Mango Training Course Outline
Course code:
ES5
Course Title:
Project finance essentials
Duration:
3 days
For:
Non-finance, field-based project staff working for
international NGOs
Purpose
This three-day course aims to build the confidence and skills of field-based
project staff to use financial management tools to implement project activities in
a cost effective, controlled and accountable way.
Target Audience
This course is designed for non-finance project staff in International NGOs who
manage or directly implement projects in the field. You do not need a
background in finance to attend this course.
This course is not suitable for finance staff or for local NGO project staff – please
see ES1 Getting the basics right.
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
The final balance of course content will be decided by those attending the
course, according to their interests and training needs. Also see below for the
Programme Guide.
The core components of the course include:
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Key concepts and tools: how financial management will help you achieve
your project goals
•
Essentials skills: financial planning, keeping accounts, financial monitoring
and internal control
•
Making sense of the figures: reading, analysing and interpreting financial
information for project management.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Do:
Know:
Feel:
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•
Create an accurate and complete project budget using the
activity-based budgeting technique
•
Build a phased budget from a project activity plan for project
budget monitoring
•
Analyse a funding grid to plan and implement multiple-donor
funded projects
•
Analyse variances in budget monitoring reports to review and
manage project progress
•
Analyse financial statements to assess the financial health of
partner NGOs
•
Apply key policies and procedures needed to safeguard project
cash and equipment
•
Use the Seven Principles and Four Building Blocks of financial
management to ensure robust practice in project systems
•
Describe the key organising tools of a financial system, including
the Chart of Accounts and cost centres
•
Describe the key accounting records you need to keep for
accountable and transparent projects
•
Appreciate that you do not have to be a trained accountant to
understand and use financial management tools
•
Recognise the role of financial management in achieving project
objectives.
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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.
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, in-house or group training event.
Please visit our website to plan your training or contact the training team at
training@mango.org.uk for more information.
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Project finance essentials
PROGRAMME GUIDE
Day
Module:
Topics to be covered:
1
Welcome and overview
•
Introductions and overview
•
Personal goals
•
Key financial management concepts
•
The Seven Principles and Four Building
Blocks
•
Who does what in financial management
•
Getting organised – coding structures
•
The financial planning process
•
Activity-based budgeting in project
management
•
Phasing budgets for project monitoring
•
Cashflow forecasting – having cash when
you need it
•
Managing multiple donor-funded
projects
•
Which records you need to keep - and
why
•
The financial accounting process
•
The 3 Ps of procurement: process,
people and paperwork
•
Financial reports – who needs what and
when?
•
Understanding the budget monitoring
report
•
Variance analysis in project budget
management
•
The impact of ‘commitments’
Good practice
frameworks and tools
Financial planning
essentials
2
Accounting essentials
Financial reporting
essentials – internal
reports
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Day
Module:
Topics to be covered:
3
Financial reporting
essentials – external
reports
•
Donor reporting and monitoring
•
Understanding the annual financial
statements
•
Ratio analysis techniques
•
Four key actions: direct, protect, detect,
correct
•
Internal control in the field – what goes
wrong and how to fix it
•
The role of audit and the auditor’s report
•
•
•
Making links – summary of key learning
Action planning
Course evaluation and certificates
Internal control essentials
Course summary
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