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Description

Cash-Driven Management: Reducing Working Capital and Forecasting Cash Flow

Making cash a shared performance indicator far beyond the finance function alone

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

A profitable company can still run short of cash. Inventory builds up to protect production, customer payment terms stretch under commercial pressure, and investments are approved without a funding plan. The finance function chases collections while the decisions that tie up cash are taken elsewhere.

These two days place cash at the centre of performance management. Participants measure the components of working capital, build a reliable cash forecast, identify improvement levers within each function of the business and prepare the action plan that mobilises them.

Learning objectives

  • Measure the components of working capital and how they evolve
  • Build a rolling cash forecast based on actual flows
  • Identify cash generation levers within each function
  • Quantify the expected gain from an improvement initiative
  • Drive an action plan involving the operational departments

What makes this programme different

Every lever discussed is quantified in days of delay and in cash released
A rolling cash forecast is built on a full case study and then compared with actuals
An action plan aimed at operational departments is prepared before the session ends

Programme

1Understanding Where Cash Is Tied Up

Connecting the balance sheet to day-to-day decisions

  • Breaking down working capital by cycle
  • The gap between accounting profit and the change in cash
  • Reading the cash flow statement as a management tool
  • Spotting the operational decisions that immobilise cash

2Cash Forecasting

Knowing what is about to happen

  • Building a forecast based on cash receipts and disbursements
  • Strengthening the reliability of payment term assumptions
  • Rolling forecasts and comparison with actuals
  • Analysing forecast variances and correcting the model

3Improvement Levers

Acting where cash is generated

  • Reducing payment delays and securing the receivables position
  • Inventory policy and the trade-off between service level and tied-up cash
  • Supplier payment terms and a balanced relationship
  • Choosing between outright purchase and lease financing of equipment

4Mobilising the Organisation

Making cash a shared objective

  • Translating cash issues for each function
  • Indicators monitored by the operational departments
  • Running a review committee and setting the review rhythm
  • Embedding cash in objectives and trade-off decisions

Who is it for

Finance and administration managers · treasurers · management controllers · credit managers · owners and directors of small and medium-sized businesses · procurement managers.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with the structure of a balance sheet and with the working capital mechanism.

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.