Finance & Operations Academy

Unpack finance and operations to make better business decisions for your organisation.

Our Finance and Operations Academy offers an industry-driven learning experience. We prepare finance talents in embracing market uncertainties. By equipping you with up-to-date skills and knowledge in areas like accounting compliance, application and finance operations, we can help you strengthen your ability to make sound financial decisions for your business.

Our programmes

Acquisition & Restructuring

Understand the implications of structuring decisions.
 

Objectives

In this workshop, we aim to share why the financial statements at deal completion date may not be what was initially expected. Get insights on how and why different acquisition structures could impact your financial statements differently.

Outcome

A better understanding of how to manage stakeholders’ expectations to
achieve a desired outcome.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Business versus assets acquisition 
  • Acquisition where ultimate control remains unchanged post-deal
  • Acquisition using a newly incorporated shell company 
  • Key considerations when preparing combined financial statements, carve-out and compilation of pro forma information. 
 

Duration: 0.5 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Directors
  • Chief financial officers, Financial controllers
  • Corporate finance advisors
  • Private equity fund managers & advisors

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Cash is king…so get the cash flow statement right

Cash flow statement is one of the key financial statements to be prepared and drawing it up correctly can be challenging. By focusing on various common complex areas, this workshop is designed to reinforce your practical knowledge and enhance your awareness of complexities in this area.

 

Objectives

In this workshop, we will take you through all that you need to know in order to prepare a cash flow statement in accordance with MFRS 107 Statement of Cash Flows.

Outcome

Ability to produce a statement of cash flows which is a valuable reporting tool used or relied by various stakeholders to make informed decisions especially those surrounding liquidity and going concern of a business.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Why is the definition of 'cash & cash equivalents' so tricky to apply in practice?
  • What is the difference between 'direct' & 'indirect' method of reporting cash flows from operating activities?
  • How to meet the amended MFRS 107 Disclosure Requirement of changes in Liabilities arising from financing activities?
  • In what circumstances could cash flows related to taxation, acquisition and disposal of equity investments and leases under MFRS 16 be classified as either operating, investing or financing cash flows?
  • Should cash flows be presented on a gross or net basis?
  • What are the cash flow statement complexities that could arise with regards to intergroup transactions or transactions with your joint ventures or associates?

Duration: 0.5 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Finance Directors
  • Tax Controllers
  • Senior management
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts'
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

 

Consolidation is not as easy as 1+1

Consolidating subsidiaries and equity accounting for investments in joint venture and/or associates involve many tricky assessments and adjustments. By focusing on various common complex areas, this workshop is designed to reinforce your practical knowledge and enhance your awareness of complexities in this area.
 

Objectives

In this workshop, we aim to provide a clear understanding of how consolidation process works, what are some of the common practical complexities illustrated with worked examples and how investments in associates and join ventures are accounted for.

Outcome

Ability to prepare a set of a consolidated financial statements taking into account some of the complex areas that may involve judgements and estimates.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What is the concept of control and why is it critical to as the first step of accounting for an investment?
  • What are the implications of a subsidiary having a different accounting policy from its parent?
  • Must a subsidiary always have the identical reporting date as its parent?
  • Why is it important to properly account for upstream or downstream intragroup transactions when preparing consolidation adjustments?
  • What are the deferred tax considerations that must be taken into account when preparing consolidation adjustments?
  • Why is consolidating a foreign subsidiary complex?
  • Do transactions with a company’s non-controlling interest result in impact to the company’s income statement?
  • What are the practical challenges in applying equity accounting to an investment in an associate? What are the relevant tax implications?
  • Why is it tricky to apply accounting guidance to determine whether significant influence or joint control exists?
  • What do you need to consider if you have a long term loan to an associate when performing equity accounting adjustments?
 

Duration: 1 day or 1.5 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Finance Directors
  • Tax Controllers
  • Senior management
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Deferred tax: Back to basics

Is deferred tax still taxing? Deferred tax has traditionally been one of the most difficult accounting concepts to comprehend and apply. This workshop is designed to reinforce your practical knowledge and enhance your awareness of complexities in this area.
 

Objectives

In this workshop, we aim to walk you through a comprehensive step-by-step approach to solving your deferred tax problems. We will take you through the process of determining tax bases, identifying temporary differences, computing deferred taxes, and all the way through to recording the journal entries using practical examples. We will also discuss the offsetting rules and disclosures.

