Finance for Non-Finance Managers

McMaster University

This course is for non-financial professionals, managers, and business leaders seeking to understand core finance and accounting concepts to drive organizational growth and impact financial decisions. You will gain a basic understanding of finance and accounting principles, enabling you to analyze financial information and assess the impact of your decisions across functional areas. Specific topics include financial analysis, planning, forecasting, budgeting, cash flow management, and strategic financing. You will learn to apply these concepts through practical exercises, potentially leveraging tools like Microsoft Excel for financial analysis and forecasting. Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Explain the importance of finance and interpretation of financial information. 2. Apply accounting and finance concepts to analyze financials. 3. Understand key accounting and finance terms. 4. Examine financial statements using key ratios. 5. Explain the importance of the budgeting process. 6. Learn key components needed to improve profitability. To be successful in this course, no prior finance or accounting background is required.