What do you learn in the Financial Analysis course?

You will learn how to get to grips with the financial health and value of a company. You will work with horizontal and vertical analysis, ratio analysis and cash flow analysis, and learn to link these methods to financial strategy. IFRS and US GAAP, business valuation and tax techniques are also covered.

Who is the Financial Analysis course intended for?

The course is intended for finance professionals who want to be able to analyse financial reports in depth. Think of controllers, finance directors, accountants, credit analysts, bankers, M&A advisers, securities analysts and investment managers.

What prior knowledge do you need?

You have a basic knowledge of business economics and are familiar with the structure of annual accounts. Work experience in a financial role helps you to apply the material directly to your own practice.

Which analysis techniques are covered?

You will work with horizontal and vertical analysis, ratio analysis, cash flow analysis, Net Present Value and Real Options. Business valuation and value drivers are also covered in detail.

Do you receive a certificate after the course?

Yes, you will receive a Learnit certificate of participation afterwards. This confirms that you have attended the course in full.

What does a course day look like?

You work in a small group with an experienced trainer. Theory alternates with cases from well-known organisations and with issues from your own work. There is plenty of room for questions and discussion.

What is the difference between horizontal and vertical analysis?

With horizontal analysis you compare figures across several periods to reveal trends and developments. With vertical analysis you express items as a percentage of a total, for example the balance sheet total or turnover, in order to assess the structure of the annual accounts. In the course you will learn to apply and combine both techniques.

Which ratios are the most important in financial analysis?

The main categories are liquidity ratios (such as the current ratio and quick ratio), solvency ratios, profitability ratios (such as ROE and ROA) and activity ratios. Which ratios carry the most weight depends on the sector and the stakeholder. In the course you will learn how to select and interpret the right ratios for each situation.

What is the difference between IFRS and US GAAP?

IFRS is principle-based and is used by listed companies in Europe, among other places. US GAAP is rule-based and applies in the United States. The differences lie in areas such as inventory valuation, leases and revenue recognition. In the course you will be given the underlying principles and the practical impact on your analyses.

How do you determine the value of a company?

Commonly used methods are the Discounted Cash Flow method (DCF), the Adjusted Present Value method, multiples and the Real Options methodology. The DCF method links value directly to future free cash flows and the return that investors require. In the course you will apply these methods to concrete cases.

What are value drivers and how do you use them?

Value drivers are the factors that determine the value of a company, such as revenue growth, margins, working capital management, investments and cost of capital. By influencing these drivers in a targeted way, you systematically increase the value of the company. You will learn how to identify them and link them to financial strategy.

What does the Financial Analysis course cost?

You will find the current price at the top right of this course page, together with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.

Financial Analysis course

Name: Financial Analysis
Price: 1875.0 EUR
Availability: InStock

Figures tell a story, but only if you can read them. In this course you learn how to analyse financial reports, interpret ratios and estimate the value of a company.

Description

Good financial decisions start with good analysis. With investments, acquisitions, financing or reorganisations, you need to know what the figures really say about opportunities, risks and value. This course gives you the tools to get to grips with financial statements, ratios and cash flows and to translate them into strategy.

You work with the common analysis methods. From horizontal and vertical analysis to ratio analysis, cash flow analysis and business valuation. You learn which key figures are relevant to which stakeholders, how IFRS and US GAAP work through into the figures, and how to use tax techniques to create value.

During the course you work with cases from well-known organisations and with situations from your own practice. In this way you link theory directly to the issues you encounter in your work.

Topics

Day 1. Financial strategy and ratio analysis

Strategic analysis from various perspectives
Horizontal and vertical analysis of the financial statements
Which ratios matter in which sector
Deriving risks, opportunities and alternatives from ratios and benchmarks
Improving ratios and linking them to the financial business plan
Financial legislation: IFRS and US GAAP

Day 2. Market developments and cash flow analysis

Operating cash flow, investing cash flow and financing cash flow
Net Present Value and the Real Options method
The relationship between cash flow and expected profitability
Cash flow analysis and financing requirements
Cash flow and the value of your business

Day 3. Value creation and tax advantages

Adding value to the business or preparing business units for sale
The impact of the financing structure on value
Value drivers and value creation
Linking value creation to financial strategy
Tax leverage techniques for cheaper investments
Tax leveraged leases
Tax advantages through international financial legislation

Result

After the course you will be able to apply analysis techniques such as horizontal and vertical analysis, ratio analysis and cash flow analysis. You will know the principles of IFRS and US GAAP, recognise market developments more quickly and view financial reports from several perspectives. You will know how to link financial strategy to the figures, have a sharper insight into the value of a business and know the main tax techniques for increasing that value.

Target audience

The course is intended for finance professionals who want to analyse and assess financial reports in depth. Think of finance directors, controllers, interim managers, accountants, insolvency practitioners, acquisition brokers, credit analysts, bankers, securities analysts, institutional investors and investment managers.

Teaching method

You work in a small group with an experienced trainer from financial practice. Theory and practice alternate: you learn the methods using cases from well-known organisations and apply them directly to situations from your own work. There is ample opportunity for questions and discussion. You receive course materials and, on completion, a Learnit certificate of attendance.

Prior knowledge

You have a basic knowledge of business economics and are familiar with the structure of financial statements.

In-company

Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.

Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.

Request a quote

Language

The training is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer has a good command of English. English-language course material can be used. With a minimum enrolment of 3 participants, the training can also be given entirely in English.

Number of days:

3 days

Course times:

from 10 am to 5 pm

Study load:

21 hours

Education level:

This training is suitable for all levels.

Exemptions:

Exemptions do not apply to this course.

Preparation time:

No preparation time applies to this course.

Certificate:

At the end of the course, a certificate is issued as proof of participation.

The best training for you

At Learnit you will always find a course that takes you further. From (technical) IT skills to communication or personal leadership. You can also choose the training format that suits you best: a classroom course, a tailor-made course at your own office, an online course or an e-learning. We have the right course and the right format for everyone. Because learning in the way that suits you best delivers the best results.

Moving forward together

Taking a training course at Learnit means learning together. Together with your experienced trainer, together with your course group or together with your colleagues. And whether you take the training at home, at your office or at one of our training locations, we are always available to help you. To share our knowledge with you in a way that is genuinely useful to you. Getting further together through personal attention and understanding each other well; that is what we believe in.

Apply it directly in your work

Learning theory from a book that you can then hardly use in your work? Not at Learnit! Whichever training you take with us, you can put it to use at your workplace straight away. Because of the unique learning objectives you set together with the trainer at the start of the training. Because of the alternation between theory and (interactive) practical assignments. And by bringing the challenges you face in your daily work along to the training.