Outcome

A good application of the deferred tax concept will reflect a fairer picture of your company's future tax exposure.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • How do the deferred tax rules apply to leases under MFRS 16 Leases?
  • What affects deferred tax in intra-group sales and transfer of assets?
  • Do entities need to provide for deferred tax on investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures?
  • Is there a different deferred tax outcome for a business combination vs. an asset acquisition?
  • Why is deferred tax asset recognition so judgemental and how to assess whether there is ‘convincing evidence’ of future taxable profits?
  • What are the deferred tax considerations for tax incentives such as investment tax allowances, reinvestment tax allowances, accelerated deductions and tax holiday period?
 

Duration: 1 day or 1.5 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience
  • Finance Directors
  • Tax Controllers
  • Senior management
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students
Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points
  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

How do buying and selling investments impact your financial statements?

Understand the impact of increasing or decreasing a stake in investments in subsidiary, associate or joint arrangements. This workshop is designed to reinforce your practical knowledge and enhance your awareness of complexities in this area.
 

Objectives

In this workshop, we aim to highlight and illustrate scenarios when a company increases or decreases its shareholding in an investment and the potential impact that may arise, including the immediate impact to profit or loss. Changing a stake in an investment can take various forms, for example:

  • increasing a stake in an investment in associate to an investment in joint venture or subsidiary (“step up”); or
  • decreasing a stake in an investment in subsidiary to an investment in joint venture or associate (“step down”).
Outcome

A better understanding of how acquisitions and divestments of equity instruments may have on financial statements and what needs to be considered before entering into such transactions.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What are the different investment categories under various MFRS and why is it critical to accounting for any acquisition or disposal of investments?
  • How to develop an accounting policy in situations not covered by MFRS such as increasing an investment in associate (which remains an associate post acquisition)?
  • Do you need to perform or obtain fair value of your investment for each and every time you change your ownership percentage in that investment?
  • When do you need to apply MFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations when you are committed to a plan to sell an investment?
  • What are the requirements to restate comparatives under MFRS 5?
 

Duration: 1 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual


Target audience
  • Finance Directors
  • Tax Controllers
  • Senior management
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students
     
Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points
  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

How to Prepare a Quality Set of Financial Statements for SMEs

One of the key failures in managing businesses is the lack of understanding of the company's financial report. The quality of financial report is paramount especially if one is to convince the stakeholders and continue to sustain the business. This course provides a deep dive into understanding what lies beyond the numbers representing the company's assets, liabilities, profitability and other off-balance sheet exposures e.g. contingent liabilities. It aims to enhance and reinforce those charged with preparing the financial reports and to ensure that they are in compliance with the latest financial reporting standards. Some of the common errors made by preparers will also be shared in this session.
 

Objectives

The course aims to enhance and reinforce the current knowledge of those charged with preparing the financial reports and to ensure that they are in compliance with the latest financial reporting standards. Common errors observed in financial reports will also be shared.

Outcome

A deeper and reinforced understanding of complying with the required accounting rules as well as a reminder of the lessons learnt from some of the errors commonly made by preparers.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Significance of financial statements
  • Components of financial statements
  • Income and expenses
  • Non-financial assets 
  • Specialised activities
  • Group financial statements
  • Financial instruments 
  • Non-financial liabilities
  • Other disclosures
  • Common errors made by preparers
 

Duration: 2 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • SME Finance directors
  • SME Finance senior management 
  • SME Finance managers/executives 

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Intro to Financial Modelling

Financial modelling is a strategic tool used to:
  • simulate the future cash flows of a company / project
  • analyse the impact of different outcomes on the financial position / forecast of the company, and
  • assist in the decision-making process.

It is a highly transferrable skill with regular application in capital budgeting decisions, business valuations, project financing, scenario planning, feasibility assessment, debt restructuring, private equity deal analysis and many more.
 

Objectives
  • understand and apply the elements of a transparent, flexible and professionally presented financial model
  • understand and apply commonly used Excel formulae
  • understand basic accounting relationships, and
  • build a financial model from scratch
Outcome

Understanding of modelling best practices, and equipping the participants with the relevant technical knowledge to start building their own financial model.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • The modelling process
  • Modelling best practices
  • Case Study: demonstration by instructors and hands-on practice for the participants
  • Role Play: to experience how a finanical model is used as a tool in decision-making process
 

Duration: 1.5 day

Delivery mode: Virtual

Target audience

  • Mid-management level and below
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts'

MFRS 16 Leases deep dive

Reinforce the principles and enhance your understanding of complex application issues and their impact to financial reporting.
 

