chatsimple

Survey Level:
A Complete First Exposure to
Whole Business Thinking

'The 30,000-Foot View'

Foundational Financial Acumen

Foundational financial acumen means understanding how money moves through the business—how choices affect revenue, costs, cash flow, and ultimately performance. At this level, learners build confidence reading financial statements, interpreting results, and making decisions that support financial health.

Who Makes Decisions that Impact Results?

Everyone makes decisions. Everyone needs to understand how their choices impact results.
  • Everyone in the Company

Most people do—whether they realize it or not. From frontline staff to middle managers, everyday decisions shape performance. That’s why business acumen matters at every level: to connect individual choices to company-wide outcomes.

Employees don’t need to be finance experts—but they do need to understand what Finance is trying to achieve, and how their decisions can support—or derail—those priorities. They need to understand how their actions affect profitability. And they need to see how their choices enable or constrain the work of other departments.

Key Components of Financial Acumen

Basic Financial Statements

Understanding the Income Statement and Balance Sheet is foundational for interpreting a company’s financial health.

Cash vs. Profit

Recognizing the difference between cash flow and profit helps in managing both day-to-day operations and long-term sustainability.

Cost Structure

Knowing a company’s cost structure (fixed vs. variable costs) is essential for pricing, profit margins, and efficiency.

Competitive Market

Understanding the financial implications of the competitive landscape helps in strategic decision-making and positioning.

Key Financial Ratios

Metrics like Return on Sales or Return on Assets reveal profitability and operational efficiency, providing insights for improving financial performance.

KPIs Used in Your Organization

Familiarity with the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) relevant to your company ensures alignment with its specific financial goals and priorities.

Income|Outcome® Solutions for Understanding the Big Picture

Short programs with high engagement. Participants learn to understand financial statements, key metrics, and the overall impact of their decisions on the financial health of the company.

  • Better Business Decisions

    4 - 6 hours
    Online OR In-Person

    This workshop helps participants develop a big-picture understanding of finance. In an interactive simulation, employees learn how their everyday decisions impact the bottom-line results. The workshop enhances skills in team-building, communication, strategic thinking, and empathy, providing participants with the tools to make better business decisions.

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  • Finance for Everyone

    8 hours
    In-Person Only

    A comprehensive one-day workshop that introduces formal finance tools, including budgets and cash flow forecasts. This takes the awareness of financial results as shown in the P&L and Balance Sheet, and moves it into planning for the future. Includes formal planning and analysis tools such as Budgeting, Cash Flow Forecasts, and Unit Cost Analysis.

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Get the Big Picture

Building financial acumen is key to ensuring your team understands how their actions impact the company's success. These workshops lay the groundwork for clear, informed decision-making that supports your organization’s goals.

Ready to build a solid financial foundation?
Let's find the right workshop for your team.

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Why Should I Focus on Business Acumen?

"Business Acumen is the glue that holds your company together. It clarifies roles, it improves speed and accuracy of communication, it develops respect and morale. It is essential to financial success and for reaching company objectives."
eliza hl, co-Founder, Andromeda Simulations International
Business acumen as the ability to see the big picture, make better decisions, and drive business success through financial understanding.