Program Overview

Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager

The Fundamentals of Finance and Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager is a program designed to equip participants with essential financial knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and drive success.

Overview and Impact

Strong financial understanding is an essential skill in every leader's toolkit. This program translates key financial concepts into clear, practical knowledge that can be used right away, helping participants understand performance metrics, evaluate opportunities, and contribute confidently to financial discussions and decisions.

The program explores the strategic importance of financial performance measures, budgeting processes, and the impact of financial considerations on decisions related to investment, hiring, and expansion. Participants will learn how to interpret key financial statements, while mastering fundamental financial analysis techniques. By the end of the program, participants will have the confidence to engage in financial discussions, assess the financial health of their organization, and apply financial insights to real-world operating decisions.

Learning Outcomes

Through this program, participants will understand:

• How to interpret a Balance Sheet, Statement of Income, and Statement of Cash Flows
• How to perform basic financial analysis of financial statements
• The concepts of performance measures and their roles from a strategic and operational perspective
• How financial decisions are made for investing, expanding headcount, and other purposes
• The budgeting process and its impact on the organization's strategy

Participant Profile

The program is designed for professionals in leadership or management roles who are looking to improve their financial literacy to drive better business outcomes.

Instructor

The instructor for this program is Wendy Schultz, PhD, CPA, CA, a Financial Counsellor at the Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba. Wendy holds a PhD in Financial Accounting from the Smith School of Business at Queen's University, a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) degree from the University of Manitoba, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA).

Program Details

The program is offered in two formats:

• Winter session (In-person): February 25, 2026, 8:30am - 4:30pm, at the James W. Burns Executive Education Centre, costing $965 + GST
• Winter session (Online): March 23 & 25, 2026, 9:00am - 12:00pm, costing $965 + GST

Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion from the I.H. Asper School of Business' James W. Burns Executive Education Centre.