Objectives

In this workshop, we aim to provide a clearer understanding (from a lessee’s perspective) that there is more intricacy and complexity to MFRS 16 than just introducing a lease liability and right-of-use asset (“RoU”) to the balance sheet. For lessors, understanding whether MFRS 16 would apply to a contract is critical to a lessor’s business. Gain better insights as we dive into MFRS 16 to examine the details of how it impacts the financial reporting of lessee and lessors.

Outcome

A better reflection of your company's leasing activities, knowing how to account for your leased assets and lease liabilties and some of the complex leasing arrangements that may have implications to your financial statements.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Why is it important for both lessees and lessors to apply the definition of a lease correctly? 
  • How should RoU be tested for impairment? 
  • Does accounting for sub-leases make sense when both lessor and lessee recognise assets on their respective balance sheets? 
  • How should a lease contract be bifurcated when it contains nonlease components? 
  • When should a lease liability be re-measured? 
  • How should the principle in both MFRS 15 and MFRS 16 be applied in a sales and leaseback transaction? 
  • How does each transition option impact future P&L?

Duration: 1 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Finance Directors
  • Tax Controllers
  • Senior management
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Navigating the P&L impacts of a loan renegotiation

Applying MFRS 9 Financial Instruments to a loan renegotiation is tricky. This workshop will guide you on how to get it right.
 

Objectives

In this workshop, we aim to provide insight on how loan renegotiation could impact the profit or loss of your company on the effective
date of the renegotiated loan as well as in the future. Gain insight on the accounting implications of a loan renegotiation under MFRS 9, as
well as capitalisation of borrowing costs.

Outcome

A better understanding of the financial impact from loan negotiations and what can be planned ahead as well as appreciating the rules of borrowing cost capitalisation for qualifying assets.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Loan modification vs extinguishment
  • Refinancing with own equity instruments
  • Treatment of costs and fees incurred
  • Capitalisation of borrowing costs is not a choice
 

Duration: 1 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Finance Directors
  • Tax Controllers
  • Senior management
  • Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Financial analysts
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Procurement Excellence Series: #1 Strategy Sourcing - Getting the Best Deal

Procurement Excellence Series - creating value in the current uncertainties is fundamental to our survival and we need to use every lever along the value chain to create, realise and sustain value for our organisations.
 

Objectives

To provide an overview of Strategic Sourcing and how to get the best deal for your organisation

Outcome

Understanding of factors that impact supplier negotiation

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What is Strategic Sourcing?
  • What do you need to think about?
  • Negotiation strategies
  • Case Study

Duration: 1 - 2 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Heads of Procurement
  • Procurement Managers

 

Procurement Excellence Series: #2 Purchase Compliance - How to manage corporate spending effectively


Procurement Excellence Series - creating value in the current uncertainties is fundamental to our survival and we need to use every lever along the value chain to create, realise and sustain value for our organisations.
 

Objectives

To provide an overview of how to understand corporate purchasing behaviour and the potential impact to your business.

Outcome

Clear understanding of how purchasing behaviours can have a positive and negative business impact.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What is Purchase Compliance?
  • What are Purchasing Channels?
  • Business Impact

Duration: 0.5 - 1 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Heads of Procurement
  • Procurement Managers

 

Procurement Excellence Series: #3 Effective Contract Management

Procurement Excellence Series - creating value in the current uncertainties is fundamental to our survival and we need to use every lever along the value chain to create, realise and sustain value for our organisations.
 

Objectives

Provide an overview of how contracts can be a real enabler to realising sustainable value at a 'supplier contract level'.

Outcome

Clear understanding of how contracts can deliver sustainable value to your organisation.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Defintion of Contract management
  • Desired Outcomes
  • Typical Pitfalls
  • How this is linked to Supplier Management

Duration: 0.5 - 1 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Heads of Procurement
  • Procurement Managers

 

Procurement Excellent Series: #4 Supplier Management

Procurement Excellence Series - creating value in the current uncertainties is fundamental to our survival and we need to use every lever along the value chain to create, realise and sustain value for our organisations.
 

Objectives

Provide an overview of how the Procurement team becomes a 'strategic enabler' that manages suppliers to meet group objectives.

Outcome

Initial understanding of how effective supplier relationship management can support your corporate strategy.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What is Supplier Relationship Management?
  • How does it add value?

