Mango Training Course Outline
Course code:
ST3 [formerly FM5]
Course Title:
Financial management for effective and
sustainable programmes
Duration:
10 days
For:
NGO managers (programmes and finance)
Why is this course needed?
Everyone involved in working with NGOs shares the responsibility of making
sure that their limited resources are used to help people effectively. Good
practice in financial management will help NGO staff to use programme funds
to maximum effect, now and in the future.
•
Good financial management is critically important for NGOs. You cannot
achieve your goals without it.
•
Financial management is everyone's responsibility – trustees and
programme managers as well as finance staff.
•
Good financial management depends on programme staff and finance
staff working together and integrating good practice into their everyday
work.
•
Effective use of resources depends on field staff making informed
decisions.
These key messages are all addressed by this course.
Purpose
This ten-day course aims to build the capacity of NGO managers to manage
resources in a cost-effective and accountable way, to achieve objectives and
create an environment for good performance to take place.
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In particular, the course will build the confidence and financial skills of NGO
managers:
•
to implement robust and practical finance systems that promote integrity,
transparency and accountability;
•
to make effective use of programme resources and;
•
to plan for and manage resources and stakeholder relationships to build
financial sustainability.
Target Audience
This course is especially suitable for:
•
Non-finance managers of small to medium-sized NGOs who want to
improve their knowledge of financial management and are committed to
integrating financial management into programme management.
•
Finance staff of small to medium-sized NGOs interested in applying their
skills and knowledge to implement appropriate finance systems and
broaden their knowledge on strategic financial management issues.
•
Programme managers in international NGOs who advise and support
local NGO partners.
Previous financial management experience or financial training is not a
requirement for this course. A good standard of education and the ability to
work comfortably in English is essential.
We recommend that you read this course outline carefully to make sure the
content is relevant and meets your learning requirements. If you have any
questions please do contact us.
Course Content
This ten-day course has three main themes:
•
Key skills for good financial management practice
The course starts with an overview of frameworks for good financial
management and accountability. It takes a practical look at the ‘Building
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Blocks’ of financial management – financial planning, keeping accounts,
internal controls and financial reporting & monitoring.
This part of the course includes an optional session on field accounting for
those with limited experience in this area or a look at some typical
accounting challenges for those with more advanced experience.
•
Managing for financial sustainability
This section looks at the more strategic aspects of financial management
including risk assessment and scenario planning; building financing
strategies and managing reserves.
•
Grant management
Throughout the course, we address the challenges of grant management
and how to keep our donors happy.
On the final day, we will reflect together on the practical tools and key
messages explored during the two weeks and look at how you plan to
integrate ideas into your own work. The course closes at lunch time on day
10 with a final evaluation and feedback session.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Do:
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•
Build activity-based project budgets, cashflow forecasts and
funding grids for effective programme planning and
implementation
•
Prepare project accounts and simple financial reports
[optional session]
•
Analyse financial reports to inform and support programme
management decisions
•
Review grant contracts to ensure systems comply with donor
rules
•
Use Mango’s financial health check to identify strengths and
weaknesses in financial systems
•
Use the risk mapping technique to assess the financial risks
facing their (or partner) NGOs
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Know:
Feel:
•
Build a financing strategy to promote continuity and security
of financial resources for their (or partner) NGOs, including
how to build reserves and manage central support costs
•
Describe the Seven Principles and the Four Building Blocks of
financial management as frameworks for promoting robust
financial systems
•
Describe how to integrate financial management tools and
techniques into field operations
•
Identify internal risks and implement appropriate control
procedures
•
Outline the key requirements of successful grant
management.
•
Appreciate the importance of good financial management
systems in achieving NGO objectives, now and in the future
•
Recognise the importance of being accountable to all
stakeholders, including beneficiary communities, to ensure
effective use of resources
Training Approach
Mango’s training approach is highly practical, participatory and often fun! We
focus on real issues and help participants to use the techniques covered,
rather than just discuss them. We work hard to de-mystify financial concepts
to overcome the fear of finance.
