Every manager, eventually, has to sit in a meeting where a balance sheet or a cash flow statement decides the next move — and not everyone in the room can actually read one. That gap is what this programme sets out to close.

As business environments grow more complex and technology-driven, understanding financial and accounting concepts is no longer optional for people outside the finance department.

The Arab British Fellowship Training Academy designed Financial Literacy for Non-Accountants to give participants a working knowledge of accounting tools and processes they can apply directly to financial and managerial decisions in their own roles.

Who Should Attend?

• Managers and non-accountants in managerial positions who wish to understand financial processes.
• Employees in non-financial departments such as HR, marketing, production, and sales who deal with financial processes indirectly.
• Individuals aiming to develop their financial skills and enhance their efficiency in handling accounting matters.
• Small and medium-sized businesses looking to train their staff on accounting and financial basics to improve overall performance.

Knowledge and Benefits:

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• Read and interpret the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, and distinguish gross from net profit.
• Understand core accounting principles — financial statements, terminology, and their link to financial management.
• Use financial data and ratios to make informed, effective business decisions.
• Recognize the technologies and financial systems large companies use to manage accounting operations.
• Prepare simple budgets and financial estimates to anticipate future business trends.

• Module 1: Why Financial Statements Matter for Every Manager
  • The three core financial statements and what each one tells you
  • Reading and interpreting statements for decision-making
  • Gross profit vs. net profit and other terms managers must know
• Module 2: Accounting Basics Without the Jargon
  • The difference between accounting and finance
  • Assets, liabilities, equity and the fundamentals of profit and loss
  • Types of accounts: revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities
• Module 3: How Transactions Actually Get Recorded
  • The concept and importance of double-entry accounting
  • The relationship between debits and credits, and recording journal entries
  • Closing accounts and preparing period-end reports
• Module 4: Preparing and Reading the Balance Sheet
  • How to prepare a balance sheet
  • Interpreting and analyzing it
  • The difference between current and fixed assets
• Module 5: Income and Cash Flow Statements in Practice
  • Preparing an income statement and calculating revenues and expenses
  • Preparing a cash flow statement
  • Operating, investing, and financing cash flows
• Module 6: Financial Analysis and Ratios for Non-Specialists
  • Profitability ratios, return on assets, and return on equity
  • Analyzing operating cash flows and their impact on sustainability
  • Preparing periodic financial reports for strategic decisions
• Module 7: Budgeting and Forecasting for Your Department
  • Preparing an effective business budget
  • The difference between operating and capital budgets
  • Estimating revenues and expenses, and analyzing budget variances
• Module 8: Managing Cash, Working Capital, and Financing Choices
  • Cash management fundamentals and the cash conversion cycle
  • Managing current assets, current liabilities, and working capital
  • Internal and external financing sources and loan terms
• Module 9: Modern Systems, Controls, and Internal Audit
  • Accounting software such as QuickBooks and SAP, and the role of automation
  • Building financial control systems and reducing financial risk
  • Internal vs. external audits and preparing audit reports
• Module 10: Tax Obligations and Government Reporting
  • Business tax concepts: income, sales, and asset taxes
  • Preparing accurate tax reports and maintaining tax records
  • Interacting with tax authorities and staying compliant