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Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers

Can you demonstrate your value and ROI to your boss? Are you able to interpret financial reports and make decisions based on the data they provide? Can you draft an accurate budget? Can you justify your ideas in dollars and cents? You didn’t get to this point in your career only to be held back by weak financial skills. This program for non-financial managers makes the basics of finance accessible to anyone in just 2 days. You’ll learn how to: Interpret and respond appropriately to financial information Communicate your contribution to the bottom line Uncover drains on profitability Make smarter decisions that deliver higher profitability Financial skills are fundamental to any managerial position. Learn how to think finance, and you’ll expand your career opportunities. From accruals to write-offs to receivables and payables, this workshop shows non-financial managers the concepts, tools, and techniques that can help make each decision pay off—on the job and on the bottom line.

Seminar Number: 02218

5
(1263 reviews)
  • In-Person
  • Live Online
  • At Your Company Location

Course Scheduling & Pricing

Home>Course Topic>Finance and Accounting>Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers

About This Course

Gain the financial fluency needed to interpret reports, justify decisions in dollars and cents, and talk strategically with finance partners. This practical 2-day workshop teaches the essentials of finance and accounting for non-financial managers, demystifying budgeting, profitability analysis and financial performance language, so non-financial leaders can make smarter, data-informed decisions.

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Who Should Attend

Non-financial managers in every functional area of responsibility in all industries

  •   In-Person2 Day(s)
    12 CAE, 1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PHR, 12 PMU, 12 SPHR
  •   Live Online2 Day(s)
    12 CAE, 1.2 CEU, 12 CLP, 12 PDCs, 12 PDU, 12 PHR, 12 PMU, 12 SPHR
 
 

Can you demonstrate your value and ROI to your boss? Are you able to interpret financial reports and make decisions based on the data they provide? Can you draft an accurate budget? Can you justify your ideas in dollars and cents?

You didn’t get to this point in your career only to be held back by weak financial skills. This program for non-financial managers makes the basics of finance accessible to anyone in just 2 days.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Interpret and respond appropriately to financial information
  • Communicate your contribution to the bottom line
  • Uncover drains on profitability
  • Make smarter decisions that deliver higher profitability

Financial skills are fundamental to any managerial position. Learn how to think finance, and you’ll expand your career opportunities. From accruals to write-offs to receivables and payables, this workshop shows non-financial managers the concepts, tools, and techniques that can help make each decision pay off—on the job and on the bottom line.

  • Get a firm grasp of the numbers side of your job
  • Gain greater confidence with a working knowledge of business  financials
  • Learn how to “think finance” and translate performance into financial terms
  • Cultivate proactive working relationships with finance professionals and enhance your value to the organization
  • Understand the business dynamics of dollars and cents—and take initiatives that meet your short- and long-term goals
  • Take the guesswork out of your decision making and deliver a better bottom line
  • Expand your professional expertise—and your career opportunities
  • Key finance terms: assets, liabilities, capital, depreciation, capitalization, current ratio and others
  • The accounting process: journals and ledgers, how debits and credits work
  • Mastering the mind-set: see business in terms of dollars-and-cents decision options that pay off—short- and long-term
  • Basic accounting principles
  • Applying accounting conventions and guidelines
  • Developing working rules regarding your corporate financial statements
  • Using the balance sheet to examine assets and liabilities
  • Analyzing the income statement to assess revenues and expenses
  • The statement of cash flow: sources and uses of funds
  • Content and format of the annual report
  • Understanding the footnotes
  • Debt vs. equity financing
  • How leveraging can increase return to shareholders
  • Keeping your plan on target with budgetary controls
  • Using profit-planning tools, break-even analysis, financial forecasting
  • Cash flow: where cash comes from and how it's applied
  • Elements of cost accounting
  • Analyzing payback method, discounted cash flow, present value and present value index in making profitable capital investment decisions
  • Criteria for examining the performance of divisions and product lines
  • Understanding the cost of capital

Special Feature

Note: Please bring a copy of your annual report (if available).

2 video-based eLearning modules required before the seminar:

  • Introduction to Accounting
  • Introduction to Finance

AMA Blended Learning combines instructor-led training with online pre- and post-seminar assessments, tune-up courses and other resources to maximize your training goals. Through a blend of proven instructor-led seminars and powerful online technology, AMA Blended Learning provides a compelling and more comprehensive experience for the learner—producing a greater return-on-investment for the employer and the seminar participant.

