Financial Report Writing

The training course will take the viewpoint of the senior officer, manager or financial analyst. The purpose of the course is not to prepare participants to appreciate and understand how financial reports are prepared so as to be able to assist in the decision making process. The course seeks to develop the basics of each topic, explore its implications through examples and case  studies and incorporate the topic into the framework of the accounting process and financial statements. This course assumes that success in the business world as a manager, investor, creditor, or public accountant requires an understanding of the interplay between a company’s corporate strategy and its corporate financial reporting policies and practices. The training course will stresses the evaluation and interpretation of published financial statements and the impact of various accounting methods on the reported results of companies. In dealing with financial reports the course will cover aspects of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and international accounting standards (IAS). The course also seeks to provide participants with general skills in writing financial reports of a wide nature.

AIMS

The aims of this events are to:

1. develop an understanding of the more important concepts and components in accounting and financial report writing;
2. provide frameworks to formulate and appraise accounting concepts, strategies and policies;
3. apply these techniques in business situations (both private and public), and
4. understand the interface between financial reporting and the other functions in an organisation.

OBJECTIVES:

Upon completion of the training course, participants should be able to:

1. Review the basic structure needed to build up an effective report
2. have developed an understanding of the nature of financial management and basic accounting principles;
3. have analysed the accounting and financial environment of various organisations;
4. be able to analyse both short and long term investment decisions, and
5. be able to interpret both internal and external financial reports.

PROGRAM TOPICS:

Introduction to effective financial report writing

• Understanding the purpose of your report
• Evaluating the mediums that can be used
• Reviewing the users of financial reports
• The importance of brevity

Understanding Financial Information

• Finance and the purpose of business
• Monitoring the many activities of business
• The benefits of generating a timetable that allows time during the month for report production

The General Structure of Financial reports

• Basic report writing formats
• Main assertion
• Abstracts, synopsis and summaries
• The premises behind the main assertion
• Supporting information
• Focus on Financial Reports
• Combining figures and information
• Highlighting anomalies and drawing conclusions
• Incorporating tables and statements

 Preparation for report writing

• Determining the purpose of the report
• Establishing the needs of the report users
• Decide on the focus of the report
• Finance Focus
• Sales Focus
• Production Focus
• Administration Focus

Balance Sheet

• Accounts Receivable
• Inventories
• Non-current assets
• Provision for bad debts
• Example of a balance for a GCC company

Profit and Loss Statement

• Manufacturing and service firms
• Cost of goods sold
• Depreciation
• Interest
• Analysis of a profit and loss statement of a GCC company

Cash Flow Statement

• Operating activities
• Financing Activities
• Investment Activities
• Analysis of a cashflow statement of a GCC company
• GAAP and IAS

Financial Statement Analysis

• Chairman and CEO Statements
• Operating Statements
• Voluntary disclosure
• Ratio Analysis
• Economic Value Added
• Market Value Added

Management Accounting Reports

• Costing
• Pricing
• Budgeting

Capital Budget and Investment Decision

• Present and Future Value
• Internal Rate of Return
• Discounted Cashflow
• Payback Period and Discounted Payback Period

Special Financial Reports

• Business Forcasting
• Feasibility Studies & System Changes

WORKSHOP STYLE:

A mixture of short presentations, interactive discussion, individual exercises and group work. The emphasis throughout is on a practical approach using case material and examples.