Profit isn't created in the finance department.
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It's created through commercial decisions.
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Profit isn't created in the finance department. --- It's created through commercial decisions. ---
Commercial Finance for Business Leaders
Understand how businesses really create profit.
Executive Education
Learn how pricing, sales, margins, promotions, working capital and commercial performance fit together. This practical two-day executive programme will help you think commercially, improve profitability and make more confident business decisions.
Level:
Executive Education
CPD Certification
Duration:
2 Days
9 am to 5 pm each day
Next Dates:
7th to 8th October 2026
10th to 11th February 2027
Location:
Dundee, Scotland
Investment:
£1,275 plus VAT
Understand how businesses really create profit.
Every business sells something, yet surprisingly few people understand what actually turns sales into profit. Commercial finance isn't about producing reports; it's about understanding the financial impact of every decision your business makes.
During this programme, you'll learn how these commercial decisions work together and influence profitability, cash generation, and long-term business performance.
Profit isn't created in the finance department.
It's created through commercial decisions.
Why is this programme different?
Many commercial finance programmes begin with accounting.
This programme begins with customers, products and services.
Businesses don't succeed because they produce financial reports.
They succeed because they understand customers, create value, price effectively, manage costs and convert sales into cash.
Finance simply measures the outcome.
By understanding how commercial decisions affect profitability, cash flow and working capital, you'll become a stronger business leader, make better decisions and contribute more effectively across your organisation.
We don't teach accounting theory.
We teach commercial thinking.
Executive education should change the way you think.
Commercial success isn't an accident. It's the result of thousands of better decisions.
This programme combines practical commercial experience with structured learning to help you improve profitability, strengthen cash flow and create long-term value.
What you'll learn
This programme focuses on the commercial drivers that determine business performance.
Together we'll explore:
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Understand how different business models generate revenue, create value and influence profitability, cash flow and long-term success.
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Understand how products and services are costed, where costs accumulate and how accurate costing supports profitable decision-making.
Learn how different types of costs behave, why they matter and how they influence pricing, profitability and business performance.
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Learn how pricing decisions affect customer behaviour, competitiveness, profitability and the long-term sustainability of your business.
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Understand the difference between what a business sells and what it actually retains after discounts, returns and promotional activity.
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Explore how gross margin and contribution help businesses measure profitability, support decision-making and drive sustainable growth.
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Understand how stock, debtors and creditors influence cash flow, liquidity and the day-to-day financial health of a business.
Learn how payment terms affect cash flow, customer relationships, supplier negotiations and overall business performance.
Explore how inventory levels influence cash flow, customer service, operational efficiency and business profitability.
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Learn why cash is the lifeblood of every business and how to improve cash generation through better commercial decisions.
Understand how forecasting supports better planning, resource allocation and proactive decision-making across the business.
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Interpret Management Accounts with confidence, using them to evaluate performance and make better business decisions.
Identify the key performance indicators that matter most and learn how to use them to improve commercial performance and accountability.
Who should attend?
This programme is designed for professionals responsible for improving commercial performance.
It is particularly valuable for:
Business owners
Commercial managers
Sales managers
Operations managers
Finance business partners
Procurement professionals
Marketing managers
Manufacturing managers
Department managers
Directors
General managers
Future business leaders
No formal finance qualifications are required.
By the end of the programme you'll be able to...
✔ Understand how to improve business performance.
✔ Price products and services with greater confidence.
✔ Understand how promotions affect profitability.
✔ Calculate and improve gross margin.
✔ Distinguish between value and volume.
✔ Understand the commercial impact of discounts.
✔ Improve working capital performance.
✔ Manage debtors and payment terms more effectively.
✔ Focus on sales and promotional forecasts.
✔ Reduce financial leakage.
✔ Identify opportunities to improve profitability.
✔ Make stronger commercial decisions.
Meet your programme leader
Heather Ogilvie
Heather Ogilvie is a former Group Strategist, Chief Financial Officer, and Chartered Accountant, an International Turnaround Specialist and Executive Advisor with more than thirty years' experience helping organisations transform, grow, and improve commercial performance.
A Financial Times Women in Business Mentor and founder of the charity MoneyMinds Scotland SCIO, Heather is passionate about helping people build confidence with money and understand how businesses really work. She has taught hundreds of people about business, finance and commercial decision-making, and is known for explaining complex concepts in simple, practical and memorable ways.
Heather believes finance shouldn't be intimidating. It should give people the confidence to ask better questions, make better decisions, and contribute more effectively to both their organisation's and their own personal success.
Why Ogilvie Business School?
At Ogilvie Business School, all education is delivered by experienced practitioners who have led organisations, solved real business challenges and understand what it takes to create lasting commercial success.
Our programmes combine practical experience with structured learning, giving participants knowledge they can apply immediately within their own organisations.
We believe great executive education doesn't simply increase knowledge.
It changes the way you think.
Why Choose This Programme
Learn from a former Group CFO, Chartered Accountant and international turnaround specialist with more than thirty years' experience helping organisations improve commercial performance.
✓ Practical commercial finance with immediate real-world application.
✓ Real-world pricing and profitability techniques.
✓ Improve commercial confidence across every department.
✓ Improve the quality of your decisions, conversations and commercial confidence.
✓ Apply what you learn immediately in your organisation.
✓ Small executive cohort
✓ CPD Certificate on successful completion.
✓ Membership of the Ogilvie Business Alumni Network.
Programme Fee
£1,275 plus VAT
Your programme fee includes:
Two full days of expert teaching
Course materials
Refreshments and lunch
Certificate of Completion
Membership of the Ogilvie Business Alumni Network, with access to networking opportunities, programme updates and exclusive alumni offers
Ready to improve commercial performance?
Whether you're responsible for sales, operations, pricing, manufacturing or business leadership, understanding commercial finance will transform the way you make decisions.
Join us in Dundee for two practical days that will change how you think about business performance.