Natlage - Micro-Learning Programs

About Course

This comprehensive course, “Learn Finance for Non-Financial Managers,” is designed to equip professionals from diverse backgrounds with the essential financial and business management skills necessary to excel in today’s competitive environment. Moving beyond basic accounting principles, this program provides a practical understanding of core financial concepts, empowering participants to make informed strategic decisions and contribute significantly to organizational success.

Participants will gain proficiency in interpreting financial statements, analyzing key performance indicators, and understanding the impact of financial decisions on overall business performance. The curriculum extends beyond traditional finance to encompass vital business disciplines, including corporate law, cost management, inventory control, and budgeting. Participants will learn to navigate legal frameworks impacting business operations, implement effective cost reduction strategies, optimize inventory management for efficiency, and develop robust budgets for strategic planning.

Course Content

Foundations of Financial Literacy

Finance in Plain English
The Goal of a Business
Introduction to Financial Literacy
Understanding Financial Jargon and Terminology
The Income Statement (P&L) – Is the Business Profitable?
The Balance Sheet – What Do We Own and Owe?
The Statement of Cash Flows – Where Did the Money Go?

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How They Connect – The Full Financial Story
Key Financial Ratios and Performance Indicators
Comprehensive guide to GAAP and Accounting Principles.
Time Value for Money [Basic Concepts]
The Role of Finance in Business Decision-Making
Financial Information Systems & Users

Corporate Law & Business Operations

Cost Management & Cost Analysis

Inventory Management & Stock Taking

Inventory and Pricing Decisions
Understanding inventory systems and valuation methods
What is stock taking? Definitions and key terms (e.g., SKU, FIFO, LIFO).
Why stock taking matters – Financial accuracy, loss prevention, and compliance.
Types of inventory (raw materials, WIP, finished goods).
[Case Study] Consequences of poor stock taking (e.g., retail shrinkage).
Advanced Topics [e.g. Cross-Docking and Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory.]
Pre-Stock-Taking Checklist
Organizing the storage area (labeling, grouping, cleaning).
Assigning Roles and Responsibilities.
Freezing Inventory Movements During Counting.
Physical Counting – Periodic vs. Perpetual Inventory Systems.
Cycle Counting: How it works and Implementation Steps.
Spot Checking – When and how to use it.
ABC Analysis: Prioritizing high-value items.
Step-by-step counting process.
Handling discrepancies (overstocks, stockouts, damaged goods).
Documentation: Stock sheets, digital logs, and audit trails.
Reconciling physical counts with records.
Root cause analysis for discrepancies (theft, errors, supplier issues).
Adjusting Inventory Levels
[Case study] Resolving a $10k inventory discrepancy.
Template for post-stock take reports.
Barcode scanners, RFID tags, and Inventory Software
Using Excel/Google Sheets for manual tracking.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

Financial Decision-Making and Investment Analysis

Final Student Assessment Tests

Use this certificate to signal your commitment to learning while validating your core competencies.

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About Course

Course Content

Foundations of Financial Literacy

Finance in Plain English

The Goal of a Business

Introduction to Financial Literacy

Understanding Financial Jargon and Terminology

The Income Statement (P&L) – Is the Business Profitable?

The Balance Sheet – What Do We Own and Owe?

The Statement of Cash Flows – Where Did the Money Go?

How They Connect – The Full Financial Story

Key Financial Ratios and Performance Indicators

Comprehensive guide to GAAP and Accounting Principles.

Time Value for Money [Basic Concepts]

The Role of Finance in Business Decision-Making

Financial Information Systems & Users

Corporate Law & Business Operations

An Overview of Corporate Law Practice

Zimbabwe’s Legal System

Company Formations in Zimbabwe

Company Law in Zimbabwe

Contract Law for Managers

Contract of Sale of a Business

Employment Contract Law for Managers

Cost Management & Cost Analysis

Glossary of Terms

Cost Accounting

Overheads, Absorption and Marginal Costing

Process and Job Costing

Standard Costing

Varience Analysis

The reasons for the development of ABC

Capital Expenditure

Performance Measurement & Evaluation

Inventory Management & Stock Taking

Inventory and Pricing Decisions

Understanding inventory systems and valuation methods

What is stock taking? Definitions and key terms (e.g., SKU, FIFO, LIFO).

Why stock taking matters – Financial accuracy, loss prevention, and compliance.

Types of inventory (raw materials, WIP, finished goods).

[Case Study] Consequences of poor stock taking (e.g., retail shrinkage).

Advanced Topics [e.g. Cross-Docking and Just-in-Time (JIT) Inventory.]

Pre-Stock-Taking Checklist

Organizing the storage area (labeling, grouping, cleaning).

Assigning Roles and Responsibilities.

Freezing Inventory Movements During Counting.

Physical Counting – Periodic vs. Perpetual Inventory Systems.

Cycle Counting: How it works and Implementation Steps.

Spot Checking – When and how to use it.

ABC Analysis: Prioritizing high-value items.

Step-by-step counting process.

Handling discrepancies (overstocks, stockouts, damaged goods).

Documentation: Stock sheets, digital logs, and audit trails.

Reconciling physical counts with records.

Root cause analysis for discrepancies (theft, errors, supplier issues).

Adjusting Inventory Levels

[Case study] Resolving a $10k inventory discrepancy.

Template for post-stock take reports.

Barcode scanners, RFID tags, and Inventory Software

Using Excel/Google Sheets for manual tracking.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

Understanding budgeting and forecasting: Key components for financial success

Building Your Department’s Budget – A Strategic Blueprint

Presenting Your Budget with Confidence – From Numbers to Narrative

Financial Decision-Making and Investment Analysis

Introduction to Decision Making

The Planning & Decesion Making Process

Anthony’s (1972) View of Management Activity

The Need for Quantitative Decision-Making

Calculating the Payback Period for a Capital Investment

Navigating the High-ROI, High-Risk Dilemma

Section Overview – Management Accounting & Decision Making

Ensuring integrity and excellence in financial management

Final Student Assessment Tests

Business Law – Multiple Choice Assessment

Inventory Management – Multiple Choice Assessment

Accounting Essentials – Multiple Choice Assessment

Earn a Certificate

Student Ratings & Reviews