In times of financial distress, a turnaround and restructuring budget is not a typical financial plan—it's a survival guide and a roadmap to recovery. This specialized form of budgeting is a critical tool for organizations facing significant challenges, as it provides a disciplined framework for making tough decisions, reallocating resources, and restoring financial stability. By focusing on core business functions, shedding non-essential costs, and managing cash flow with extreme precision, this strategic approach enables leaders to navigate a crisis and build a stronger, more resilient foundation for the future.

This training course is designed to equip you with the specialized skills needed to develop and execute a turnaround budget with confidence and clarity. You will learn to move beyond reactive cost-cutting to a proactive, value-driven approach that identifies and protects critical assets, restructures debt, and communicates a compelling vision for recovery to stakeholders. By the end of this program, you will be empowered to lead a financial turnaround, making the difficult but necessary decisions that will guide your organization from a period of crisis to a path of renewed growth and long-term success.

Duration

5 days

Target Audience

• Chief Financial Officers (CFOs)
• Restructuring and turnaround professionals
• Budget managers and analysts
• Corporate finance executives
• Senior executives and business leaders
• Management consultants
• Risk management professionals
• Entrepreneurs and business owners
• Individuals involved in crisis management
• Legal and compliance officers

Objectives

• Understand the fundamental principles of turnaround and restructuring.
• Develop a robust, short-term cash flow forecast for a distressed company.
• Implement a zero-based budgeting approach for radical cost reduction.
• Identify and protect the core, value-driving assets of the business.
• Master the financial tools for debt restructuring and negotiation.
• Build a communication plan for stakeholders, including creditors and employees.
• Use scenario planning to navigate a volatile and uncertain environment.
• Create a new budget that aligns with a post-restructuring strategy.
• Monitor performance and manage risk during the turnaround process.

Course Modules

Module 1: The Turnaround Mindset

• The difference between turnaround, restructuring, and bankruptcy.
• The critical role of financial leadership during a crisis.
• Prioritizing speed, precision, and cash preservation.
• Key drivers of corporate distress.
• Case studies of successful and unsuccessful turnarounds.

Module 2: Cash Flow: The Survival Guide

• Why "cash is king" in a turnaround.
• Building a 13-week cash flow forecast.
• Strategies for accelerating accounts receivable.
• Managing accounts payable and vendor relationships.
• The role of cash flow in negotiating with creditors.

Module 3: Zero-Based Budgeting for Restructuring

• The principles of zero-based budgeting.
• A step-by-step guide to a zero-based review.
• Identifying and eliminating non-essential spending.
• Aligning every expenditure with critical business needs.
• Practical exercise: implementing a zero-based budget.

Module 4: Strategic Cost and Asset Management

• Differentiating between core and non-core assets.
• Making tough decisions about business unit divestitures.
• Strategies for reducing operational expenses.
• Managing personnel costs and workforce reductions.
• The role of cost analysis in identifying savings opportunities.

Module 5: Debt Restructuring and Financial Modeling

• An overview of debt restructuring options.
• The role of financial models in negotiation.
• The impact of restructuring on the balance sheet.
• Techniques for valuing the company post-turnaround.
• Best practices for communicating with creditors.

Module 6: Stakeholder Communication

• The importance of transparency and a clear message.
• Developing a communication plan for employees.
• The legal and financial implications of communication.
• Building trust with creditors and investors.
• How to present a new budget and turnaround plan to a board.

Module 7: Performance Monitoring and Risk Management

• Key metrics for tracking turnaround progress.
• The use of dashboards for real-time performance visibility.
• Implementing tight financial controls and oversight.
• The role of scenario planning in a turnaround.
• Identifying and mitigating risks to the restructuring plan.

Module 8: Final Workshop and Action Plan

• A comprehensive case study on a distressed company.
• Participants work in groups to develop a turnaround budget and plan.
• Presenting your plan to the class for feedback.
• A final Q&A and best practice sharing session.
• Developing a personal action plan for your organization.

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Training Venue

The training will be held at our Skills for Africa Training Institute Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Skills for Africa Training Institute certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: info@skillsforafrica.org, training@skillsforafrica.org Tel: +254 702 249 449

Terms of Payment: Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 7 working days before commencement of the training.