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University of Cape Town: Fundamentals of Financial Management

Gain a foundation in business finance and the tools to help your organization thrive.

Gain a foundation in business finance and the tools to help your organization thrive.

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This course is offered by , an edX partner
8 weeks
6–8 hours per week
Starts Mar 17, 2025
Enroll by Mar 23, 2025
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule

Get more information

Want to know more? Enter your information to learn more about this course from GetSmarter (an edX partner).

Get more information

Want to know more? Enter your information to learn more about this course from GetSmarter (an edX partner).

8 weeks
6–8 hours per week
Starts Mar 17, 2025
Enroll by Mar 23, 2025
Instructor-paced
Instructor-led on a course schedule

About this Course

One of a business's best chances at success lies in how it manages its financial resources. Financial management is an integral function of every business, and it ensures responsible investment decisions and the long-term sustainability of operations.

Maintain the financial wellbeing of your organization on the eight-week Fundamentals of Financial Management online short course from the University of Cape Town (UCT). No matter your business, role or position, this course will improve your understanding and practice of finance by exploring financial management through the lens of retail, manufacturing, service, and tech-based industries. The course aims to empower you with a financial toolkit to manage both the short- and long-term financial needs of your company, preparing you to make informed, strategic decisions.

This course is designed to equip mid to senior managers, directors, and administrators with an understanding of business finance and how financial management can be used to support the success of an organization. These professionals are looking to add value to their business by incorporating financial data into their strategic decision making. Students will also gain the knowledge to apply financial management tools within operational and strategic business processes. Aspiring managers and entrepreneurs with minimal experience in finance will learn to bolster the efficiency of a business through responsible financial management practices.

Course curriculum

Skip Course curriculum

Learn how to make effective financial decisions as you work through the weekly modules of this online short course.

Orientation module: Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1: The purpose and process of financial management

Module 2: The systems of financial management

Module 3: Financing the business

Module 4: Acquiring and managing business assets

Module 5: Financial viability of operations

Module 6: Cash flow management

Module 7: Managing key financial relationships

Module 8: Budgeting and forecasting

About the certificate

Acquire the fundamental principles of financial management and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town

Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you digitally upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements. Please note, due to additional administrative requirements, at times UCT course certificate delivery may be delayed by several weeks/months.

Some facts about the subject

Why SMEs fail

While there are a variety of reasons why SMEs ultimately fail, financial management skills and performance are two of the most often-cited explanations.

IFAC (Jan, 2020).

Understand money management

Investing the time to understand money management in a company will help you optimize the profits you want to make in business. You aren’t expected to be an accountant or get into the weeds, but business owners need to understand money management.

Forbes (Apr, 2022).

Why choose GetSmarter?

GetSmarter, an edX partner, delivers career-relevant, fully supported, and expert-led online courses from the world's leading universities and institutions. As an online learning expert with over 15 years' experience, GetSmarter leverages long-standing expertise in market research, data analysis, and business insights to ensure that you gain the skills critical to career growth.