In the ever-evolving world of corporate finance and strategic business management, working capital has emerged as a critical driver of both short-term liquidity and long-term organizational sustainability. It is not simply about managing payables, receivables, and inventory—it’s about leveraging financial agility to support corporate growth, stabilize operations, and empower multi-departmental decision-making.
The Oxford Training Centre (OTC), known for high-impact executive development, offers the Working Capital Management (IFRS) program—a cutting-edge corporate training course designed for leaders managing liquidity, cost structures, strategic investments, and enterprise-wide financial health.
This training transforms how organizations view working capital—from a reactive financial process to a proactive, value-creating function that enhances investment analysis, strengthens portfolio management, supports HR essentials, and aligns with IFRS standards for global transparency and compliance.
Strategic Objectives
- The course is focused on helping corporate leaders understand, design, and implement strategic working capital frameworks that align with their organization’s broader financial and operational objectives. Whether your goal is to reduce operating costs, increase investment flexibility, or improve liquidity ratios for stakeholders, this course delivers outcomes that resonate across functions.
- Participants will gain the ability to:
- Interpret working capital in the context of IFRS standards, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and consistency in financial reporting.
- Enhance cost management by improving the efficiency of cash flow cycles, inventory turnover, and supplier payment terms.
- Apply investment analysis techniques to determine how excess working capital can be reinvested for higher returns.
- Improve portfolio management decisions through accurate working capital forecasts and resource availability analysis.
- Balance liquidity with opportunity using risk-return modeling and capital optimization strategies.
- Connect working capital flows to HR essentials, such as payroll timing, benefits distribution, and funding for training or expansion.
- Deploy strategic tools like asset allocation, security selection, and diversification to ensure funds are distributed optimally across operational and investment functions.
- Utilize performance indicators and performance evaluation metrics to measure working capital efficiency and enterprise value impact.
- Ultimately, the course is about converting trapped capital into productive capital—freeing up internal resources that drive competitive advantage.
Target Group
Working capital is a company-wide concern that touches every department—from finance and procurement to HR, operations, and strategic planning. This course is designed for forward-thinking professionals who want to better manage, influence, or understand the flow and usage of capital within their organization.
Ideal participants include:
- Finance Managers, Treasurers, and Controllers: Responsible for maintaining liquidity, managing cash buffers, and ensuring IFRS-aligned capital reporting.
- Procurement and Supply Chain Leaders: Seeking to optimize inventory turnover, vendor terms, and payment cycles while maintaining service levels.
- HR Executives: Managing workforce compensation cycles, pensions, and benefits—where capital timing directly supports HR essentials and employee satisfaction.
- Business Planners and Cost Managers: Integrating working capital targets into broader budgeting, operational, and cost management frameworks.
- Investment Analysts and Portfolio Managers: Relying on accurate capital forecasts for short-term investments, asset allocation, and cash management strategies.
- CFOs and Strategy Executives: Overseeing enterprise financial health and connecting capital flows with long-term strategic positioning.
Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to Working Capital Management
- Understanding the concept and components of working capital: cash, receivables, payables, and inventory
- Importance of working capital in strategic business management
- Overview of IFRS standards related to working capital reporting
- Linking working capital to organizational performance and corporate growth
Module 2: Cash Flow and Liquidity Management
- Analyzing cash flow cycles and cash conversion efficiency
- Managing liquidity for operational stability and strategic flexibility
- Techniques for optimizing cash buffers and short-term financing
- Risk-return modeling to balance liquidity with opportunity
Module 3: Inventory and Payables Management
- Strategies to optimize inventory turnover and reduce holding costs
- Supplier payment terms and negotiation to improve working capital
- Reducing operational bottlenecks through effective procurement planning
- Performance indicators for inventory and payable efficiency
Module 4: Receivables and Credit Management
- Assessing credit policies and customer payment behaviors
- Techniques to minimize bad debts and enhance cash inflow
- Using receivables analysis to improve investment and operational decisions
- Tools to forecast receivables and link to enterprise-wide planning
Module 5: Investment and Portfolio Management
- Applying working capital analysis to short-term investments
- Asset allocation and diversification strategies
- Aligning capital utilization with corporate objectives and IFRS compliance
- Optimizing excess working capital for higher returns
Module 6: Integrating Working Capital with HR and Operations
- Connecting working capital flows to payroll, benefits, and training budgets
- Ensuring operational funding aligns with strategic priorities
- Impact on employee satisfaction and organizational efficiency
Module 7: Performance Measurement and Strategic Decision-Making
- Key performance indicators (KPIs) for working capital efficiency
- Using performance diagnostics to improve enterprise value
- Forecasting, scenario analysis, and resource allocation
- Converting trapped capital into productive capital
Module 8: IFRS Compliance and Reporting
- Understanding IFRS standards for working capital reporting
- Ensuring accuracy, transparency, and compliance in financial statements
- Aligning financial reporting with strategic management and investment decisions
Module 9: Case Studies and Practical Application
- Real-world examples of working capital optimization
- Hands-on exercises on cash, receivables, payables, and inventory management
- Implementing strategic frameworks across finance, HR, and operations
- Group discussions and scenario-based problem-solving