Learning Objectives

  • Discuss the Relationship Between the Information Presented on Basic Financial Statements.
  • Read and Interpret Basic Financial Statements.
  • Understand How to Evaluate a Company’s Financial Health Based Upon the Information Presented in its Annual Report and 10-K Report.
  • Calculate Key Financial Ratios to Analyze a Company’s Financial Position And Management Performance.
  • Identify Other Sources of Financial Information.
  • Improve Their Company’s Profitability Through an Understanding of Cost and Break-Even Points.
  • Compare the Rate of Return for Various Investments and Determine Which Are Good Uses of the Firm’s Assets

Basic Accounting

  • Discuss the Importance of the Accounting Equation
  • Explain the Significance of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
  • Describe the Accrual Process
  • Differentiate Between Accounting Profit and Cash Flow

How Accounting Works and Understanding Financial Statements

  • Describe an Income Statement or Profit and Loss Statement (P&L).
  • Discuss a Balance Sheet and its use.
  • Identify a Statement of Retained Earnings
  • Describe a Cash Flow Statement.
  • Prepare a Simple set of Financial Statements.
  • Summarize the Accounting Process, from the Recording of Business Transactions to the Preparation of Financial Statements.
  • Share How Various Business Transactions Affect the Financial Statements.

Reviewing an Annual Report

  • Identify the Components of an Annual Report
  • Explain the Importance of Notes in Evaluating Financial Statements
  • Describe an External Auditor’s Role and the Significance of the Opinion Letter

Evaluating a Company’s Financial Statements

  • Calculate the Key Financial Ratios Using the Financial Statements
  • Use Financial Ratios to Evaluate an Organization’s Liquidity, Leverage and Profitability; The Performance of an Organization as Compared to Its Competitors; and An Organization’s Performance Compared with Budgeted Goals
  • Identify Sources of Financial Information Beyond the Financial Statements
  • Use the DuPont Formula to Evaluate Management Performance
  • Use the Concept of Economic Value Added (EVA®) and Cash Flow Return on Investment (CFROI) to Determine if a Segment of an Organization is Adding Value to the Business

Improving Profitability Through Cost Analysis and Profit Planning

  • Differentiate Between Fixed and Variable Costs
  • Help Your Organization Improve Profitability Through the Use of Breakeven Analysis, Contribution Margin Analysis, and Direct Costing in Appropriate Situations
  • Explain Traditional Cost Accounting and Its Limitations
  • Discuss the Relevance of Activity-Based Costing in Today’s Business Environment

Making Major Financial Decisions with Capital Expenditure Analysis

  • Define the Capital Budget
  • Explain Why Cash Has a Time Value
  • Recognize and Apply Different Methods of Evaluating Capital Expenditures and Monitoring Project Performance

Budgeting More Effectively

  • Discuss the Role of Budgeting and Issues That Budgets Can Solve
  • Describe the Budgeting Process
  • Identify Different Types of Budgeting Systems in Use Today
  • Analyze Budgets for Different Purposes
  • Recognize and Apply Different Methods of Evaluating and Monitoring Operating Performance

Course Highlights

  • Review Program Summary and Expectations
  • Determine the Actions That You Will Take When Returning to Work Based on What You Have learned in the Program
  • Generate a List of Questions to Take with You and Further Your Learning

Download Extended Seminar Outline PDF

View a Sample of Our Reviews

5

1263 reviews

 
The instructor was excellent with her course content and keeping everyone actively engaged
5
Maria N.
 
CEO
 
Industry: Healthcare, Hospitals & Physicians Clinics
Very informative course. Instructor was professional and knowledgeable.
5
Michael S.
 
Production Manager
 
Industry: Manufacturing, Textiles & Apparel
The course helps me understand budget plan from financial view, the instructor led the training efficiently, there are multiple team activities, example explanations and number games. Great training for engineering managers.
5
Xin Z.
 
CAE Manager
 
Industry: Manufacturing, Motor Vehicles
I really enjoyed the course. It covered a lot of material effectively. It will help me with my objectives in the future. The instructor was excellent. One of the best I've had in CPE over the years.
5
Jessica K.
 
CFO
 
Industry: Manufacturing
The small class and passion of the instructor for finance / accounting made it incredibly productive for a two day course.
5
Brian L.
 
Sales Leadership
 
Industry: Manufacturing

This course is valid for 12 PMUs.

As a CAE Approved Provider educational program related to the CAE exam content outline, this program may be applied for 12 credits toward your CAE application or renewal professional development requirements.

AMA is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (12 PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM.

Talent Triangle PDUs
12 Business Acumen
Project Management Institute (PMI) Talent Triangle, 2015.
Reproduced with the permission of PMI. Copyright and all rights reserved

American Management Association is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and is accredited to issue the IACET CEU.

resized_HRCI_Generic_ApprovedProvider-2023_160X160

HRCI. The use of this seal confirms that this activity has met HR Certification Institute’s® (HRCI®) criteria for recertification credit pre-approval.

