Financial courses are not just for the accounting department. Managers (and even staff) within all areas of an organization can benefit from taking a financial course – even if they are not directly involved in the financial planning process. Below are a few reasons why everyone who holds a management position should have attended a finance for non-financial managers curse.
A Greater Understanding of the Decision Making Process
Managers throughout every level of the organization are often left completely clueless as to why the leadership makes the decisions they do. By taking a financial course, managers will gain a better understanding as to why certain actions were taken, why some ideas were implemented and why some have been delayed or been left on the cutting room floor.
An Appreciation for the Reporting Process
One of the least enjoyed activities which management must perform is filling out paperwork. After a financial management course, however, your managers will understand just how important it is to fill out these the reports, create budgets, and chart forecasts.
Coming up with Workable Ideas
Knowing about the financial health of an organization gives managers the idea of what sort of budget they can work within. By having a better understanding of the numbers that they are working with, managers and their staff will be able to come up with better and more innovative ideas which will be more likely to be accepted by the leadership. This increases employee engagement and will be a key factor in driving your company into the future.
Being Transparent With Your Employees
Numerous studies have revealed how important transparency is in an organization, particularly when it comes to the happiness of your employees. By having a manager who understands why certain decisions are being made and what is happening in the company, they can then better communicate this to their employees. Employees will gain a better appreciation of the company and will also begin looking for ways to improve the financial health of your organization.
Knowing the Needs of Different Customers
A financial course will help define the different financial needs of the different “customers” of your company. For example, management will learn what sort of influence purchasers or customers have on the bottom line while also gaining a greater and more full understanding of the importance of the shareholders of a company. This provides management with insight into what the different expectations of all different groups are and how they can best communicate with them.
Holding Their Own During Board Meetings
Managers are often reluctant to attend or speak up during board meetings, even if they have an important point or suggestion to make. This is often because they do not understand the financial impact their suggestion may have on an organization. By understanding the costs and the available funds for projects, managers are not only able to come up with workable ideas, but they are able to come up with ones which are financially feasible.
Seeing the Big Picture
At the end of the day, taking a financial training course allows your management and staff to see the bigger picture. They gain an appreciation of how the decisions they make and the actions they take impact the entire organization and not just their team.