Financial Ratios: Strategic Assessment and Communication of Your Institutional Health

Last updated January 13, 2017

Financial Ratios: Strategic Assessment and Communication of Your Institutional Health

Last updated January 13, 2017

Overview

Analyze your Composite Financial Index (CFI) more meaningfully and use it to engage key stakeholders in a conversation about your institution’s financial health. During this webcast, you will have the opportunity to use sample institutional profiles to apply what you learn and better answer strategic questions, including:

  • How long could you operate with no influx of revenues?
  • Are your reserves strong enough to pay your total debt in case of an emergency?
  • Is the return on your net assets sufficient to ensure your financial sustainability?
  • Are you able to cover operating expenses with recurring revenues?

Who should attend?

This webcast is designed for an institution’s financial managers, including CFOs, controllers, and budget directors.  It’s also open to anyone on campus with an interest in accounting and finance who would like to understand more about financial health in higher education through use of ratios, including department and student body representatives.  We welcome institutions from both the United States (public and private) and Canada to participate.

Agenda

  • Critical questions for assessing institutional health
    • How long could you operate with no influx of revenues?
    • Are your reserves strong enough to pay your total debt in case of an emergency?
    • Is the return on your net assets sufficient to ensure your financial sustainability?
    • Are you able to live within your means, i.e. cover operating expenses with recurring revenues?
  • Risk assessment and financial strategies based on your institutional profile
    • Appropriately leveraging available resources
    • Paying significant attention to cost management
    • Prioritizing enrollment and tuition revenues
    • Interactive quiz: test your own ability to assess institutional health
  • Keys to involving stakeholders in the financial conversation
    • Focusing information to improve clarity and transparency
    • Showing the merits of strategic opportunities through financial ratios to board, faculty, and students
    • Mixed audience strategies for meeting formats and learning styles
  • Steps forward for financial health and transparency