Professional Skills for Finance and Accounting

Professional Skills for Finance & Accounting

OBJECTIVES

• Implement essential skills to enhance their ability to run the finance department.
• Manage finance functions in an organized and professional manner.
• Determine the reporting requirements for the finance department.
• Practice proper personal organization, staffing and time management skills.
• Apply finance policies and procedures to add value and communicate effectively with other departments.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Financial managers, financial controllers, finance department heads, chief financial officers, accounting managers, senior finance officers, accountants, finance staff and analysts

COURSE OUTLINE

The Macro Finance Picture

• Understanding the Accounting Cycle
• The Income Statement
• The Balance Sheet
• The Changes in Owners’ Equity Statement
• The Cash Flow Statement
• The Relationship of Financial Statements
• Functions of Management
• Three Elements of a Vision for Finance and Accounting Department
• Effectiveness versus Efficiency
• Supporting the Operating Departments
• Purpose of the Finance and Accounting Function

Personal Organization and Time Management

• The New Skills Set
• Delegation and Priorities
• Delegation Characteristics
• Handling Meetings Effectively
• The Need for Review and Authorization Procedures
• Advantages of the Clean Desk Policy
• Maintaining Clean Desk Policy
• Managing Your In-Box
• Peak Performance Time

Staffing the Finance Function

• Hiring the Best People
• Identifying Recruitment Criteria
• Developing Interviewing Skills
• Interpersonal Communication
• Fundamentals of Communication Skills
• Personality Communication Styles
• The Attitude and Skills Matrix
• Delegation Rules and Levels
• Delegation and Micromanagement
• Evaluating Finance Staff Performance
• Motivation Tools, Compensation and Perks

Organizing the Finance Function

• Teamwork Skills in Finance and Accounting
• Assessing the Need for Team-Building Program
• Finance as a Project
• Organizing by Function
• Organizing by Purpose
• Staff Duties and Responsibilities
• The Authorization Matrix and Control of Processes in Organizations
• Cross Training and Backup Strategies
• Scheduling the Monthly Accounting Cycle

Policies and Procedures

• Purposes of the Policies and Procedures Manual
• Communicating Financial Policies
• Staff Involvement and Responsibilities
• Enhancing Personal Efficiency