Developing Corporate Finance Skills in Non-Financial Managers
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Published Date
—And Expanding Business Acumen in Finance Professionals
Bridging the Gap Between Finance and Non-Finance Teams
If you're looking for the best way to help non-financial professionals understand and apply business finance, Income/Outcome business simulations provide an engaging, hands-on approach that makes financial concepts clear and actionable.
But there’s another benefit: Finance professionals also walk away with a broader understanding of the business beyond the numbers—helping them communicate more effectively and contribute strategically.
Why Finance Acumen Matters for Non-Financial Managers
A common challenge we hear from organizations:
"A lot of people in our company just don’t understand business. We need training so that when we talk about initiatives that impact the bottom line, everyone understands why we’re doing what we’re doing… and helps drive results."
We help Finance teams rewrite the ending to that story.
How Income/Outcome Simulations Build Better Business Acumen
Every employee, in every department, makes daily decisions that affect the bottom line and the balance sheet. But without a clear understanding of financial principles, their choices may not align with company goals.
Our hands-on business simulations put participants in the game—literally. Participants identify with the little wooden people... in every workshop there is a voice saying "that's me".
Employees experience financial decision-making firsthand and see the impact of their choices—strengthening core business acumen competencies in six key areas:
- Financial Literacy – Non-financial managers gain confidence in interpreting financial statements, while finance professionals sharpen their ability to connect numbers to strategy.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration – Participants experience business decisions beyond their own function, gaining insights into the challenges and priorities of other teams.
- Decision-Making & Strategy – The simulation encourages data-driven, strategic thinking, helping participants weigh risks, evaluate trade-offs, and improve financial outcomes.
- Adaptability – Teams navigate a competitive marketplace where conditions shift, reinforcing the ability to adjust strategy, manage uncertainty, and respond to challenges.
- Accountability – By seeing the financial impact of their choices, participants take greater ownership of their role in driving results.
- Operational Knowledge & Strategy – Finance professionals gain firsthand exposure to market dynamics, sales strategies, and competitive positioning—expanding their ability to contribute to strategic business decisions.
Three Key Benefits of Our Business Simulations
1. Increased Respect for Finance Across the Organization
In the simulation, participants take on business decisions across multiple departments, including finance. They develop a deeper appreciation for financial roles and the challenges of managing company resources.
2. Improved Communication Between Finance and Non-Finance Teams
One of the biggest hurdles in financial literacy training is bridging the communication gap between Finance and the rest of the company. Income/Outcome improves both:
- Communicating out – Finance can better share plans, priorities, and results.
- Communicating in – Non-financial managers learn to express challenges and insights in financial terms.
3. Bigger Picture Thinking for Finance Teams
Our simulations broaden the perspective of finance professionals by exposing them to the real-world complexities of running a business—operations, competitive pressures, and market dynamics.
What Sets Income/Outcome Apart?
- Four levels of business acumen training – Shorter workshops for survey-level introduction, focusing on financial literacy; and in-depth programs for mastery of additional business acumen competencies.
- Visual Finance module – A unique tool that helps participants apply learning immediately, connecting finance concepts to real-world decisions.
- The Company Board visualization – A powerful way to communicate financial insights and strategic positioning, even to non-financial audiences.
Let’s Talk
Whether you're looking to help non-financial managers gain confidence with finance or expand the strategic thinking of finance professionals, we can tailor the right solution for your team.
- For non-financial managers – Develop financial literacy, understand key business drivers, and improve decision-making.
- For finance professionals – Gain a broader perspective on business strategy, operations, and cross-functional collaboration.
