Understanding General Insurance Finance

Outline & Objectives

This practical course will provide an antidote to the mystery surrounding insurance finance, Gaining a basic understanding of “the numbers” will help you interpret the accounts of clients, appreciate the financial pressures within the insurance business model and so improve your ability to identify and manage both risks and opportunities.

With the Regulators placing such emphasis on prudential management, capital adequacy and Solvency II, financial competence is very much under the regulatory spotlight

There are immense benefits in being able to understand where the numbers come from and the ultimate measures of business success. Attending this highly practical course will help you:

1. Get to grips with the fundamental concepts and terminology of insurance finance
2. Understand the dynamics of cashflow, revenues and claims reserving
3. Know how to assess financial data: balance sheets, P&L and key ratios
4. Better understand your business model: risks, dependencies and opportunities
5. Explore the practical implications of Capital Adequacy and Solvency II developments
6. Improve your financial risk management and decision making capabilities
7. Meet regulatory expectations of financial competence

Who is it for?

If you work in a non financial specialism such as Compliance, Marketing or Risk, or are new to the Finance function, this course will give you insight into how money moves in the insurance industry and you will go away more comfortable and less fearful of the “the financial stuff”. The Regulators also expect Senior Managers to understand their business model and the risks within it. This means competence in financial processes, awareness of the industry dynamics and an understanding of the financial dependencies.

Training Approach

This workshop uses a combination of trainer input, group discussion and plenty of practical and participative exercises and case studies to bring the subject to life and reinforce confidence. it caters for a wide range of experience within a safe learning environment. Don't assume this course will be boring, it won't! Group size is kept to a maximum of 12 to facilitate sharing of experience among the delegates.

Course Agenda

Topics may include but are not limited to:

• Finance fundamentals
• Insurance fundamentals
• The mechanics of premium
• Claims: the direct costs
• Investment
• Financial reporting
• Solvency II