CFO Series: Cash Flow Stmnt: Enhancing the Ignored Statement

Overview

The cash flow statement is one of the most confusing financial reports, yet it has the potential to deliver the most essential keys to understand business performance. After all, cash is still both king and queen! This session explores how to present, interpret, and communicate cash flows effectively to help CEOs, boards, and decision-makers drive smarter results. By using the Sources and Uses format, professionals can make the statement more intuitive and actionable. Learn how to simplify cash flow information and focus discussions on what matters most; how cash is generated and deployed. We will demonstrate how to confidently present this powerful financial statement to non-financial leaders. The cash flow statement is misunderstood, and we will show you how to fix that.

Prerequisites

None, preferably at least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience and/or at least six (6) months of professional experience in preparing or reviewing accounting processes and reports; experience working with internal clients or external clients and business leaders.

Objectives

After attending this presentation, you will be able to...

• Recognize the most misunderstood cash flow statements.
• Analyze alternative methods to make our users understand cash flow.

Highlights

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:

• The importance and structure of the cash flow statement
• Understanding operating, investing, and financing activities
• Presenting the statement using the “Sources and Uses” approach
• How to tell the business story through cash flows and alternative reporting methods
• Identifying key drivers of cash and liquidity
• Bridging the gap between accrual accounting and understanding cash
• Communicating effectively with CEOs, boards, and non-financial stakeholders