Financial Decision-Making for Non-Finance Managers Course
1Summary
A marketing manager who cannot read a profit and loss statement, or an operations lead who does not know how a budget variance actually works, ends up making decisions on instinct rather than evidence. This Financial Decision-Making for Non-Finance Managers Course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy closes exactly that gap.
The programme starts with the language of finance itself — balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements — before showing how to turn those numbers into real insight through ratio analysis and performance measurement. From there it moves into the planning side of the job: building budgets, forecasting, and keeping costs under control without stalling the business.
Investment appraisal and a working understanding of corporate finance and financial markets round out the theory, and the course closes with case studies that put every concept into a realistic business scenario. Participants leave able to read financial information with confidence and use it to support stronger decisions in their own role.
2Objectives and target group
- Read and interpret balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements.
- Use key financial ratios to evaluate performance and support decisions.
- Build realistic budgets and forecasts tied to strategic objectives.
- Apply cost management techniques that protect margins without hurting operations.
- Evaluate investment opportunities and understand corporate financing options.
- Apply financial concepts to real workplace scenarios with confidence.
Target Audience
- Managers and executives without a financial background.
- Business owners and entrepreneurs building their financial knowledge.
- Professionals in marketing, HR, operations or administration.
- Anyone involved in financial decisions within their organisation.
3Course Content
Module 1: Speaking the Language of Finance
- Why financial knowledge matters in day-to-day decision-making.
- Balance sheets: assets, liabilities and equity explained simply.
- Income statements and cash flow statements: revenue, expenses, profit and the movement of cash.
Module 2: Turning Numbers into Insight
- Key financial ratios and how to interpret them.
- Profitability, liquidity and solvency analysis.
- Using financial data to support day-to-day business decisions.
Module 3: Planning Ahead – Budgets, Forecasts and Cost Control
- Building budgets and forecasts that support business growth.
- Identifying fixed and variable costs.
- Cost-benefit analysis and strategies for reducing costs without hurting operations.
Module 4: Investment and Corporate Finance Essentials
- Understanding capital investment, ROI, and financial risk versus return.
- Tools for evaluating investment opportunities.
- Corporate finance principles and the role of financial markets, including equity, debt and loans.
Module 5: Applying It All – Real Business Scenarios
- Working through real-world business cases.
- Applying financial concepts to workplace decisions.
- Hands-on exercises consolidating the full programme.