Finance for Senior Executives
- Dates: 15–30 SEP 2023
- Format: Blended Combines both in-person and virtual learning.
- Locations: Virtual, HBS Campus
- Fee: $14,000
- 15 SEP and 22 SEP 2023 — Module 1 (Virtual, Live Online)
- 27–30 SEP 2023 — Module 2 (HBS Campus)
- 15 SEP and 22 SEP 2023 — Module 1 (Virtual, Live Online)
- 27–30 SEP 2023 — Module 2 (HBS Campus)

"FSE helps nonfinancial senior executives become big-picture thinkers."

Learn to apply academic principles to real-world problems.
Summary
When you can speak the language of finance, you have the power to build stronger strategies, expand your influence, and make better business decisions. Finance for Senior Executives delivers a foundation in corporate finance that is essential for leaders across every functional area. Exploring the flow of financial resources, capital markets, and systems for financial management and control, this executive finance program positions you to drive new levels of profitability for your organization.

This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
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Summary
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When you can speak the language of finance, you have the power to build stronger strategies, expand your influence, and make better business decisions. Finance for Senior Executives delivers a foundation in corporate finance that is essential for leaders across every functional area. Exploring the flow of financial resources, capital markets, and systems for financial management and control, this executive finance program positions you to drive new levels of profitability for your organization.
This program is eligible for the Certificate of Management Excellence. Learn More
DetailsExpand AllCollapse All
Apply strategic financial insightApply strategic financial insight
- Make informed strategic decisions regarding capital structure
- Utilize capital markets for the most profitable outcomes
- Balance profit, growth, and control in dynamic environments
- Implement restructuring strategies
- Understand the implications of financial reports
Establish optimal systems for management and controlEstablish optimal systems for management and control
- Develop successful and realistic performance plans, incentives, and financial controls at corporate and divisional levels
- Recognize and address biases within financial systems and structures
- Identify the best performance metrics
- Forecast and monitor outcomes with greater confidence
Improve collaboration with senior-level peersImprove collaboration with senior-level peers
- Become a more effective leader through greater financial acumen
- Communicate effectively about finance with executives from all functional areas
- Engage in more productive discussions with financial specialists in your organization and ask the right questions
- Address the concerns of colleagues who are not financial specialists and present information in ways that support their decision-making
Expand your personal and professional networkExpand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
Apply strategic financial insight
- Make informed strategic decisions regarding capital structure
- Utilize capital markets for the most profitable outcomes
- Balance profit, growth, and control in dynamic environments
- Implement restructuring strategies
- Understand the implications of financial reports
Establish optimal systems for management and control
- Develop successful and realistic performance plans, incentives, and financial controls at corporate and divisional levels
- Recognize and address biases within financial systems and structures
- Identify the best performance metrics
- Forecast and monitor outcomes with greater confidence
Improve collaboration with senior-level peers
- Become a more effective leader through greater financial acumen
- Communicate effectively about finance with executives from all functional areas
- Engage in more productive discussions with financial specialists in your organization and ask the right questions
- Address the concerns of colleagues who are not financial specialists and present information in ways that support their decision-making
Expand your personal and professional network
- Extend your network by living and working with accomplished executives from various backgrounds, industries, and countries across the globe
- Build relationships with a diverse group of peers who can provide wide-ranging insights into your business challenges and career decisions
Who Should Attend
- Executives from a variety of functional areas, including operations, marketing, information technology, human resources, research and development, legal affairs, and financial administration
- Financial executives seeking to update their core skills in a broad strategic context

Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
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Who Should Attend
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- Executives from a variety of functional areas, including operations, marketing, information technology, human resources, research and development, legal affairs, and financial administration
- Financial executives seeking to update their core skills in a broad strategic context
Program for Leadership Development participants earn 5 PLDA Points on completion of this program.
Dive Deeper into the Experience
Blended Learning and Living at HBS
When you participate in a blended Executive Education program at Harvard Business School, you get the best of both worlds—a powerful learning experience that combines highly immersive in-person modules on the HBS campus with highly interactive virtual modules. The blended format provides opportunities to apply new skills and frameworks in your organization during the program.
Both case-based formats are led by HBS faculty, who share their latest research and engage you in a dynamic exchange of ideas with a global community of peers. Each module is carefully designed to maximize the impact, enable immediate application, and accelerate leadership growth.
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Blended Learning and Living at HBS
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When you participate in a blended Executive Education program at Harvard Business School, you get the best of both worlds—a powerful learning experience that combines highly immersive in-person modules on the HBS campus with highly interactive virtual modules. The blended format provides opportunities to apply new skills and frameworks in your organization during the program.
Both case-based formats are led by HBS faculty, who share their latest research and engage you in a dynamic exchange of ideas with a global community of peers. Each module is carefully designed to maximize the impact, enable immediate application, and accelerate leadership growth.
Admissions Criteria and Process
We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
We admit candidates to specific sessions on a rolling, space-available basis, and encourage you to apply as early as possible. Although most programs have no formal educational requirements, admission is a selective process based on your professional achievement and organizational responsibilities.
Answering Your Questions
Application Submission
Application Review
Fee, Payment, and Cancellations
What You Will Learn
Your rich learning experience includes dynamic faculty presentations, case studies, interactive classroom sessions, and structured and informal group activities. Throughout the program, you will explore finance fundamentals essential for today's executives, as well as the managerial context in which strategic choices require investor support.
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What You Will Learn
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Your rich learning experience includes dynamic faculty presentations, case studies, interactive classroom sessions, and structured and informal group activities. Throughout the program, you will explore finance fundamentals essential for today's executives, as well as the managerial context in which strategic choices require investor support.
Program Format
During Module 1, participants will attend live online sessions and spend time with their discussion groups via the Zoom platform. In Module 2, participants will attend classes in-person on the HBS Campus.
The program offers ample opportunity for interaction with faculty and peers inside and outside the class sessions. Collaborative learning is an integral part of the experience. To maximize the benefit for everyone, you are expected to attend every session, complete all assignments, and contribute effectively in the class and in small groups. Participants will spend 15-20 hours on self-paced work and case prep throughout the program. In addition, participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
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Program Format
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During Module 1, participants will attend live online sessions and spend time with their discussion groups via the Zoom platform. In Module 2, participants will attend classes in-person on the HBS Campus.
The program offers ample opportunity for interaction with faculty and peers inside and outside the class sessions. Collaborative learning is an integral part of the experience. To maximize the benefit for everyone, you are expected to attend every session, complete all assignments, and contribute effectively in the class and in small groups. Participants will spend 15-20 hours on self-paced work and case prep throughout the program. In addition, participants should expect to spend at least 9-12 hours on self-paced case preparation prior to attending the program. Case materials will be made available approximately two weeks prior to program start.
Key TopicsExpand AllCollapse All
The role and tools of financeThe role and tools of finance
- Understanding the role of finance in supporting the functional areas of a firm
- Employing basic analytical skills and the principles of corporate finance
- Applying standard analysis techniques, including capital budgeting, cash flow, valuation, and risk analysis
Performance and compensationPerformance and compensation
- Establishing and monitoring executive compensation policies
- Setting performance goals and incentives
- Using diagnostic and interactive control systems to achieve objectives
Capital markets and financial institutionsCapital markets and financial institutions
- Working with capital markets and financial institutions
- Examining best practices for maximizing available resources
- Understanding the implications of recent market developments
Growth, profit, and investorsGrowth, profit, and investors
- Analyzing the pursuit of margin and growth, and their respective returns
- Understanding the decision-making processes of corporate managers, stockholders, creditors, unions, financial advisors, investors, and turnaround specialists
- Managing corporate distributions—including cash, property, and stock dividends—within the context of redemptions and liquidations
- Restructuring and strategically employing valuation and financial analysis
- Mastering the theory and best practices related to profit planning, strategic profitability analysis, resource allocation, residual income techniques, and performance scorecards
The role and tools of finance
- Understanding the role of finance in supporting the functional areas of a firm
- Employing basic analytical skills and the principles of corporate finance
- Applying standard analysis techniques, including capital budgeting, cash flow, valuation, and risk analysis
Performance and compensation
- Establishing and monitoring executive compensation policies
- Setting performance goals and incentives
- Using diagnostic and interactive control systems to achieve objectives
Capital markets and financial institutions
- Working with capital markets and financial institutions
- Examining best practices for maximizing available resources
- Understanding the implications of recent market developments
Growth, profit, and investors
- Analyzing the pursuit of margin and growth, and their respective returns
- Understanding the decision-making processes of corporate managers, stockholders, creditors, unions, financial advisors, investors, and turnaround specialists
- Managing corporate distributions—including cash, property, and stock dividends—within the context of redemptions and liquidations
- Restructuring and strategically employing valuation and financial analysis
- Mastering the theory and best practices related to profit planning, strategic profitability analysis, resource allocation, residual income techniques, and performance scorecards
The HBS Advantage
Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they engage each day with the challenges confronting business leaders around the globe.
André R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration
George Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration
Ogunlesi Family Associate Professor of Business Administration
Finnegan Family Associate Professor of Business Administration
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The HBS Advantage
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Our Executive Education programs are developed and taught by HBS faculty who are widely recognized as skilled educators, groundbreaking researchers, and award-winning authors. Through their board memberships, consulting, and field-based research, they engage each day with the challenges confronting business leaders around the globe.
Faculty CochairsAndré R. Jakurski Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:FinanceGeorge Fisher Baker Jr. Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:FinanceFacultyOgunlesi Family Associate Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:FinanceFinnegan Family Associate Professor of Business Administration
HBS Unit:Finance
Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Your Peers Expand Your Learning
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Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.Global PerspectiveExperience the world in your classroom.7%Africa3%Asia Pacific10%Europe2%Latin America9%Middle East69%North America7%Africa3%Asia Pacific10%Europe2%Latin America9%Middle East69%North AmericaTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.Insights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.16%Raw Materials / Energy11%Chem / Pharma / Bio9%High Technology9%Real Estate / Construction7%Financial7%Professional Services5%Consumer Products5%Health Care5%Manufacturing5%TransportationTop Industries RepresentedInsights from a range of industries ignite your thinking.16%Raw Materials / Energy11%Chem / Pharma / Bio9%High Technology9%Real Estate / Construction7%Financial7%Professional Services5%Consumer Products5%Health Care5%Manufacturing5%TransportationExperienceExperienceYears workedYears workedExperienceYears workedLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 or more40 or moreLess than 10 yearsLess than 10 years10-14 years10-14 years15-19 years15-19 years20-24 years20-24 years25-29 years25-29 years30-34 years30-34 years35-39 years35-39 years40 or more40 or more

"FSE helps nonfinancial senior executives become big-picture thinkers."