“Mango training really does take the fear out of finance!”
We work with small groups to meet the needs of individual participants. We
use a variety of learning methods to stimulate interest and meet differing
learning styles of participants – including illustrated presentations, group
exercises and discussions, case studies and practical problem-solving
activities.
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Courses are supported by extensive materials for participants to take away
and apply after the course. We also offer a free follow-up service by email or
phone to all Mango trainees.
How to Book
This course is available as an Open training event. Please visit our website to
plan your training or contact the training team at training@mango.org.uk for
more information.
This course includes bed and breakfast accommodation, lunch and an
optional social programme.
Please ask us for the course brochure for more details of the specific event
you are interested in.
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Financial management for effective and
sustainable programmes
PROGRAMME GUIDE
Week 1
Day
Module:
Topics to be covered:
Day 1
Welcome and
Overview
•
Welcome from Rob Hayes, Finance
Director, Mango
•
Introductions, expectations and
programme overview
•
Key definitions and concepts
NGO effectiveness and
accountability
•
What makes NGO work effective?
•
The Two Golden Rules and downward
accountability
Achieving good practice
in financial
management
•
Financial governance vs. financial
management
•
Getting the basics right – key
principles and building blocks of
financial
•
Using the Mango Health Check
Getting organised for
successful outcomes
•
Accounting codes framework
Key skills: Financial
Planning Essentials
•
The financial planning process
•
Budgets and budgeting
•
What makes a good budget?
•
Case Study: budgeting for a new
project
•
Activity-based budgeting, phased
budgets and consolidating budgets
•
Cashflow forecasting
Day 2
Key skills: Practical
budgeting
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Day
Module:
Topics to be covered:
Day 3
Key skills: Accounting
Essentials
•
The accounting process – making links
•
Developing the chart of accounts
•
The procurement process
•
The challenge of core costs
•
Accounting systems development
•
Case study: scaling up operations
•
Delegated authority and the
procurement process
•
Accounting for core costs
•
Grant management process – failing
to plan is planning to fail...
•
Mapping the Chart of Accounts
•
Budgeting for donors: completing
donor formats
•
Using a grant schedule
Key skills: Contract
management
•
Contract assessment and negotiation
•
Identifying compliance challenges
Key skills: Internal
Control Essentials
•
How to safeguard your assets – the
role of internal control policies and
procedures
•
The impact of fraud
Anti-bribery
•
How NGOs can lead by example in
preventing bribery.
Summary and Close
•
Summary of key messages
•
Week 1 evaluation
Accounting practical
Day 4
Day 5
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Key skills: Planning for
grant management
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Week 2
Day
Module:
Topics to be covered:
Day 1
Key skills: Financial
Reporting
•
Financial information – who needs
what, when and why?
•
Reading the audited financial
statements
•
Ratio analysis
•
Using budget monitoring reports in
programme management
•
Variance analysis
•
Alternative reporting formats
•
Reporting to beneficiaries
•
Donor reporting and forecasting
•
Common challenges during grant
implementation
•
Managing multiple donors
•
Grant closure phase
•
The role of audit
•
What is financial sustainability and
how do we achieve it?
•
Financial SWOT analysis
•
Stakeholder analysis
•
Assessing financial statements
•
Assessing the financing mix
•
Financial risk assessment
•
The funding environment – who gives
and why?
•
Deciding on the appropriate ‘funding
mix’
•
Building reserves in a not-for-profit
organisation
•
Financing Central Support costs
•
Ethical policies
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
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Key skills: Grant
Management
Strategic Financial
Management:
Assessment (Where are
we now?)
Strategic Financial
Management: Decisions
and Targets (Where are
we going and how do we
get there?)
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Day
Module:
Topics to be covered:
Day 5
Where next?
•
Key messages and learning from the
workshop
•
Integrating financial management
into programme management –
strategies for success
•
Personal action planning participants’ presentations
•
Final evaluations
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