Warwick Business School has launched a new Executive MBA with Finance Specialism for executives looking to develop their financial knowledge and advance their careers.

Taught at WBS London at The Shard, the course is an advanced management programme for those wishing to develop both their general leadership capabilities and their financial understanding and abilities.

The programme specialisation has been specifically designed to appeal to senior management and executives likely to have significant exposure to financial issues according to John Colley, Associate Dean for the MBA at WBS.

“Board level positions typically require a level of understanding of financing and analysis beyond that which can be ascertained in short courses,” said Professor Colley, former MD of British Gypsum, and Group Managing Director of a FTSE 100 business.

“I have held positions on company boards for 25 years and chaired boards for businesses of all types - private equity, listed PLCs, and family businesses.

“New board members who are not finance professionals almost invariably struggle with the extent of financial knowledge needed to fully understand the businesses discussed. Inevitably it does show.

“Corporate head offices manage the finances of the business as a whole. Many senior staff who are not finance professionals need a working understanding if they are to be active contributors and this course is designed for them to really get to grips with these crucial financial issues.”

Shard at night
Shard at night, students delight: Teaching of the Executive MBA Finance Specialism takes place in the heart of London

The programme is underpinned by the core Executive MBA modules which are shared with the general Executive MBA. This is followed by three specialist finance or investment modules which may be offered at either WBS London or the school’s Warwick campus.

The Executive MBA with Finance Specialism modules are designed to improve executives’ technical understanding and develop the ability to ask the right questions and understand the answers. Students can choose modules from:

Corporate Finance

Advanced Corporate Finance

Financial Analysis

Investment and Risk Management

Entrepreneurial Finance

Participants also undertake a major project which will have a finance focus supervised by an appropriate member of Warwick Business School’s faculty.

Crawford Spence, Professor of Accounting and Associate Dean (External Programmes), added: “The Executive MBA with Finance Specialism will really appeal to those with leadership aspirations who feel that they need a greater handle on the financial aspects of running organisations.

“It is a generalist degree that shares the same required modules as the Warwick Executive MBA, but the elective modules and final dissertation will be much more based around finance-related issues.

“Strong financial literacy is a pre-requisite for any executive or C-level position in a modern organisation and this programme will readily equip individuals with that, as well as providing the all-round business acumen that has always been characteristic of the Warwick Executive MBA.”