In-Person Schedule

20 Sessions Available

Live Online Schedule

13 Sessions Available

  • $2,795.00 Non Members
  • $2,545.00 AMA Members
  • $2,478.00 GSA
Date Duration State City Zip
  2026-08-17 2026-08-18 Aug 17, 2026 - Aug 18, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-09-14 2026-09-15 Sep 14, 2026 - Sep 15, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2026-09-14 2026-09-15 Sep 14, 2026 - Sep 15, 2026 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2026-10-05 2026-10-06 Oct 5, 2026 - Oct 6, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-10-08 2026-10-09 Oct 8, 2026 - Oct 9, 2026 2 Days IL Chicago 60601-5927 Chicago Register Now

  2026-10-19 2026-10-20 Oct 19, 2026 - Oct 20, 2026 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103 San Francisco Register Now

  2026-11-05 2026-11-06 Nov 5, 2026 - Nov 6, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2026-11-09 2026-11-10 Nov 9, 2026 - Nov 10, 2026 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2026-12-07 2026-12-08 Dec 7, 2026 - Dec 8, 2026 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2026-12-07 2026-12-08 Dec 7, 2026 - Dec 8, 2026 2 Days IL Chicago 60601-5927 Chicago Register Now

  2026-12-08 2026-12-09 Dec 8, 2026 - Dec 9, 2026 2 Days TX Dallas 75001 Dallas Register Now

  2026-12-14 2026-12-15 Dec 14, 2026 - Dec 15, 2026 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2027-01-21 2027-01-22 Jan 21, 2027 - Jan 22, 2027 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2027-02-09 2027-02-10 Feb 9, 2027 - Feb 10, 2027 2 Days DC Arlington/Washington 22202-4807 Arlington/Washington Register Now

  2027-02-22 2027-02-23 Feb 22, 2027 - Feb 23, 2027 2 Days TX Dallas 75001 Dallas Register Now

  2027-03-22 2027-03-23 Mar 22, 2027 - Mar 23, 2027 2 Days IL Chicago 60601-5927 Chicago Register Now

  2027-03-29 2027-03-30 Mar 29, 2027 - Mar 30, 2027 2 Days GA Atlanta 30309-7705 Atlanta Register Now

  2027-04-19 2027-04-20 Apr 19, 2027 - Apr 20, 2027 2 Days TX Houston 77001 Houston Register Now

  2027-04-26 2027-04-27 Apr 26, 2027 - Apr 27, 2027 2 Days NY New York 10019 New York Register Now

  2027-05-03 2027-05-04 May 3, 2027 - May 4, 2027 2 Days CA San Francisco 94103 San Francisco Register Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this finance and accounting course designed for?

This course is designed for managers, leaders, and professionals who are responsible for budgets, forecasts or financial decisions but don’t have a finance or accounting background. It’s ideal financial training for non-financial managers who want to better understand the numbers that drive the business.

What topics are covered in this finance course?

This course covers the fundamentals of finance and accounting, including how to read financial statements, understand income statements and balance sheets, interpret cash flow, analyze budgets and use financial data to make better business decisions. The focus is on practical understanding, not accounting theory.

Do I need a finance or accounting background to take this course?

No. This course, fundamentals of finance and accounting for non-financial managers, is built specifically for those without formal training in finance or accounting. Concepts are explained in clear, plain language, making it accessible for managers who want to build confidence with financials without becoming accountants.

How will this course help me in my role as a manager?

This management training for non-finance managers helps you ask better questions, interpret financial results, manage budgets more effectively and communicate more confidently with finance teams. You’ll gain a working understanding of financials that supports smarter planning and decision making.

Is this course focused more on finance or accounting?

It covers both. This course explains how accounting principles connect to financial decision making, helping you understand not just what the numbers are, but what they mean for your department or organization.

Is this an introductory or advanced finance course?

This is a fundamental finance course designed as an introduction. It’s especially helpful if you’ve been looking for short accounting courses for non-finance managers or a practical starting point before more advanced financial training.

What will I be able to do better after completing this course?

After completing this training, you should be able to read financial statements with confidence, understand budgets and forecasts, evaluate financial performance and make more-informed business decisions using financial data.

Can this course be delivered in house for a team of non-financial managers?

Yes. Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers can be delivered in house for your organization, in person or live online. This training is ideal to equip all non-financial managers and leaders with a practical baseline understanding of finance and accounting. Content can be tailored to your business context, industry and learning goals. To explore private delivery options, please contact us for more information.

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