Question 1

How much does finance training cost?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the course, the delivery mode and whether you book public seats or a private session for up to 20. Public seats are priced per person. Private sessions are one flat fee. Select the price control on any course to see its rate. All prices exclude VAT.

Question 2

Which finance course should we start with?

Accepted Answer

Start managers on the 1-Day Decisions Bootcamp, or the 3-Day programme for depth. Directors should take the board briefing, budget owners the Budget Owner Programme, and lending teams the credit course. The course selector at the top of this page suggests a starting point.

Question 3

How long is the programme?

Accepted Answer

Options run from a two-hour clinic and a half-day board briefing to one-day and three-day courses, a three-day credit course and a three-month Budget Owner Programme. We can also design a custom programme around your team's decision points.

Question 4

Do you offer credit analysis training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Credit Analysis, Lending and Deal Structuring is a three-day course for credit, lending and ESD fund teams, built on a full case company. It teaches analysis; it is not credit or investment advice.

Question 5

Is there a version for our kind of team?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The 1-day and 3-day courses come in general, sales and commercial, operations and projects, SMME owners, and public sector editions. The price is the same; the case and examples change.

Question 6

Can you train our team privately?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Private sessions are one flat fee for up to 10, 15 or 20 delegates, online, at your premises or hybrid.

Question 7

Do you train in person outside the main metros?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We train in person in any South African city. Travel and accommodation are charged as disbursements that you approve before we book.

Question 8

Is the training accredited?

Accepted Answer

Okiru issues a certificate of completion once the course assessment is passed. The courses are not registered qualifications.

Question 9

What is Finance for Non-Finance Managers training and who is it for?

Accepted Answer

It is a practical training programme for managers who are accountable for budgets, pricing, cost control, or performance, but who are not finance specialists. Suitable for operations managers, team leaders, sales managers, project managers, procurement leads, and department heads who need to understand how financial decisions affect profitability and cash flow.

Question 10

What will managers be able to do differently after the course?

Accepted Answer

After the programme, managers will be able to interpret basic financial statements confidently, understand margin and cost drivers, make better pricing and discounting decisions, build and manage realistic budgets, identify cash flow risks early, and justify spend and hiring decisions using financial logic. The focus is practical decision-making, not accounting theory.

Question 11

Is this course suitable for supervisors and team leads, not just senior managers?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The training is designed for anyone who influences cost, revenue, productivity, or performance. Supervisors and team leaders benefit significantly because it helps them understand how their operational decisions impact financial results.

Question 12

Can you tailor the training to our industry?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The course can be adapted to sectors such as financial services, ICT, professional services, operations, manufacturing, retail, or project-based businesses. We incorporate sector-relevant examples, cost structures, and margin models so the content reflects your operating realities.

Question 13

Do you use practical examples and exercises, or is it theory-heavy?

Accepted Answer

The programme is highly practical. Participants work through realistic case studies, pricing and margin exercises, budget simulations, cash flow scenarios, and decision-making workshops. Managers leave with tools they can apply immediately.

Question 14

What tools and templates do participants receive?

Accepted Answer

Depending on the format selected, participants receive a contribution margin calculator, budget and forecast template, decision approval checklist, pricing guardrails framework, working capital action sheet, and cost control tracker, all editable templates designed for immediate internal use.

Question 15

Can the training count against our B-BBEE scorecard?

Accepted Answer

Training spend may be recognised under the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE scorecard, depending on the Codes, the type of training and the evidence kept. Okiru's Skills Development team can confirm how your training will be treated and manage the evidence and WSP/ATR reporting.

Question 16

Who should attend finance training?

Accepted Answer

Operations managers, HR professionals, project managers, department heads, legal and compliance officers, engineers, marketers, and any professional who works with budgets, cost centres, or financial data, but who did not study finance formally. If you sit in management meetings where financial reports are discussed, this programme will significantly improve your ability to contribute and make better decisions.

Question 17

Does finance training count toward B-BBEE Skills Development?

Accepted Answer

Training spend may be recognised under the Skills Development element of the B-BBEE scorecard, depending on the Codes, the type of training and the evidence kept. Okiru's Skills Development team can confirm how your training will be treated and manage the evidence and WSP/ATR reporting.

Question 18

Is the training available online, in-person or in-house?

Accepted Answer

Okiru offers Finance for Non-Finance Managers as in-person public workshops, in-house group sessions at your premises, and virtual delivery for geographically dispersed teams. In-house delivery is customised to your organisation's specific financial context, using your actual reports, budgets and business metrics as learning examples, making the content immediately applicable rather than theoretical.

Question 19

What topics are covered in finance training?

Accepted Answer

Core topics include: reading and interpreting income statements (P&L), balance sheets and cash flow statements; understanding budget setting and variance analysis; managing departmental costs and cost centres; working capital basics; interpreting financial KPIs and dashboards; making a business case for investment; understanding financial risk; and navigating management reporting discussions with confidence.

Question 20

What is a P&L statement and why does a non-financial manager need to understand it?

Accepted Answer

A Profit and Loss (P&L) statement shows total revenue, all costs incurred, and the resulting profit or loss over a period. Non-financial managers who understand P&L can see how their department's spending affects profitability, understand what happens when costs overrun, and make smarter decisions about resource allocation, project pricing, and cost control, making them significantly more effective in their roles.

Question 21

What is the difference between a budget and a forecast?

Accepted Answer

A budget is an annual plan set at the start of a financial year, based on expected performance and resource allocation. A forecast is a rolling estimate of expected performance for the remainder of the year, updated regularly as actual results become known. Managers who understand the difference can engage meaningfully in budget reviews, forecast accuracy conversations, and reallocation decisions rather than simply receiving the output.

Question 22

What is working capital and why does it matter?

Accepted Answer

Working capital is the difference between a business's current assets (cash, debtors, inventory) and current liabilities (creditors, short-term borrowings). It measures short-term financial health and liquidity. Managers who understand working capital can make better decisions about customer payment terms, inventory holding, supplier payment practices, and the financial impact of project delays, all of which directly affect cash flow.

Question 23

Is a certificate issued after completing finance training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Delegates receive a certificate of completion from Okiru once they pass the course assessment. The courses are not registered qualifications. Ask us about training records for your Skills Development reporting.

Question 24

How does financial literacy improve management performance?

Accepted Answer

Financially literate managers make better budget decisions, identify cost overruns earlier, build stronger business cases for investment, negotiate procurement terms more effectively, and contribute meaningfully to financial performance conversations. Training builds the habits that support departmental cost discipline and fewer budget overruns.

Question 25

What is a management reporting pack and why does my team need to understand it?

Accepted Answer

A management reporting pack is the set of financial and operational reports presented to leadership each month, typically including the P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, key performance indicators, and budget vs actuals commentary. Managers who understand how to read and challenge these reports are more effective business partners to the finance function and more credible in leadership discussions.

Question 26

What is a financial KPI and how do I use it?

Accepted Answer

A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in finance is a measurable metric used to evaluate financial performance against targets, such as gross margin percentage, debtor days, cost-to-revenue ratio, EBITDA, or return on investment. Non-financial managers who understand their department's financial KPIs can manage performance proactively rather than reacting to problems after the financial period has closed.

Question 27

Do training prices include VAT, and how many people can attend?

Accepted Answer

All Okiru prices exclude VAT. Group training is limited to 20 participants per session. Per-person fees apply to each delegate; per-session fees cover the stated group session. Additional sessions or customised delivery are quoted separately.

Finance for Non-Finance Managers Training