Financial Management Course

This course is designed for Non finance project managers, NGO staff involved in programme planning, implementation and support. It gives the skills needed to set up strong finance systems and procedures, create project budgets, keep basic accounts, and prepare and read financial reports.
Targeted participants
Programme officers and managers who want to improve their skills in financial planning, control and reporting and government officers working in development projects.
Course duration
5 days
Course objectives
At the end of the course participants will be able to:

    • build project, donor and consolidated budgets using the activity-based budgeting technique
    • prepare and use a simple cash flow forecast
    • prepare and reconcile an analyzed cashbook
    • prepare and use simple financial monitoring reports
    • analyze financial statements and budget monitoring reports to assess performance
    • assess strengths and weaknesses in your NGO’s internal control systems
    • describe the four building blocks and the seven principles of financial management and the role they play in achieving good practice in financial management
    • describe the financial management roles and responsibilities of board members, managers, finance and programme staff
    • explain the importance of budgets in planning, control and decision-making
    • explain the key components and language of a cash accounting system
    • explain the link between budgets, accounting records and financial reports
    • recognize that financial management is for everyone
    • appreciate the central role of financial management in achieving an NGO’s objectives
    • appreciate the importance of accountability and transparency in an NGO

Course Outline
Day 1. Introductions, expectations and course overview

  • Key principles and concepts of financial management         
  • What is financial management?
  • Why is it important for NGOs?
  • Structure and governance of NGOs
  • Good practice systems: the building blocks of financial management
  • Finance Health Check
  • System-design techniques

Day 2. Financial planning  

  • The Financial planning process
  • Cost structures
  • Functions and types of budgets
  • Practical approaches to building good budgets
  • Cash flow forecasting
  • Consolidated budgets and budgeting for core costs

Day 3. Accounting records 

  • Which records should you keep?
  • The accounting process: cash or accruals
  • Practical accounting: completing the cashbook
  • Bank reconciliation
  • Procurement - steps, people and paperwork

Day 4. Financial monitoring          

  • Financial information – who needs what, when and why?
  • Using financial statements
  • Using budget monitoring reports
  • Overview of donor reporting

Day 5. Internal control systems     

  • How to minimize theft and fraud
  • The role of audit
  • Internal control policies and procedures development
  • Summary and close    
  • Summary of key messages
  • Evaluation

Course fees
Kenyan residents: Kshs 100,000/=          International: USD 1000/=
The fees cater for Tuition, Lunch, and Tea break snacks. Participants will be expected to take care of their travel expenses, accommodation and other out of pocket expenses. Accommodation will be reserved on prior arrangement.
Mode of Payment
Payment shall be made through electronic fund transfer to Africa Development Resources bank account 7 days prior to commencement of the course.
For further information please contact us on:
Telephone: +254733846186
Email: training@africadevelopmentresources.org