Finance 101

Monday - Wednesday
1:00 - 6:00pm

Thursday - Friday
9:00am - 5:00pm

The finance function plays a crucial role in ensuring the continuing viability of a firm particularly during periods of uncertainty. This basic course examines through a "user-friendly", yet comprehensive way, the finance function in the corporate setting, its scope of responsibilities and authorities, and its linkages with other segments of the organization. Emphasis is placed on the discipline as a function of management, on the routine problems encountered by the financial manager and his/her methods of solution, and the rationale for his/her decisions.


The course doubles as “Introductory Module” for the Center’s rigorous Diploma Program in Corporate Finance. It is also an excellent venue to understand and appreciate the discipline’s raison d'être and its multidisciplinary reach.

A successful participant will:

• Appreciate and understand the objectives, role and importance of finance in business;
• Learn and understand the various techniques in analyzing financial statements;
• Learn the concepts, related calculations and practical applications of the mathematics of finance and investments;
  
• Utilize basic financial planning and forecasting tools for business decisions;
• Identify, define, analyze, and manage the various types of risks the finance manager faces in the routine course of business;
• Efficiently manage cash, accounts receivable, and inventory;
• Evaluate long-term investments using the most effective evaluation techniques;
• Identify, describe, and evaluate the various short, medium, and long-term financing sources available to a firm;
• Calculate and understand the importance of a firm's weighted average cost of capital.

This course is recommended for individuals involved in the finance/treasury function across industry lines, stock, investment and financial analysts of stock brokerage firms, and business entrepreneurs who would like to put a better handle on their firms' financial affairs.

The course, which employs lectures, interactive discussions, case studies
and practical exercises, covers the following areas:

• The finance function in the corporate setting: an overview
  and introduction
• Basic techniques of financial analysis
• Mathematics of finance, investments and
  interest rates
• Basic financial planning and forecasting
• Working capital management
• Capital budgeting: concepts, mechanics, and
  evaluation methodologies 
• Capital structure and Weighted Average Cost of Capital
  (WACC) estimation
• Short-, medium-, and long-term financing sources
• Special topics* [optional, as schedule allows]
     1. Business combinations
     2. Company Valuation
     3. Business restructuring and reorganization

 *Topics will be covered extensively in the Advanced Module of
                              Diploma Program in Corporate Finance

is the Director for Credit Programs at the Ateneo-BAP Institute of Banking, the Program Director for Finance at the Ateneo Center for Continuing Education, and a professor of Finance at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.