Duration: 0.5 - 1 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Heads of Procurement
  • Procurement Managers

 

Procurement Excellent Series: #5 Process Improvement 101

Operational Excellence - It's our responsibility to look for better ways to execute tasks within our jobs but also to improve the way we interact with our customers. This full day course focuses on what inefficiencies to look for, how to identify them and how to faciliate a workshop to remap the way of working.
 

Objectives
  • Understand how and where to improve processes
  • Provide key elements of how to facilitate a process improvement workshop
Outcome

Clear understanding of how to map processes, how to identify inefficiencies, and initial training on how to run a process workshop.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What is process improvement?
  • How to identify inefficiencies?
  • How to facilitate a process improvement workshop?
  • What else do you need to do to 'make change stick'

Duration: 2 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Functional leads
  • Operations Managers

 

Procurement Excellence Series: #6 Sustainable Supply Chain - What is it?

Supply Chain Series - What is Sustainable Supply Chain and Why it is important.
 

Objectives
  • Provide a clear understanding of the elements that define a Sustainable Supply Chain
  • Run through the potential benefits of developing a Sustainable Supply Chain
Outcome

Understanding the future benefits of Sustainable Supply Chains.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • What is Sustainable Supply Chain?
  • What are the benefits of a Sustainable Supply Chain?

Duration: 0.5 - 1 day

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • Heads of Supply Chain
  • CSR Manager
  • Heads of Corporate Comms
  • CFOs
  • COOs

Reshaping your Business with Effective Financial Management

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to many businesses including SMEs being badly affected, depending on which industry they are in. Following the Goverment's economic recovery plan, there are a number of government subsidies, reliefs and initiatives taken to revive the economies. In ensuring business sustainability, productivity and employability post COVID-19, SMEs and its employees must consider recovery action plans and initiatives which include managing the business finances effectively.
 

Objectives

The course aims to provide SMEs better understanding of how to read, interpret financial terms presented and disclosed in a set of financial statements as well as how to analyse some of the common key financial performance ratios to be able to make informed business decisions. The course also covers cash flow management, investment appraisal as well as monitoring budgets.

Outcome

A better understanding of the business financial performance and position as well as managing cash flows, budgets and channeling their funds into profitable investments.

Agenda/topics covered?
  • Significance of financial statements and its components
  • Performing financial analysis
  • Cash operating cycle and how to manage it
  • How to perform inventory costing 
  • How to appraise investments and what are some of the investment appraisal tools
  • Managing foreign currency exposures
  • How to do good budgeting and monitor it
  • What are some of the potential warning signals that may arise from financial statements
  • Other impacts of COVID-19 on financial reporting
  • Tax considerations

Duration: 2 days

Delivery mode: Classroom/Virtual

Target audience

  • SME owners / directors
  • SME Finance senior management
  • SME Finance and tax managers/executives
  • Regulators, academicians and accountancy students

Prof. associations recognising PwC CPE points

  • Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA)
  • Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (MICPA)
  • Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA)

Client highlight

Finance For Non-Finance - Developing Local SMEs & Business Entrepreneurs

The situation

Aiming to develop SMEs and business entrepreneurs to be more diligent in managing their business effectively, there was an interest in upskilling to analyse and interpret financial information with the right tools and techniques to enable decision-making.

How we helped

PwC’s Academy delivered 12 sessions on effective financial management to various SMEs and entrepreneurs from different industry backgrounds.

Results

  • Having realised the importance of proper financial management from the session, one of the client employed a CFO and accountant to oversee the company’s finances
  • One of the client purchased an accounting system to better record business transactions
  • Some of the clients consulted tax agents for better tax savings & incentives

MFRS Technical Series - Workshops for Various Clients & Industries

The situation

Complying with the required rules and regulations made it necessary to have the company’s financial reporters be kept abreast of the technical accounting updates. Thus training and refreshers are called for.

How we helped

Depending on the industry type & business complexities, PwC’s Academy offered customised solutions to these clients, embedding the accounting standards key concepts & practical applications, delivered by our trainer pool who are experts of the subjects.

Results

  • Implementation of the new standards requirements into their systems, policies or operations
  • A deeper discussion and engagements on the topics that affects the client business
  • Requests for a deeper dive programme following from the awareness level they attended
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Contact us

Yanti Abd Rahman

Yanti Abd Rahman

Finance and Operations Academy, PwC Malaysia

Tel: +60 (3) 2173 0213

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