Finance for non-finance directors

Date and time	Learning method
09/07/2025, 09:00 - 17:00	Virtual classroom

All board members, both executive and non-executive, need a robust understanding of the key financial concepts and corporate reporting requirements in order to discharge their fiduciary duties as directors. Board directors do not need to be qualified accountants, but they cannot say “I do not understand the finances” … The drive for greater diversity in the boardroom has also sought to encourage a new breed of board director and NED and whilst business acumen may be sound knowledge of financial matters may be less defined.

This course will equip and give board members the confidence to apply ‘fit for purpose’ financial skills to interpret and challenge board-relevant financial information.

The sessions will be interactive rather than a ‘lecture’ and will draw upon the experiences of the trainer and all of the attendees. Case studies will also be used to bring the content to life and to consider real-world examples. Participants should expect to find this a challenging, and highly rewarding programme.

Learning outcomes:

• Appreciation of the link between governance and finance, covering:
  • The Board’s financial responsibilities; The Audit Committee - roles and responsibilities; Internal financial controls
• Knowledge and understanding of external financial reporting, covering:
  • The Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement; The Strategic Report and Directors’ Report; Key accounting policies and standards; Non-financial information (NFI) reporting
• Ability to interpret internal financial management, covering:
  • Management accounting; Budgets, forecasts and variance analysis; Foreign exchange, interest rates and hedging
• Insight into typical sources of finance, covering:
  • Debt, equity and hybrid; Angels, VC, PE, Capital markets; Cost of Capital
• Consideration of the perspectives of key stakeholders, covering:
  • Your stakeholder groups; Shareholder value and how companies are valued; The External Audit – roles and responsibilities

In partnership with:

 

CPD hours

ICAEW's revised Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Regulations bring in new CPD requirements. This includes a minimum number of hours and an ethics requirement. Attending this course could contribute up to 6 hours of verifiable CPD, providing you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role.

A copy of the course booking confirmation email is accepted as evidence of verifiable CPD. You will need to save the email as a JPEG or PDF before uploading it to your record. Click here to use ICAEW’s self-assessment tool to help you work out how much CPD you will need to fulfil each year.

Who should attend?

Business leaders. Please see 'Course level' tab for more details.

Course enquiries

Contact: Events information team

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FAQs

Should you experience any difficulties booking onto the event, please click here.

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This course is for: Business Leaders

What is a virtual classroom?

A virtual classroom provides the same great learning experience as other ICAEW training, except one difference, you can learn from your desk.

Being delivered online makes it so much easier to access in a busy working week and would definitively recommend this type of training. The breakout rooms work really well to allow you to get to know the other participants and share experiences.

Virtual classroom delegate

The focus is on the learner and creating an enriching classroom experience that connects participants globally. Using video, learners can converse and interact with the trainer and other learners in real-time. Whiteboards, break-out sessions, polls, screen-sharing, and interactive Q&A create an immersive learning experience.

I think the virtual training format using Zoom, and the survey features, and break out rooms, really works great. I had no problems engaging with the facilitator and felt he listened to what we said, and kept the pace of the content moving steadily.

Virtual classroom delegate

Excellent course. I have completed 2 other similar courses that didn't go into enough depth. This was exactly the level of detail I required to feel confident as a Board member questioning accounts.

Virtual classroom delegate

Secure your place now and keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date.

How do I attend a virtual classroom?

Once you've booked your session, you will receive an email with your booking confirmation. The steps you will need to follow to attend your virtual classroom will arrive in a separate email closer to the date of your course.

About the trainer

Nick Blackwell FCA- CEO, NEDA Nick is a leading authority in Governance, Audit and Assurance and Finance. He has 16 years’ experience delivering CPD, exam, and train-the-trainer courses both online and in-person worldwide. Nick has co-authored several books including ‘The NED Handbook (6th edition)’, ‘Essential Governance, Risk and Business Ethics’ and ‘Essential Audit and Assurance’. Nick is CEO of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association (NEDA) which partners with the ICAEW in delivering governance-based training. NEDA’s mission is to develop trusted professionals and highly effective boards by promoting good governance and diversity of thought in the boardroom.

How are the courses delivered?

All Virtual Classrooms are run by live on Zoom. These are interactive and not recorded, interaction and delegate involvement is encouraged.

When will I receive joining instructions?

You will receive a email with joining instructions after enrolling. Materials and any other resources for the course will be sent to you shortly before the course start date.

Are there breaks?

Each 3-hour virtual classroom will include a 10-minute comfort break.

How do I access the course slide deck?

Depending on the course you will either be sent in the lead up to the course or after.

What if I miss the live date?

The Virtual Classrooms are not recorded so we recommend you attend all sessions.

What if I am going to be 15 minutes late?

This is not a problem, the classroom starts at the start time, but you will be let in if you are delayed for any reason. Trainers do their best to accommodate catch-up, but this is not guaranteed. Where possible please let us know of any delays so we are aware when doing role call the beginning of the session.

Can I have my colleague with me in the live course?

Yes, if you purchase a second place. Each booking is valid for one person only.

Can I record the training?

No, virtual classrooms are not recorded.

Do the courses on this programme count as verifiable CPD?

Yes, these courses contribute verifiable CPD, so long as you can demonstrate that the content is relevant to your role. Additional information about CPD can be found here: Your guide to CPD.

How many people will be on the course?

Virtual Classrooms are designed to resemble a real classroom. Therefore, group sizes vary between 6 – 22 delegates per course.

Click here to view the full 2025 Virtual Classroom CPD Planner.

Our public course programme is deliberately structured to encourage delegates from different organisations to participate. However, if you have six or more delegates who require development in the same area, we are able to run a more cost-effective and much wider range of courses tailored specifically to your organisation.

Organisations will have the choice to run our in-house courses online or in-person.

These are ideal for organisations seeking hassle-free, flexible and cost-effective training delivered to multiple delegates at your location of choice. Whether we use our existing materials or develop new content for your business, our expertise lies in translating your requirements into a pragmatic, interactive training programme highly relevant to your people and organisation.

To discuss in-house training for your business please email academy@icaew.com or contact us through our enquiry form

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Legal Disclaimer

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) does not endorse or recommend any third-party products, services, or companies mentioned during this event or in related materials. References to any such products, services, or companies are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by ICAEW.

The views and opinions expressed by third-party speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or policies of ICAEW. ICAEW does not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, completeness, or legality of the content presented by third-party speakers.

For further information or clarification, please contact ICAEW directly.