Business analysts, customer journey managers, project managers, business change practitioners and anyone in business who needs a sound grasp of financial concepts and techniques. Business Finance is also a Business Skills module on the BCS (ISEB) Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis.

A sound grasp of financial concepts and techniques is essential for today’s business analyst. The Business Finance course introduces you to a range of techniques used in business, explaining the key documents and how to interpret them.
You’ll examine business cases and investment appraisal techniques and learn how to evaluate suppliers’ finances and use Financial Ratio Analysis. The course concludes with a session on Financing service delivery.
Presented to you by one of the expert training consultants pictured below. Each member of our Business Finance training team brings substantial practical experience of using business finance tools to the programme.

Having a sound grasp of financial concepts and techniques is essential for business analysts. This Business Finance course introduces you to the sources and use of finance in business and explains the key documents and how to interpret them.

It goes on to tackle business cases and investment appraisal techniques before showing you how to evaluate suppliers’ finances, how to use financial ratio analysis and concludes with a module on financing service delivery.

Upon the completion of this course, candidates will gain a broad understanding of the following:  

• Finance in the project lifecycle- including key financial documentation
• Developing a business case
• Constructing a financial case- including key calculations for appraising investment proposals
• Understanding budgets and budgeting
• Understanding costs and cost behaviours
• Evaluating supplier financial stability- including key ratio analysis
• Financing service delivery- including leases, depreciation and outsourcing.

BCS Certificate in Business Finance

Course Content

Finance in the project lifecycle

• A financial perspective on the project lifecycle
• Published regulatory accounts
• The statement of cash flows and the distinction between cash and profit
• Cash flow forecasting

Developing the business case

• The business case in the business change lifecycle
• The contents of a business case

Constructing the financial case

• Costs and benefits to include in a business case
• Investment appraisal: payback, NPV and IRR
• The cost of capital and the weighted average cost of capital
• NPV, IRR, systemic risk and project risk
• Return on investment (ROI) and ROI and risk
• The concept of shareholder value added (SVA)

Budgets and budgeting

• Budgeting, long-term plans and corporate objectives
• Cost centres, profit centres and the use of charge-out
• Capital and revenue expenditure
• Actual versus budget comparisons and actions
• Budgetary control

Costs and cost behaviour

• Fixed and variable costs and the concept of contribution
• Breakeven analysis and the margin of safety
• Price/volume calculations and charts
• Marginal analysis: outsourcing, make or buy decisions
• Costing approaches and types of cost

Evaluating supplier financial stability

• Financial analysis and the calculation of ratios
• Calculating and interpreting ratios
• The relationship between primary and secondary ratios
• Principles of shareholder value added (SVA) and economic value added (EVA)
• The limitations of ratio analysis

Financing service delivery

• Depreciation of assets: straight-line and reducing balance
• Depreciation of assets: disposal and upgrade issues
• Financing and leasing
• Outsourcing

©Assist Knowledge Development Ltd.

Here's a quick guide to the topics covered on each day of the course.

For virtual courses a printed copy of the latest edition of the comprehensive course manual will be sent to your home address in good time for the start of your course. Our delegates tell us that having access to a physical document is beneficial as both a reference document and for taking notes during the course. In addition, a link will be emailed to you to enable you to access an electronic copy of the same comprehensive manual for convenient future reference.

Yes. During this three day course you’ll receive all the training you need to prepare for the BCS Professional Certificate in Business Finance examination. This closed-book multiple-choice examination uses business scenarios to put your knowledge of business finance to the test. A pass means you’re another step closer to achieving the BCS International Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis.

For delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or eLearning course, the exam may be taken remotely using the BCS online proctoring service. This exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

This course prepares participants to sit the examination leading to the BCS Professional Certificate in Business Finance. The examination for this certificate lasts for 90 minutes and consists of 40 scenario-based multiple-choice questions. The pass mark is 26/40 or 65%. This certificate contributes to the BCS Advanced International Diploma in Business Analysis. 

For delegates attending a classroom, virtual classroom or eLearning course, the exam may be taken remotely using the BCS online proctoring service. This exam consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of 26/40.

