You don’t need to be a financial expert to make smart business decisions—but you do need to speak the language of finance. This course is designed to help managers and emerging leaders not trained in finance build the financial fluency needed to contribute confidently to strategy, budgeting, and business planning.
Through clear, practical instruction, you’ll learn how to read and interpret key financial statements—income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements—and use them to assess a company’s financial health. You’ll also dig into the critical difference between profit and cash flow, and why managing these matters in both day-to-day operations and long-term planning.
The course also covers how to evaluate new projects or investments using simple but powerful tools like ROI, risk assessment, and opportunity-cost analysis. You’ll explore the time value of money concepts to better understand how today’s decisions affect tomorrow’s outcomes.
What You'll Take Away:
- working knowledge of essential financial terms and principles
- the ability to analyze financial statements and spot key performance trends
- confidence in distinguishing between profit and cash flow—and why both matter
- tools to evaluate the financial risks and returns of business initiatives
- an understanding of financial concepts like ROI, free cash flow, and time value of money to support smart, data-informed decisions
Who Should Enroll:
This course is ideal for managers, team leads, and aspiring business leaders who want to strengthen their financial know-how and lead with greater confidence in today’s data-driven workplace.
Course Format
This four-week course blends elements of asynchronous and synchronous components to provide learners with flexibility in project work, while also having face-to-face time with instructors and fellow learners via Zoom.
Each week students will:
- attend one 90-minute Zoom, during which students will participate in discussions and workshop their project with the instructor and peers
- complete three hours of assignments or project work
Students will be graded based on completion of assessed assignments/projects.
Technology Requirements
To participate in this course, learners will need:
- Access to Microsoft Excel
- If you do not already have Excel, you can access a free version through Microsoft
FAQ
Do I need to attend all Zoom sessions?
You are encouraged to attend all Zoom sessions of the course. During the live Zoom sessions, you will participate in valuable discussions and workshops that will aid in meeting the course learning objectives.
When is the course open?
The course Canvas site will open on the Wednesday before the first day of the course. All the modules will open on the first day of the course.
How do I successfully complete the course?
You will receive a grade of incomplete or complete based on your demonstration of course learning objectives. Learning objectives are demonstrated by completing assessed projects.
The instructor will assess each learning outcome as “not demonstrated,” or “demonstrated.” Completion of a course means that you have demonstrated achievement of all learning outcomes. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and the certificate of completion for the course will be awarded only if you receive a grade of ‘complete’ for the course.
While participation in Zoom sessions and engagement with other non-assessed learning activities do not count towards the final grade, these activities are designed to be an integral part of achieving the course learning outcomes.
If you receive a grade of ‘incomplete’ after turning in an assessed project, you will have the opportunity to resubmit your project once. Please note, receiving a grade of “Incomplete” and/or failure to demonstrate a learning outcome will not result in a refund.
When do I need to turn in assignments?
Assessed projects and other learning activities must be submitted on or before the due date, unless specific extensions are granted by the instructor. Instructors may not grant extensions more than two weeks after the course end date.
What happens if I need to resubmit a project?
If you do not successfully demonstrate course learning outcomes in your first attempt on an assessed project, you will have the opportunity to resubmit your project one time. Resubmissions cannot be submitted more than 2 weeks after the original due date.
How can I request accommodations?
The University of Minnesota views disability as an important aspect of diversity, and is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all learners. The Disability Resource Center (DRC) is the campus office that collaborates with learners who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.
- If you have, or think you have, a disability in any area such as, mental health, attention, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical, please contact the DRC office on your campus (UM Twin Cities - 612.626.1333) to arrange a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations.
- If you are registered with the DRC and have questions or concerns about your accommodations please contact your (access consultant/disability specialist).
- If you need ASL Interpretation Services please fill out the request form for your class.
Please submit your request for accommodations at least two weeks in advance to guarantee we can accommodate the request.
Additional information is available on the DRC website or reach out by email: [email protected].
Transfer and Refund Policies
Transfer policy
You can transfer without additional charge to the next session if you inform CCAPS staff within the first two weeks of class of the need to transfer.
Refund Policy
CCAPS is able to provide partial refunds for the first two weeks of the course. Please see the refund timeline below:
- Before the first day of the course: 100% refund
- 1 - 7 days after start of course: 75% refund
- 8 - 14 days after start of course: 50% refund
- After 15 days: No refund available
Cancellation Policy
In the event CCAPS has to cancel the course due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, we will offer you a transfer to another section of the course or full refund of the course registration fee.
