1. Finance in the Project Lifecycle (10%, K4) 1.1 The project lifecycle – a financial perspective 1.2 Purpose of business: trading status, sources of finance, financial vocabulary 1.3 Statement of financial position (balance sheet) 1.4 Effect of transactions and adjustments on the financial position (balance sheet) 1.5 Income statement (profit and loss account) 1.6 Published regulatory accounts 1.7 Statement of cash flows 1.8 Distinction between cash and profit 1.9 Cash flow forecasting

2. Developing the Business Case (10%, K4) 2.1 Business case in the business change lifecycle 2.2 Contents of a business case 2.3 Options in a business case; benefits, costs, risks, and impacts 2.4 Costs and benefits to include in the business case

3. Constructing the Financial Case (20%, K4) 3.1 Costs and benefits to include in the financial case 3.2 Cash flow and payback for a project 3.3 Payback and risk 3.4 Advantages and disadvantages of payback as an investment appraisal method 3.5 Cost of capital 3.6 Weighted average cost of capital 3.7 Concept and calculation of present values 3.8 Calculating and interpreting Net Present Value (NPV) 3.9 Calculating and interpreting Internal Rate of Return (IRR) 3.10 NPV, IRR, systematic risk, and project risk 3.11 Return on investment (ROI) 3.12 ROI and risk 3.13 Shareholder value added (SVA) 3.14 Comparing Payback, NPV, IRR, ROI, and SVA

4. Budgets and Budgeting (10%, K4) 4.1 Budgeting, long-term plans, corporate objectives 4.2 Characteristics, purpose, and uses of budgeting 4.3 Cost centers, profit centers, charge-out 4.4 Responsibility accounting 4.5 Capital and revenue expenditure 4.6 Actual vs. budget 4.7 Flexing the budget 4.8 Making budgetary control effective 4.9 Behavioral aspects of budgetary control

5. Costs and Cost Behaviour (20%, K4) 5.1 Fixed and variable costs 5.2 Contribution 5.3 Breakeven analysis 5.4 Margin of safety 5.5 Price/volume calculations and charts 5.6 Weaknesses of breakeven analysis 5.7 Marginal analysis: outsourcing, make or buy decision 5.8 Principles of full costing 5.9 Direct and indirect costs 5.10 Assigning overhead costs 5.11 Job costing 5.12 Business process costing 5.13 Principles of activity-based costing

6. Evaluating Supplier Financial Stability (20%, K4) 6.1 Financial analysis and calculation of ratios 6.2 Calculating and interpreting profitability ratios 6.3 Calculating and interpreting activity (capital productivity) ratios 6.4 Relationship between primary and secondary ratios 6.5 Calculating and interpreting liquidity ratios 6.6 Calculating and interpreting gearing ratios 6.7 Calculating and interpreting other ratios 6.8 Principles of shareholder value added (SVA) and Economic Value Added (EVA) 6.9 Limitations of ratio analysis

7. Financing Service Delivery (10%, K4) 7.1 Depreciation of assets: straight-line and reducing balance 7.2 Depreciation of assets: disposal and upgrade issues 7.3 Financing investments: relationship between financing and leasing 7.4 Financing investments: distinction between finance and operating leases 7.5 Financing investments: end of lease issues and ownership 7.6 Outsourcing: financial characteristics 7.7 Outsourcing: building an outsourcing financial case

Professional Certificate in Business Finance Course Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics or related field
• Basic understanding of financial concepts and principles
• Proficiency in business software, particularly spreadsheets
• Strong analytical skills
• Relevant work experience in finance or business may be required.