You already understand finance.
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This qualification is about understanding business.
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Gain real-world business skills you can apply immediately.
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You already understand finance. --- This qualification is about understanding business. --- Gain real-world business skills you can apply immediately. ---
Professional Qualification in Business Finance
Practice to Industry Pathway
Designed for accountants and finance professionals at every stage of their career, this Professional Qualification develops the commercial thinking, organisational understanding and practical judgement expected of modern finance leaders. Whether you're transitioning from practice, stepping into management or already leading a finance function, you'll strengthen your ability to influence decisions, partner with the business and lead with commercial confidence.
Qualification:
Professional Qualification in Business Finance.
Certificate and graduation.
Duration:
1 Academic Year, 14 In-Person Teaching & Assessment Days.
Founding Cohort:
30 Sept 2026 – 3 Jun 2027
Investment:
£5,995 + VAT
Flexible payment plans available
Entry Requirements:
Qualified Accountant
Part-Qualified Accountant
or equivalent finance experience
Become the finance leader every business needs.
Modern finance leaders in business are expected to do far more than produce accurate financial information. They influence strategic decisions, challenge commercial assumptions, support operational improvement, communicate with confidence and help shape the future direction of their organisations.
Yet many finance professionals begin their careers developing exceptional technical expertise in audit, accounts preparation, tax or financial reporting before moving into industry, where the expectations change dramatically.
The transition can be challenging.
Success no longer depends solely on understanding accounting standards or producing accurate reports. It requires an appreciation of how every part of an organisation works, how commercial decisions affect financial performance and how finance can become a catalyst for growth rather than simply a reporting function.
This Professional Qualification in Business Finance was created to bridge that gap, providing support to develop the commercial capability, organisational understanding and practical judgement needed to become a trusted business partner, commercial adviser and finance leader.
Great finance leaders don't just report performance.
They shape it.
Why is this programme different?
The Professional Qualification in Business Finance provides a structured pathway designed to develop the commercial capability expected of modern finance professionals, whether you're transitioning from practice into industry or strengthening your impact within an existing finance leadership role.
Many finance professionals build these wider commercial skills gradually through years of experience. This qualification accelerates that development through intensive practical workshops, integrated executive education and real-world business application.
Rather than focusing on technical finance, you'll develop the commercial judgement, organisational understanding and leadership capability expected of modern finance professionals.
A defining feature of this qualification is the integration of six executive education programmes, which expose participants to leadership, commercial finance, organisational performance, and business decision-making alongside their specialist finance workshops.
You'll learn not only how finance in business works, but also how successful organisations work.
Programme Structure
Professional Qualification
Completed over one academic year
A professionally assessed qualification designed to develop commercially capable finance leaders through practical learning, executive education and real-world application.
Business Finance Intensives
Three specialist two-day workshops
Three immersive two-day workshops focused on commercial finance, organisational performance and the transition from technical accounting to business leadership.
Executive Education
Three two-day executive education programmes
Develop commercial awareness, leadership capability, strategic thinking and decision-making alongside experienced business leaders and fellow professionals.
Workplace Assignments
Applied learning between teaching blocks
Complete practical assignments based on realistic business scenarios, allowing you to apply new knowledge directly within your organisation.
Professional Assessment
Demonstrating professional competence
Complete two written examinations, an integrated business simulation and a professional viva to demonstrate technical understanding, commercial judgement and leadership capability.
Graduation & Alumni
Recognising your achievement
Successful participants graduate at the annual Ogilvie Business School Graduation Dinner and receive lifelong membership of the Ogilvie Business School Alumni Network.
Business education should change the way you think, not just increase what you know.
This qualification combines practical finance workshops, executive education and real-world application to develop commercially confident finance leaders.
What you'll study
This Professional Qualification combines specialist finance workshops with executive education to develop commercially capable finance leaders.
Alongside three Business Finance Intensives, you'll select three Executive Education programmes that best support your career goals.
To ensure every participant develops both commercial and leadership capability, at least one of your selected Executive Education programmes must be either Finance for Non-Finance Managers or Leading High Performing Organisations. Your remaining two selections can be chosen from any of the six Executive Education programmes.
