Building Financial Acumen

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Course Description

Raise your game. Expand your financial knowledge so you can ask better questions, spot problems, make better decisions, and increase your impact and influence in the organization. Duke CE has partnered with Professor Joe Perfetti, who has wealth of real world knowledge and industry expertise, to create an online finance program for non-financial managers.

This course is available for individuals and is also customizable for cohorts at your organization to meet your unique business needs. Learners can experience the program in a variety of ways, from self-paced online learning to a customized and flexible hybrid model consisting of online course modules supplemented by tailored virtual or in-person sessions with subject-matter experts to ensure the application of learning into the workplace.

Building Financial Acumen is a CPD certified course.

Enroll in any individual submodule for $129, or gain comprehensive financial acumen by completing the full course for $349.

What You’ll Learn

This program will use financial data to analyze performance, provide a framework to understand changes in business models, and use key performance metrics to help interpret financial statements.

  • Speak the language of finance
  • Identify financial levers and drivers of value to influence your business real-time
  • Learn and practice applying key financial concepts and tools such as:
    • The Four Cornerstones of Value Creation
    • Value Drivers
    • ROIC and Free Cash Flow
    • Financial Statement Analysis
    • Income Statement
    • Balance Sheet
    • Cash Cycle
    • Business Case
    • Risk
    • Time Value of Money
    • Business Impact

Building Financial Acumen

This Course Includes

  • 12 modules, each with:
  • a 5-8 minute video
  • supplemental reading
  • an assessment of 5-10 questions
  • an application exercise
  • detailed solution videos for each exercise
  • CPD certified course

Course Content

Financial Value Creation

The Four Cornerstones of Value Creation
Explore how positive spread, healthy cash flows, meeting investor expectations, and sustaining competitive advantage are essential for creating long-term value in any organization.

Value Drivers
Understand the key factors that influence a company’s value, including revenue growth, cost efficiency, asset utilization, and capital allocation, and how to leverage them effectively.

ROIC and Free Cash Flow
Learn the importance of Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) and Free Cash Flow (FCF) as critical metrics for assessing a company’s financial health and investment attractiveness.

Financial Statements and Analysis

Financial Statement Analysis
Gain insights into how analyzing income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements can provide a comprehensive understanding of a company’s financial performance and condition.

Income Statement
Delve into the income statement’s structure to uncover insights on revenue, expenses, and profitability, and how they reflect a company’s operational efficiency.

Balance Sheet
Examine a balance sheet to understand a company’s financial stability, liquidity, and capital structure at a specific point in time, highlighting assets, liabilities, and equity.

Cash Cycle
Unpack the cash conversion cycle’s components to appreciate how effectively managing receivables, inventory, and payables can improve a company’s liquidity and operational efficiency.

Business Impact and Decision-making

Business Case
Master the art of building compelling business cases, focusing on strategic alignment, financial justification, risk assessment, and stakeholder communication to secure project approval and funding.

Risk
Explore the various types of financial risks, including market, credit, and operational risks, and learn strategies for managing and mitigating them to protect and create value.

Time Value of Money
Understand the fundamental principle that money available now is worth more than the same amount in the future due to its potential earning capacity.

Business Impact
Learn how to apply financial principles and analyses to make strategic decisions that drive business growth, enhance operational efficiency, and maximize shareholder value.

Meet the Faculty

Joe Perfetti

Organisation

Joe’s experience across industries and depth of knowledge in the areas of strategy and finance, coupled with his creative nature, position him well to redefine business metrics and create a new dashboard for the future. Joe’s cutting-edge work is helping businesses learn how to be more forward-looking and “pre-active” in the market.

Learn more about Joe.