Certificate in Financial Analysis

INVESTMENT

UGX 1200000.00

DURATION

3 Month/s

START DATES

February, May, August

DELIVERY MODE

Online

ASSESSMENT

Participants perform a full financial analysis of a selected company or project • Written report and presentation to panel

COURSE OVERVIEW

This Certificate in Financial Analysis is a practical, skill-based program designed to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of how to interpret, analyze, and evaluate financial information for sound business and investment decision-making. Over three months, participants will gain proficiency in analyzing financial statements, assessing performance through ratios, conducting cash flow analysis, and applying valuation techniques. Through a mix of lectures, case studies and hands-on exercises, learners will build the analytical skills and business acumen necessary to support financial decisions in banking, corporate finance, and investment analysis roles

COURSE OBJECTIVE

TARGET AUDIENCE

Finance officers, accountants, and analysts
Entrepreneurs and business owners

Bankers, investment analysts, and credit officers

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY

Learning topics:

Module one: Introduction to Financial Analysis

· Purpose and scope of financial analysis

· Key users of financial analysis: internal vs external

· Types of financial statements

· Qualitative vs quantitative analysis

· Overview of accounting principles

Module two: Understanding Financial Statements

· Income Statement (P&L)

· Balance Sheet

· Cash Flow Statement

· Statement of Changes in Equity

· Notes to the financial statements

Module three: Financial Ratio Analysis

· Profitability ratios (ROA, ROE, Net Margin)

· Liquidity ratios (Current Ratio, Quick Ratio)

· Efficiency ratios (Inventory Turnover, Receivables Turnover)

· Solvency ratios (Debt to Equity, Interest Coverage)

· Limitations of ratio analysis

Module four: Cash Flow & Working Capital Analysis

· Operating, investing, and financing activities

· Free cash flow analysis

· Working capital cycle

· Cash flow adequacy and quality

Module five: Trend & Comparative Analysis

· Vertical and horizontal analysis

· Time-series analysis

· Benchmarking and peer comparison

· Common-size financial statements

Module six: Financial Forecasting & Budgeting

· Forecasting income, expenses, and cash flows

· Budget preparation and variance analysis

· Sensitivity and scenario analysis

Module Seven: Valuation Techniques

· Overview of valuation methods

· Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) analysis

· Market multiples (P/E, EV/EBITDA)

· Book value and intrinsic value

Module eight: Industry & Business Analysis

· PESTEL and SWOT analysis

· Business model analysis

· Competitive positioning (Porter’s Five Forces)

· ESG considerations in financial analysis

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand and interpret key financial statements including the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.
Apply core financial ratios to assess a company’s profitability, liquidity, efficiency, and solvency.
Analyse trends and perform horizontal and vertical analysis to evaluate a firm’s historical performance and financial position.
Evaluate cash flow health and working capital dynamics to assess a company’s operational sustainability.
Forecast financial performance and construct basic budgets using real-world assumptions and financial data.
Apply valuation methods such as Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) and market multiples to estimate business value.
Conduct industry and company analysis using PESTEL, SWOT, and Porter’s Five Forces frameworks.

Prepare and present a complete financial analysis report of a real or simulated company, demonstrating synthesis of knowledge acquired.