis combined with Du-Pont Analysis
Day 4: Managing and Controlling Cash Flow to Support the Financial Plan
- Cash vs. Profit & The Cash Conversion Cycle
- Calculating and Managing the Cash flow Cycle
- Cash Flow Ratios
- Working Capital
- The Cost of Maintaining Working Capital
- Maintaining the Optimum Level of Working Capital
- Working Investment Ratios
- Preparing a Monthly Cash Flow Forecast
Day 5: Managing Financial Risk
- Risk Management & Types of Risk
- Identifying Risk – SWOT Analysis
- The Major Quantitative & Qualitative Risks Facing Companies
- Establishing a Risk Management Strategy
- Financial Risk Management & Hedging Techniques
- Managing Exchange Rate & Interest Rate Risk
- Derivatives-Forwards, Futures, Options & Swaps
- Risk Management Glossary of Terms
Module II: The Oxford 5-Day MBA in Finance
Day 6: An Introduction to the Financial Markets
- An Introduction to the Equity Markets
- IPO
- Market Indices
- International Equity Market Links
- An Introduction to Bond Markets
- Long Term vs. Short Term
- Treasury vs. Corporate
- Types of Bond
- An Introduction to the FX Market
- The Spot and Forward Market
- Exchange Rate Trends and Linkages
- Carry Trades
- An Introduction to the Derivatives Market
- Futures
- Options
- The Link between Risk and Return
Day 7: Evaluating Investment Opportunities
- The Markowitz Model of Portfolio Risk
- The Capital Asset Pricing Model
- A Practical Application of the CAPM to a Range of Companies
- The Time Value of Money and Discounted Cash Flow Techniques
- The Gordon Growth Model
- A Practical Application of Forecasting Dividends
- Determining the Cost of Debt
- The Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)
- Investment Appraisal using the Net Present Value Approach
- The Importance of the Cost of Capital
- Scenario Analysis
- Payback and Adjusted Payback
- The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) Approach
- A Practical Application of the IRR Approach
- Pitfalls in using the IRR Approach
- Real Options
Day 8: A Walk through an Annual Report
- The Balance Sheet
- The Income Statement
- The Cash Flow Statement
- Ratio Analysis
- A Practical Application of Ratio Analysis
- Forecasting Sales
- The Cost of Sales Approach
Day 9: The Corporate Financing Decision
- Financial Leverage
- Modiglianni and Millers Theory of Capital Structure
- The Risk of Bankruptcy
- The Optimal Capital Structure
- The Dividend Decision
- The Clientele Effect
- The Taxation Effect
- The Principal Agent Problem
- The Market for Corporate Control
Day 10: Risk Management
- Hedging Exchange Rate Risk Using
- The Forward Market
- The Options Market
- Zero Cost Collars
- Hedging Commodity Price Risk Using
- Options
- Futures
- Practical Application of Airlines Hedging Fuel Price Risk - The Importance of Correlation
Certificate
- On successful completion of this training course, KC Academy Certificate will be awarded to the delegates.