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Description

Advanced Financial Analysis: Adjusting the Accounts, Measuring Risk and Reaching a Conclusion

Move beyond ratio reading to deliver a reasoned diagnosis of a company's financial strength

  • 2 days — 14 h
  • In-person or virtual
  • Intermediate
  • Up to 6 participants

Calculating ratios has become straightforward. The difficulty lies in explaining what they mean: high leverage may be perfectly sound, an improving margin may conceal a change in scope of consolidation, and a comfortable cash position may simply reflect longer supplier payment terms. Without adjustments and a multi-year perspective, the diagnosis remains superficial.

Over two days, this programme deepens the analytical approach using real sets of accounts. Participants carry out the usual adjustments, analyse how profit and cash flows are generated, assess the financial structure, and draft a reasoned conclusion supported by clearly ranked points of concern.

Learning objectives

  • Adjust annual accounts to make successive reporting periods comparable
  • Analyse how profit is generated and assess the quality of the margin
  • Build a statement of cash flows and interpret its key subtotals
  • Assess the financial structure and the capacity to service debt
  • Draft an analytical conclusion that ranks the risks identified

What makes this programme different

The analysis runs on a single real case file worked through from adjustment to written conclusion
The impact of finance leases and shareholder loan accounts is quantified in concrete terms
A case of gradual deterioration teaches participants to spot weak signals before failure occurs

Programme

1Adjustments and Comparability

Preparing the accounts so they can be analysed

  • Critical reading of the notes to the financial statements and off-balance-sheet commitments
  • Adjusting for finance leases and lease liabilities under IFRS 16
  • Treatment of shareholder loan accounts and quasi-equity items
  • Effects of changes in scope of consolidation and in accounting policies

2How Profit Is Generated

Understanding where performance comes from

  • Analysis of intermediate profit measures over several reporting periods
  • Breaking down the movement in margin between volume and price effects
  • Weight of fixed costs and sensitivity of profit to activity levels
  • Quality of earnings and non-recurring items

3Cash Flows and Working Capital Requirement

Following the cash rather than the profit

  • Building a statement of cash flows from the annual accounts
  • Analysis of the working capital requirement and its components
  • Distinguishing growth funded by operations from growth funded by debt
  • Interpreting investing and financing cash flows

4Risk Diagnosis and Conclusion

Stating clearly what you think of the file

  • Assessment of the financial structure and of commitments given to lenders
  • Debt service capacity and downside scenarios
  • Identifying weak signals of impending distress
  • Drafting an analytical memorandum and defending the conclusion

Who is it for

Financial analysts · corporate banking relationship managers · credit control managers · management accountants · external auditors and finance managers.

Prerequisites

Ability to read a statement of financial position and an income statement and familiarity with the main intermediate profit measures.

Dates & locations

36 scheduled dates between November 2026 and December 2027. Seats are confirmed in the order enquiries are received.

November 2026

December 2026

January 2027

February 2027

March 2027

April 2027

May 2027

June 2027

September 2027

October 2027

November 2027

December 2027

None of these dates suit you? We open additional sessions on request, and any programme can be run privately for your team.

Practical details

Before the programme
Online positioning questionnaire. Your development objectives are shared with the trainer, who tailors the practical case studies to your context.
Teaching methods
Theoretical input, workshops and practical case studies. Digital course materials and method sheets provided.
Assessment
Multiple-choice tests and role-play exercises. Assessment of learning at the start and end of the programme, with immediate and 60-day follow-up evaluations.
After the programme
One year of access to the e-learning platform. Self-assessment of the skills acquired and a 30-day follow-up session with your trainer.
How to register
Registration online or on the basis of a quotation.
Lead time
11 working days after confirmation of registration.
Accessibility
Accessible to people of determination. Contact our accessibility coordinator to design a suitable solution: contact@mpf-academy.ae
Start dates
Rolling intake: in addition to the scheduled sessions, this programme can start on request.