At OTC we believe in tailoring our courses to meet each client’s specific requirements.  The illustrative course outline below gives an indication of the type of course content that we’ve been asked to deliver. For more information call us on +44 20 7700 3330 or email info@ockendontraining.com

Strategy & Leadership Finance & Commerce Investment Banking

Advanced Financial Analysis

What is covered?

Using financial analysis as a basis for analysing companies’ commercial performance and forecasting and modelling future financial performance.  We start with some revision of the basics, but quickly move into looking at industry specifics and some of the more complex areas including cash flow and creative accounting.  The emphasis is on participants being able to reproduce calculations back in the workplace and to understand how to use those calculations to start the process of forecasting accounts for financial modelling.

Who will benefit?

Participants with some prior knowledge of financial statements, looking to take their analysis skills to the next stage.  It would really benefit those needing to understand how ratios are used in financial forecasting of business performance.

Course content

• Revision of the structure and content of financial statements
• The key stages of financial analysis
  

  	Trend analysis
  	Ratio analysis

• Understanding industry and market drivers
  

  	A structured approach to market analysis
  	Understanding drivers of industry profitability
  	Competitive advantage

• Calculating financial ratios
  

  	Operational, financial status and stock market ratios
  	Obtaining information from Bloomberg

• A framework for analysing financial ratios – the pyramid of ratios
  

  	The drivers of ROCE and ROE
  	Creating and analysing the pyramid

• Advanced accounting issues
  

  	Off-balance sheet financing
  	Exceptionals and proforma earnings
  	Pensions and employee liabilities
  	Deferred taxation

• Cash flow analysis
  

  	The importance of cash flow
  	Understanding the cash flow statement
  	Competitive advantage The limitations of the cash flow statement
  	The benefits of restating cash flow information

• Creative accounting
  

  	Profit is an opinion
  	Balance sheet management
  	Window dressing
  	The importance of cash flow as a reality check