Building Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers

Better Decision-Making with Financial Acuity

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Course Dates

STARTS ON

May 14, 2024

Course Duration

DURATION

6 weeks online, 1 hour self-learning per week,
1 hour live session per week with Expert

Course Fee

PROGRAM FEE

C$2,600 C$2,392 and get C$260 off with a referral

Course Information Flexible payment available
Course Fee

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Application Details

program fee

C$2,600 C$2,392

Pay by

The Ontario Student Assistance Program is offering financial assistance to Ontario residents.

To learn more about OSAP, please refer to this Financial Aid Page.

Program Overview

The Rotman School of Management has introduced Building Financial Acumen for Non-Financial Managers, a virtual e-learning program for mid- to senior-level professionals from non-finance backgrounds to understand and build a firm foundation of financial literacy. The virtual e-learning program aims to teach the basics of finance and set the groundwork for understanding financial decision-making within an organization and making sound investment decisions.

78%

of Fortune 100 CEOs come from a non-finance background.

(SOURCE: FORBES)

17%

The demand for finance skills will grow 17 percent by 2028.

(SOURCE: U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS)

44%

of Canadians have taken financial education courses over the past five years.

(SOURCE: GOVERNMENT CF CANADA)

Learning Outcomes

The virtual e-learning program will enable you to:

  • Define the world of finance
  • Explain the cash flows and investor returns for different asset classes
  • Understand the information in the financial reports of organizations
  • Describe internal budgeting control performance evaluation and project analysis
  • Determine how to make big investment decisions based on costs and benefits
  • Specify investment options and their purpose

Program Curriculum

Module 1:

Introduction to Financial Markets

Use the key elements of financial markets to make investment decisions, explain factors that affect a market's efficiency, discuss how transparency and disclosure ensure the integrity of financial markets, and determine the economic impacts of inflation.

Module 2:

The Language of Investments

Explain what the role of securities is in financing an organization, compare the rates of return of simple versus compound interest, and calculate the expected present and future value of a fixed income.

Module 3:

The Language of Financial Reports

Identify balance sheet and income statement account categories, and relate them to the financial performance of the organization. Assess the financial statements of an organization, including measuring key attributes to make cross-sectional and time series comparisons.

Module 4:

Management Accounting and Project Analysis

Distinguish between total variance, price variance, and quantity variance, and explain how you would prioritize a series of capital projects.

Module 5:

Corporate Finance

Identify the difference between an annuity and perpetuity, and appraise an investment project using the four investment decision rules.

Module 6:

Options

Reflect on how market expectations move markets, and explain how the value of an option varies with each of the inputs needed for Black–Scholes option pricing.

Module 1:

Introduction to Financial Markets

Use the key elements of financial markets to make investment decisions, explain factors that affect a market's efficiency, discuss how transparency and disclosure ensure the integrity of financial markets, and determine the economic impacts of inflation.

Module 4:

Management Accounting and Project Analysis

Distinguish between total variance, price variance, and quantity variance, and explain how you would prioritize a series of capital projects.

Module 2:

The Language of Investments

Explain what the role of securities is in financing an organization, compare the rates of return of simple versus compound interest, and calculate the expected present and future value of a fixed income.

Module 5:

Corporate Finance

Identify the difference between an annuity and perpetuity, and appraise an investment project using the four investment decision rules.

Module 3:

The Language of Financial Reports

Identify balance sheet and income statement account categories, and relate them to the financial performance of the organization. Assess the financial statements of an organization, including measuring key attributes to make cross-sectional and time series comparisons.

Module 6:

Options

Reflect on how market expectations move markets, and explain how the value of an option varies with each of the inputs needed for Black–Scholes option pricing.

Program Experience

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Try-it activities

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Playbook activities

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Polls

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Discussions

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Feedback sessions by program leaders

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Self-evaluation quizzes

Who Should Attend?

The virtual e-learning program provides mid- to senior-level business leaders from non-financial backgrounds with the knowledge of finance, accounting, and investment, which will help them to:

  • Communicate more efficiently across functional teams, especially with finance, to state the budgets expenditure of their team
  • Broaden their perspective on their understanding of business by learning about aspects of accounting and finances
  • Learn how to use financial statements and key performance indicators for a better understanding of their business and the financial decision-making process for their organization

Faculty

Profile image of the program faculty Walid Hejazi

Walid Hejazi

Associate Professor of International Business

Walid Hejazi teaches MBA, EMBA, and custom executive programs at the Rotman School of Management. His research focuses on the development of strategies that enhance the ability of organizations to compete in domestic and global marketplaces... More info

profile image of the program faculty Wendy Rotenberg

Wendy Rotenberg

Professor, Accounting and Finance

Wendy Rotenberg is a Professor of Finance and Accounting at Rotman. Her teaching and research interests include Financial Management, Corporate Restructuring, and International Accounting and Finance. More info

Certificate

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the six-week virtual e-learning program, you’ll earn a digital certificate of completion from the Rotman School of Management. This virtual e-learning program counts toward a Rotman Excellence in Executive Leadership Certificate.

Note: All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of the Rotman School of Management

The Ontario Student Assistance Program is offering financial assistance to Ontario residents

The Ontario Student Assistance Program is now offering funding for micro-credentials, including Rotman Executive Programs. This new resource is part of Ontario’s micro-credentials strategy, helping learners access more opportunities to train or upskill for in-demand jobs through loans and grants. This funding is available for Ontario residents only with additional requirements.

Learn about OSAP funding for Ontario residents as well as the full details of the program by downloading our brochure.

FAQs

  • How do I know if this program is right for me?

    After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.


    Are there any prerequisites for this program?

    Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.


    Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.


    What is the typical class profile?

    More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.


    What other dates will this program be offered in the future?

    Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.

  • How much time is required each week?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.


    How will my time be spent?

    We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:



    • Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
    • Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
    • Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
    • Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
    • Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
    • Completing your final project, if required

    The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.


    What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?

    More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.

    All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.

    A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.


    How do I interact with other program participants?

    Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.

  • What are the requirements to earn the certificate?

    Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.

    This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.


    What type of certificate will I receive?

    Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile.
    The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.


    Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?

    No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.


    Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?

    No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.


    How long will I have access to the learning materials?

    You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.

  • What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?

    Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.


    Do I need to be online to access the program content?

    Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.

    Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.

  • Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?

    Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.


    What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?

    The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.

    • Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to FEE).
    • Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.

    What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?

    Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.


    I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?

    Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.


    How can I obtain an invoice for payment?

    Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.


    Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?

    Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.


    How can I obtain a W9 form?

    Please connect with us via email for assistance.


    Who will be collecting the payment for the program?

    Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.

  • What is the program refund and deferral policy?

    For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.

Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Academic Advisors or call us at +1 985 616 5261 (US) / +44 127 959 4639 (UK) / +65 3138 5295 (SG)

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Flexible payment options available. Learn more.