The qualification concludes with a comprehensive professional assessment.
Together we'll explore:
Professional Qualification Modules
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From technical accountant to business partner.
This intensive focuses on the practical realities of working within a finance function. You'll explore how finance departments are structured, how they operate, how information flows through an organisation, how business systems support decision-making and how finance partners effectively with every department.
You'll also begin developing the commercial mindset required to move beyond record keeping and reporting, and become a trusted adviser to the business.
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Business finance in motion.
The second intensive develops the practical skills every finance professional needs throughout the budgeting, forecasting and performance management cycle. You'll learn how organisations manage cash flow, working capital, management reporting and financial planning while supporting operational decision-making.
Real business case studies and practical exercises ensure every concept can be applied immediately within your own organisation.
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Leading the finance function
The final intensive focuses on leadership, governance and strategic finance. You'll explore how finance supports boards and senior leadership teams, works with auditors and remuneration committees, manages stakeholders and communicates financial information with confidence.
Attention is also given to developing judgement, influencing decisions and preparing for senior finance leadership roles.
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Demonstrating professional competence
The qualification concludes with a comprehensive professional assessment designed to evaluate both technical understanding and commercial judgement.
Participants complete workplace assignments throughout the year before attending two days of final assessment, including written examinations, an integrated business simulation and a professional viva.
Executive Education Modules
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Develop a practical understanding of how pricing, margin, working capital and commercial decisions influence profitability. Learn to think beyond the numbers and understand how businesses really create value.
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Explore the financial drivers behind manufacturing performance, productivity, inventory, operational efficiency, financial leakage, and continuous improvement. Designed to strengthen collaboration between finance and operations.
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Learn how finance supports strategic growth, investment decisions, acquisitions, business planning and long-term value creation. Understand how senior leaders use financial information to shape the future of an organisation.
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Discover the structured approach used to stabilise struggling organisations, improve cash flow, restore profitability and lead successful business transformation. Learn practical turnaround thinking from real-world experience.
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Build confidence in understanding financial information, interpreting reports and making commercially informed decisions without needing an accounting background.
By learning alongside non-finance professionals, you'll gain a valuable insight into how other departments think, the challenges they face and how commercial decisions are made across the business, helping you become a more effective communicator, collaborator and finance business partner.
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Develop the leadership capability needed to build engaged teams, improve organisational performance and lead sustainable business success. Explore communication, decision-making, psychology, innovation, organisational culture and commercially effective leadership.
* At least one of your selections must be either Finance for Non-Finance Managers or Leading High Performing Organisations (marked ).
Who is this qualification for?
This Professional Qualification is designed for finance professionals who want to develop stronger commercial capability, leadership confidence and organisational understanding.
It is particularly suitable for:
Chartered Accountants
ICAS, ICAEW, ACCA and CIMA members
Newly qualified accountants
Accountants moving from practice into industry
Finance directors
Heads of Finance
Senior finance managers
Financial controllers
Financial accountants
Management accountants
Finance business partners
Finance managers
Audit professionals
Tax professionals
Commercial finance professionals
Professionals preparing for senior finance leadership roles
Entry Requirements
Applicants should normally hold a recognised accountancy qualification, be studying towards one, or have equivalent professional finance experience. Applications from experienced finance professionals without a professional qualification are welcome and will be considered on an individual basis.
By the end of the programme you'll be able to...
✔ Think commercially as well as technically when making financial decisions.
✔ Partner confidently with senior leaders and operational teams across the organisation.
✔ Produce financial information that supports better business decisions.
✔ Build robust budgets, forecasts and cash flow models.
✔ Understand how every department contributes to organisational performance.
✔ Communicate complex financial information with clarity and confidence.
✔ Recognise the early commercial and financial warning signs of businesses under pressure.
✔ Evaluate strategic growth opportunities and support business transformation with confidence.
✔ Lead finance as a value-creating business function rather than a reporting function.
✔ Apply practical leadership, communication and organisational performance techniques within your own team.
