Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers

Turn financial information into better business decisions.

Learn. Apply. Succeed.

  • Build a practical foundation in accounting concepts, including the accounting equation, accrual accounting and the difference between profit and cash flow
  • Read and interpret the income statement, balance sheet, statement of retained earnings and cash flow statement as a connected financial picture
  • Use annual reports, financial statement notes and audit opinions to better understand an organization’s financial position
  • Calculate and interpret key financial ratios to assess liquidity, leverage and profitability
  • Compare financial performance against competitors, industry norms and budgeted goals while considering relevant non-financial information
  • Distinguish fixed and variable costs and use break-even and contribution-margin analysis to support more profitable operating decisions
  • Understand how operating budgets are developed, monitor significant variances and evaluate different approaches to budgeting
  • Evaluate capital investments using cash flow, time value of money, net present value, internal rate of return and other measures of return

Is This Course Right For You?

You need to understand the financial information and decisions involved in your role, but finance isn’t your primary area of expertise.

98% of participants recommend this course.

Request More Information

The Learning Experience

  • Build financial understanding step by step. Learn through facilitator explanation, discussion and realistic examples that make accounting and finance concepts easier to connect to your work.
  • Work directly with financial information. Complete individual and small-group exercises involving financial statements, ratios, break-even analysis, budgets and capital investment decisions.
  • Apply the concepts to your role. Compare approaches, discuss the implications of the numbers and identify specific financial concepts and tools you can use back at work.

Duration: 14 Hours 
Delivered in classrooms across Canada and Live Online. 
Available for private delivery and customizable to match your organization’s needs. 

What People Are Saying

“I really enjoyed the course. It covered a lot of material effectively. It will help me with my objectives in the future. The instructor was excellent. One of the best I've had over the years.”

- Jessica K.

$2,595 Non Member Fee
$2,345 Member Fee
View our pricing options
  • Date
    Location
    Time

Do you need a different date or location? We offer Courses On Request.

$2,595 Non Member Fee
$2,345 Member Fee
View our pricing options
  • Date
    Location
    Time

Do you need a different date or location? We offer Courses On Request.

When colleagues learn together, everyone benefits!

Explore our onsite training options or to inquire about scheduling this course for your team, click here.

 

 

This course supports the following Organizational Impact Areas:

  • Performance and Productivity - improving resource management, agility and innovation.

Frequently Asked Questions

 Who is this finance and accounting course designed for?

This course is designed for managers, leaders, and professionals who are responsible for budgets, forecasts, or financial decisions but don’t have a finance or accounting background. It’s ideal financial training for non-financial managers who want to better understand the numbers that drive the business.

 What topics are covered in this finance course?

This course covers the fundamentals of finance and accounting, including how to read financial statements, understand income statements and balance sheets, interpret cash flow, analyze budgets, and use financial data to make better business decisions. The focus is on practical understanding, not accounting theory.

 Do I need a finance or accounting background to take this course?

No. This course, Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers, is built specifically for those without formal training in finance or accounting. Concepts are explained in clear, plain language, making it accessible for managers who want to build confidence with financials without becoming accountants.
 

 How will this course help me in my role as a manager?

This management training for non-finance managers helps you ask better questions, interpret financial results, manage budgets more effectively, and communicate more confidently with finance teams. You’ll gain a working understanding of financials that supports smarter planning and decision-making.

 Is this course focused more on finance or accounting?

It covers both. This course explains how accounting principles connect to financial decision-making, helping you understand not just what the numbers are, but what they mean for your department or organization.

 Is this an introductory or advanced finance course?

This is a fundamental finance course designed as an introduction. It’s especially helpful if you’ve been looking for short accounting courses for non-finance managers or a practical starting point before more advanced financial training.

 What will I be able to do better after completing this course?

After completing this training, you should be able to read financial statements with confidence, understand budgets and forecasts, evaluate financial performance, and make more informed business decisions using financial data.

Canadian Management Centre Also Recommends:

  • Go Beyond®: Becoming an Extraordinary Leader

    Strengthen your leadership skills in communication, delegation, coaching, emotional intelligence and team performance to create greater ownership and results.

    Learn More

  • Management Skills for New Supervisors and Managers

    Build practical management skills in communication, delegation, coaching, feedback, motivation and performance management for new supervisors and managers.

    Learn More

  • Developing a Strategic Mindset

    Build practical strategic thinking skills to see the bigger picture, connect decisions to priorities, evaluate options and make more deliberate long-term decisions.

    Learn More

Course Reviews

4.2 ★★★★★★★★★★ 231 Reviews

Participant Feedback Summary (AI generated based on all reviews)

Participants say Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for Non-Financial Managers provides valuable exposure to finance and accounting concepts for participants who do not have a strong financial background. They describe the course as informative and educational, with useful coverage of topics such as budgeting, financial statements, ratios, and accounting fundamentals. Many participants say the learning experience was supported by clear explanations, relevant examples, and opportunities to ask questions and work through activities.

  • Finance fundamentals
  • Accounting concepts
  • Budgeting basics

Recent Reviews

  • Past Participant, Band Representative Jun 21, 2026

    The instructor William was engaging, I think that was key as finance and accounting can be a lot of information all at once. He was great at explaining and showing the work throughout the course and clearly answered any questions. very informative and a great starting point

  • Joshua A., Technical Operations Manager Jun 21, 2026

    Distance is not an impediment in seeking knowledge and academic progress. This online tutoring is a game changer, and I encourage others to take advantage of such opportunities to sharpen their skills.

  • Adam B., Director of Conservation and Trail Jun 7, 2026

    Well-paced, great instruction and very well put together. I learned a lot!

  • Past Participant, Manager of Children's Services and Early Years Jun 7, 2026

  • Weijia Z., Technical Business Development Manager Jun 3, 2026

VIEW MORE

Stay Connected

Networks

Copyright © 2025 CANADIAN MANAGEMENT CENTRE - PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MANAGEMENT & CAREER TRAINING | 150 King Street West, Suite 271 Toronto, ON  M5H 1J9, Canada | cmcinfo@cmcoutperform.com