Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to analyse financial and economic information to achieve the objectives of an organisation. It covers the use and interpretation of financial information to support business decision making, analysis and use of budget systems and reporting processes and the impact of micro and macro-economic information on enterprise planning.
It applies to senior management, including strategic business analysts and executive managers, who use cognitive and creative skills to review, critically analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge, generate ideas and provide solutions to complex problems. They use communication skills to demonstrate their understanding of theoretical concepts and to transfer knowledge and ideas to others.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Analyse financial resources | 1.1 Identify and incorporate the financial resources required to achieve organisational objectives from the budget 1.2 Forecast additional expenditure requirements and make provisions in the budget as required 1.3 Develop contingency plans for obtaining additional financial resources in the event of a shortfall of available funds |
2. Interpret financial and economic information | 2.1 Analyse financial reports by calculating balance sheet ratios, income statement ratios and cash flow statement ratios 2.2 Identify and evaluate macro and micro economic factors and measure their impact on enterprise financial capabilities 2.3 Review and report financial performance of business units within the enterprise |
3. Use financial information to support decision making | 3.1 Model different financial scenarios to support the decision making process 3.2 Conduct a cost benefit analysis of organisation’s activities to determine viability 3.3 Consult appropriate financial advisers about financial information to support decisions 3.4 Analyse financial information to ensure it is valid and reliable 3.5 Make strategic decisions based on up to date financial information |
4. Maximise returns on financial resources | 4.1 Monitor actual income and expenditure against budgets to ensure available and budgeted resources are not exceeded 4.2 Explain variations and implement corrective action when deviations in budgets occur 4.3 Collect, analyse and report data on the use of financial resources 4.4 Communicate recommendations for improving returns on financial resources to relevant parties 4.5 Agree performance indicators with managers and staff |
Foundation Skills
This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.
Skill | Performance Criteria | Description |
Reading | 2.1-2.3 | Analyses organisational information to establish and communicate understanding |
Writing | 1.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.4, 4.5 | Researches, plans and prepares information for stakeholders incorporating appropriate vocabulary, grammatical structure and numerical conventions |
Oral Communication | 3.3, 4.2, 4.4, 4.5 | Uses appropriate language, questioning and listening techniques to provide and elicit information and to articulate policy, plans, results and related information effectively |
Numeracy | 1.1-1.3, 2.1-2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3-4.5 | Selects and uses familiar mathematical techniques to organise resources to support organisational objectives Applies knowledge of mathematical information to statistically analyse data, confirm reliability, conduct modelling and forecast trends Selects and uses familiar mathematical techniques to calculate costs and to conduct cost benefit analyses |
Interact with others | 3.3, 4.2, 4.5 | Selects and uses appropriate conventions and protocols when communicating with stakeholders to achieve agreement and seek or share information |
Get the work done | 1.2, 1.3, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.3 | Accepts responsibility for planning and sequencing complex tasks and workload Systematically gathers and analyses all relevant information, reviews data and evaluates options to inform decisions about complex organisational strategies Negotiates agreed plans and outcomes and required indicators and routinely monitors and reports on them to identify required corrective actions |
Sectors
Management and Leadership - Management