✔ Understand how commercial leaders, operational managers and non-finance colleagues think, enabling stronger cross-functional relationships.
✔ Operate as a trusted finance business partner capable of influencing decisions at every level of the organisation.
✔ Build the commercial judgement expected of high-performing Finance Managers, Financial Controllers, Finance Directors and future Chief Financial Officers.
Meet your programme leader
Heather Ogilvie
Heather Ogilvie is a former Group Strategist, Chief Financial Officer, international turnaround specialist, and executive adviser with more than 30 years' experience helping organisations improve performance, deliver growth, and navigate complex change.
Originally trained in accountancy, Heather has spent her career applying finance across every part of a business. She has worked with executive teams and boards within some of Scotland's largest privately owned companies, leading major commercial, operational and financial transformation programmes, including acquisitions, restructurings, business closures, refinancing, management buy-outs, international expansion and organisational turnaround.
Heather believes finance should sit at the heart of business decision-making, with reporting just one small aspect of an organisation’s finance function. Throughout her career, she has helped organisations improve profitability, strengthen operations, manage cash, support investment decisions and build stronger commercial capability across leadership teams.
A Financial Times Non-Executive Programme Alumni, Financial Times Women in Business Mentor, and experienced executive educator, Heather is known for making complex commercial concepts practical, memorable and immediately applicable. Her programmes combine real-world boardroom experience with interactive learning that equips participants to return to work with greater confidence, stronger judgement and a broader commercial perspective.
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 business education doesn't simply increase knowledge.
It changes the way you think.
Why Choose This Qualification
Learn from an industry expert with more than thirty years’ experience leading organisations through growth, market fluctuations, acquisition, restructuring, start-ups, management buy-outs, closure and turnaround.
This programme draws directly on that experience, giving participants the opportunity to learn from someone who has applied finance across every part of a business.
✓ A professionally assessed qualification with immediate real-world application.
✓ Three specialist Business Finance Intensives and three integrated Executive Education programmes.
✓ Develop commercial judgement, organisational understanding and finance leadership capability.
✓ Learn how businesses create profit, generate cash and build long-term value.
✓ Strengthen your ability to influence boards, senior leaders and operational teams.
✓ Apply learning through practical assignments, business simulations and professional assessment.
✓ Small professional cohort.
✓ Graduation and lifelong membership of the Ogilvie Business School Alumni Network.
Programme Fee
£5,995 plus VAT
Your programme fee includes:
Three Business Finance Intensives (6 days)
Three Executive Education programmes (6 days)
Professional Assessment (2 days)
All teaching materials and programme resources
Workplace assignments with personalised feedback
Two written examinations
Integrated business simulation
Professional viva assessment
Award of the Professional Qualification in Business Finance
Invitation to the Ogilvie Business School Graduation Dinner
Lifetime membership of the Ogilvie Business School Alumni Network
Lunch and refreshments on all teaching and assessment days
Hosted networking dinner during each Business Finance Intensive, Executive Education programme and Professional Assessment
Programme Dates
Teaching & Assessment Calendar
The Professional Qualification in Business Finance combines specialist finance workshops, executive education and workplace application over one academic year.
The three Business Finance Intensives and the Professional Assessment are delivered once during each academic year, and attendance is required.
Each Executive Education programme is offered on two separate occasions. Participants are required to choose three programmes and may attend either delivery, providing flexibility around work and personal commitments while ensuring each programme is completed.
Workplace assignments are completed between teaching blocks, allowing participants to apply their learning immediately within their own organisations.
If exceptional circumstances prevent completion of any compulsory programme element, participants may apply to defer the outstanding component to a future cohort, subject to the Programme Regulations.
The Professional Qualification is awarded following successful completion of all teaching, assignments and assessments.
Ready to take the next step in your finance career?
Whether you're preparing to move from practice into industry, developing as a Finance Business Partner, or preparing for senior finance leadership, this Professional Qualification will help you build the commercial capability modern organisations expect.
Join the Founding Cohort of the Professional Qualification in Business Finance and develop the judgement, confidence and leadership skills that distinguish exceptional finance professionals.