Overview

Why Attend

This course covers several activities that are practiced by financial controllers, from preparing and reviewing financial statements, analyzing an organization’s financial health and performance, and administering the budget process and control function, to managing staff performance and enhancing their productivity. This course provides professionals the chance to practice these responsibilities and sharpen the necessary skills.

Course Methodology

This courses focuses on exercises, case studies, Excel workshops, and individual and group presentations.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Identify the main responsibilities handled by financial controllers
Describe the different financial statements used in their organizations
Analyze company performance highlighting impact of current operations on future financial results
Evaluate and present company budgets and assist management in selecting proper plans
Practice some of the key skills required using Excel to boost the efficiency of accounting and finance work
Assess internal controls within the finance department and the organization in general

Target Audience

Financial controllers, chief accountants, finance or accounting managers, supervisors, staff accountants, general ledger accountants and any professional in accounting and finance who wish to upgrade their skills as well as prepare themselves to assume the responsibilities of a financial controller.

Target Competencies

Financial accounting and reporting
Financial statements analysis
Budgeting and process improvement
Excel functions and tools

Note

This is a hands-on training course using laptops, which will be made available by Smart. For courses outside the UAE, participants are required to bring their own laptops with a fully functional version of MS Excel 2010/2013.

Course Outline

The main responsibilities of financial controllers
- Accounting and reporting responsibilities
- Budget reporting and analysis
- Managing finance and accounting staff
  - Evolving role of financial controller
Accounting and reporting
- Overview of the main International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)
- An inside look at the key financial statements
  - Statement of financial position
  - Statement of comprehensive income
  - Statement of cash flows
  - Statement of changes in owner equity
- Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Supporting bottom-line focus
- Month and year end close: Controller as a project manager
Financial statements interpretation and analysis
- Key tools in analysis
- Building block of ratios
  - Liquidity ratios
  - Solvency ratios
  - Activity and investment ratios
  - Profitability ratios
- Going beyond numbers reporting
- Excel techniques used in presenting analysis to management
Budget reporting and analysis
- The budget as an added value activity
- Evaluating the budget and highlighting objectives
- Presenting budget to top management
- Preparing meaningful actual versus budget reports
Control function
- Structure of internal controls
- Setting and updating policies and procedures
- Assessing internal control policies
- Internal controls on financial reporting
- System controls
- Backup and disaster recovery planning
- Ethical considerations
Boosting efficiency in your department
- It’s all about Excel
  - The 10 must have Excel tips
  - Working with text files
  - Looking up records from a database
  - Validating data and controlling data input
  - Reconciliations and accounts analysis using pivot tables
  - Creating management reports and dashboards
- Personal organization and time management
  - Monitoring staff efficiency to support the accounting close
  - Tools to increase staff productivity
  - Managing staff skills and attitudes

Schedule & Fees

2026 Schedule & Fees

8 - 12 Nov, 2026

English

Per participant USD 2,900

8 - 12 Nov, 2026

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

2027 Schedule & Fees

24 - 28 Jan, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

24 - 28 Jan, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

7 - 11 Feb, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

7 - 11 Feb, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

25 - 29 Apr, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

25 - 29 Apr, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

9 - 13 May, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

9 - 13 May, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

25 - 29 Jul, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

25 - 29 Jul, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

8 - 12 Aug, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

8 - 12 Aug, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

24 - 28 Oct, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

24 - 28 Oct, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

7 - 11 Nov, 2027

English

Per participant USD 2,900

7 - 11 Nov, 2027

Arabic

Per participant USD 2,900

Certificate in Accounting and Financial Control

Overview

Why Attend

Course Methodology

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Target Competencies

Note

Course Outline

Schedule & Fees

2026 Schedule & Fees

2027 Schedule & Fees

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