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Description

Management Control Fundamentals: Building, Analysing and Steering Budgets

Move from producing figures to holding a genuine management dialogue with operational teams

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

Management control is often seen as a reporting exercise imposed from above. Budgets are rolled over from one year to the next, variances are commented on too late, and the costs calculated bear little resemblance to how the business is actually organised. Operational managers challenge the figures presented to them because they had no part in building them.

These two days establish the foundations of the role. Participants learn to calculate a cost using the method suited to their activity, to build a budget and cascade it by responsibility centre, to analyse variances and turn them into actions, and to design a dashboard that supports genuine management dialogue.

Learning objectives

  • Position the management control function within the organisation
  • Calculate a unit cost using the method suited to the activity
  • Build a budget and cascade it by responsibility centre
  • Analyse variances between forecast and actual and explain them
  • Design a decision-oriented dashboard
  • Conduct a management dialogue meeting with an operational manager

What makes this programme different

A single company case study followed from cost calculation through to variance analysis
A dashboard built from the data actually available
A management dialogue meeting role-played with a manager who challenges the figures

Programme

1Purpose and Positioning of Management Control

Understanding what the function is for

  • The management controller's role and the boundary with accounting
  • Organising the business into responsibility centres
  • The annual management cycle and its milestones
  • Working with operational teams and the expected professional stance

2Cost Analysis

Calculating a cost that reflects the activity

  • Direct, indirect, fixed and variable costs
  • Full costing method and allocation keys
  • Partial costing and contribution margin
  • Break-even point and break-even turnover
  • Selecting the method according to the activity

3Budget Construction

Forecasting in a way you can defend

  • How budgets link together and the cash budget
  • Activity assumptions and building forecasts
  • Cascading by responsibility centre
  • Budget process and data collection timetable
  • In-year revisions

4Variance Monitoring and Dashboards

Turning analysis into action

  • Breaking down volume and price variances
  • Commenting on variances and identifying root causes
  • Selecting indicators and setting monitoring frequency
  • Laying out a readable dashboard

Who is it for

Management controllers taking up a new role · accountants moving towards performance steering · operational managers and SME executives.

Prerequisites

Ability to read an income statement and familiarity with basic accounting concepts.

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.