Introduction

The recent, massive banking crisis that created financial havoc around the world caused considerable savings and wealth to evaporate, strained the equity levels of global organizations to unprecedented minimum levels and resulted in money markets, as well as other normally liquid and transparent capital markets, to temporarily freeze up or suspend trading activities.  As a result of the substantial losses caused by this tidal wave of financial ruin that occurred in equity stock markets, currency, commodity and derivative markets on a global basis, treasury and cash management functions are now regarded as vital for the stability, security and profitability of all organizations.  This comprehensive programme will examine the following financial management functions:

• Treasury management – the varying roles, functions, responsibilities and techniques of ensuring organizational liquidity and profitability
• Risk management –  tools and techniques, along with best practices, to minimize or eliminate interest rate and exchange rate risks as well as  commodity pricing risks utilizing the best available internal and external hedging instruments
• Cash management – analyzing and understanding liquidity and portfolio investment returns

Objectives

• Understanding  the roles, responsibilities, tools and strategies associated with treasury management, including international best practices and procedures
• Enhancing financial management skills in terms of managing assets and liabilities liquidity issues
• Discuss the various types of risks associated with global organizations, namely interest, exchange, credit and commodity pricing risks and identifying sources and methodologies of risk management in attending to these types of risks
• Examine the nature, risk and utilization of financial derivatives in addressing financial risks
• Understand the basic concepts of cash management in order to enhance organizational cash flows and maximize portfolio investment returns