If this course is part of your BCS Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules you can take including Business Architecture, Agile Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Advanced Requirements Engineering, Team Leadership, Benefits Planning and Realisation and Stakeholder Engagement. The structure of the certification is shown here.

This course was written by our team of training consultants, who bring their substantial experience of business analysis projects to the programme.

Watch the video below to find out more about our eLearning.

Do you have a question about our eLearning courses? Check out our FAQs section…

If this course is part of your BCS Advanced Diploma in Business Analysis programme you have a choice of further modules you can take including Business Architecture, Agile Business Analysis, Data Analysis, Advanced Requirements Engineering, Team Leadership, Benefits Planning and Realisation and Stakeholder Engagement. The structure of the certification is shown here.

There are plenty of free resources in the AssistKD Learning Zone including Bitesize Learning videos and the popular BA Brew podcast.

Bitesize Learning videos include: What is Discounted Cashflow? What is Payback/Time to Payback? What is IRR (Internal Rate of Return)?

BA Brews include: The Benefits of Benefits, The Business Case.

How do AssistKD’s virtual classroom courses work?

AssistKD’s virtual courses are conducted live and online in a ‘virtual’ classroom space via Microsoft Teams. 
On each day of the course, we ask delegates to log on in time for a 9am start. The courses end at 4.30pm. An hour is ring-fenced for lunch, but timings can vary.

Designed to be interactive, responsive and engaging, our virtual (live) courses are led by trainers who are experts in their fields, with real-life industry experience. 
The benefit of the virtual classroom is that delegates enjoy all the benefits of ‘in-real-time' training, but with no travel requirements or overnight stays. 

Regular comfort breaks, team exercises and break-out sessions keep delegates focused and reinforce learning. 
The courses allow learners to develop their professional toolkits.

Can you attend virtual classroom courses from outside the UK?

Yes, however you will be issued with a digital course manual in advance of the course, not a printed manual. 

When will I receive my joining instructions?

You will receive joining instructions two weeks before the start of your course. One week before the course you will receive detailed instructions on how to log on.

I am concerned about logging on, is there support available?

If you have concerns about logging on and your technology, it is best to address these prior to the day of the course. We can offer you a test call at a time that suits you. To request this please contact support@assistkd.com

I have additional needs, can they be accommodated?

Please provide us with full details of any additional needs in advance of the course so that we can work with you to accommodate them. Please contact enquiries@assistkd.com

When will I receive my course manual?

You will receive your course manual, in both printed and digital form, two weeks before the start of your course.

Can you accommodate a last-minute booking?

Yes, provided there is availability.

Do you offer discounted prices if I am taking more than one course?

Yes, please contact enquires@assistkd.com

What happens if I need to reschedule, do I have to pay twice?

If you need to reschedule, to avoid a cancellation fee please give 10 working days’ notice by contacting enquiries@assistkd.com.

Do the courses run on consecutive days?

Yes. Courses which last for more than one day are delivered on consecutive days from the start date indicated. These are on working days, during Monday to Friday.

Do you offer courses over the weekend?

Our virtual (live) classroom and face-to-face classroom courses run from Monday to Friday only.

Is the exam taken during the actual course?

No. The exam can be taken on a date and time of your choice. You will be provided with exam registration details before the start of your course. We recommend that you take the exam within two weeks of the end of your course, while the knowledge is fresh.

When will I receive my exam results and certificate?

Exams will be taken online you will find out your result immediately on completion. Then, approximately two weeks after the exam this will be confirmed via the BCS portal and you can print out your certificate. 

Is the exam included with the eLearning subscriptions?

All BCS and A4Q eLearning exams can be taken online via remote proctoring, giving you complete flexibility to sit your exam from any suitable location. If you choose the Core or Extra option, your exam voucher is already included, making it simple to progress toward certification.

Can I buy now and start later?

Absolutely. Your course is added to your account right after purchase, but you choose when to activate your subscription - ideal for planning around work or personal commitments. When you are ready to begin learning, you simply log in to your account and click 'Activate' next to the course name.

Have more questions? Check out our full FAQs here or contact us directly.