Executive Master Class in Corporate Finance Hard-hitting expertise for complex and dynamic times
Vlerick Business School
Accounting & Finance
About Programme
#1
in Open Executive Education in the Benelux
473
Alumni
4.5/5
for Learning Impact
The role of finance is becoming increasingly complex and dynamic. Over the course of one year, the 21-day Executive Master Class in Corporate Finance will give you academic knowledge to underpin your financial expertise. You’ll live and learn analysis, solving complex financial issues. You’ll deepen your knowledge by choosing elective subjects . Then you’ll make the leap and apply everything you’ve learned to a challenge or opportunity in your own organisation.
Programme Content
Build your knowledge and understanding in two broad phases. In the first, you dive deep into the fundamentals of corporate finance. Across four core modules, you learn how to make finance decisions, you develop finance strategies and work on capital budgeting and company valuation.
You get to live everything you learn in a business opportunity or challenge in your own organisation.
Then in the second phase, you deepen your knowledge by choosing electives that best align with the needs of your company and your role. Choose, for example, the Mergers & Acquisition Path, to enhance your understanding of Creating Value through M&A and Venture Capital and Private Equity . Or follow the Leadership Path and dive deep into Self-Leadership and The People Manager . If you’d rather build your own path, we’d be happy to help you select your electives .
The Executive Master Class in Corporate Finance comprises the following modules:
Module 1: Making financial decisions
Learn to interpret financial statements and reports to evaluate a firm’s financial performance and risk
Know how to assess the cash conversion cycle to develop performance optimisation strategies
Understand financial planning and capital budgeting concepts
Estimate a firm’s free cash flows
Learn to critically analyse the financial press
Take part in the Working Capital Management Interactive Simulation Game
Module 2: Financing Strategies – A deeper dive
Discover how to calculate the current WACC of a firm
Learn to design the optimal capital structure of a firm
Understand how smart debt management creates value
Understand the CAPM model
Explore leverage – and know how much to borrow, versus raising equity
Module 3: Accounting for Financial decision making
Develop your financial accounting literacy skills
Grasp the sociology of accounting
Understand the difference between historical cost and fair value accounting
Understand the key principles of accounting for financial instruments
Explore non-GAAP financial measures, and their potential to mislead
Discover AI For the Finance Leader – trends and challenges
Module 4: Capital budgeting and valuation
Apply advanced company valuation methodologies, including Real Option models
Evaluate, compare, and construct real-life capital budgeting valuation models
Explore managerial flexibility and making decisions under uncertainty
Discover sensitivity analysis, crystal ball and Monte Carlo simulations
In-company project
Tackle any challenge or opportunity in your own organisation – from acquisition through to LBO, MBO, IPO – and anything in between
Step back and take a strategic view
Use your fellow participants and expert faculty as a sounding board
Create value and ROI
Electives: Tailor your learning journey
Specialise with 4–6 days from our range of electives
Use electives to tailor your programme
Start your electives before, during or after the core module
Programme Audience
Finance management professionals who want to enhance their corporate finance knowledge
Executives who are keen to broaden their business expertise and tackle the key questions in corporate finance
Consultants or company owners who want to deepen their financial knowledge and be equal conversation partners with Private Equity Investors, financial institutions, auditors and analysts
In previous editions, we had the pleasure of welcoming participants from companies like:
Programme Benefits
Gain the theoretical knowledge that underpins corporate finance
Learn the latest approaches to financial planning, analysis, capital budgeting and valuation
Master the tools which will help you maximise the enterprise value of your company
Choose electives that are highly relevant to your organisation’s needs
Get immediate ROI for your company with your project
After graduating from this programme, you are entitled to join our alumni network. Visit the Vlerick Alumni website for more information
Testimonials
"Kaylees major return-on-investment was the in-company project, an essential part of the programme. It resulted in a successful sale of Tobania, the company Kaylee worked for at the time of the programme. Discover Kaylees testimonial here ."
Kaylee De Troch
Finance Director at Strada Partners
"The Executive Master Class in Corporate Finance programme provided the financial foundation I needed, boosting my confidence and offering practical insights I apply daily. It helped me refine our financial plan, understand investor perspectives, and strengthen our start-ups strategy. A valuable learning journey for anyone passionate about finance!"
Leentje Croes
Co-founder and COO/CFO at Flyblast BV
"The Executive Master Class in Corporate Finance significantly improved my understanding of corporate finance, enabling me to integrate it into strategic decisions and collaborate more effectively with CF colleagues. It boosted my confidence, expanded my ambitions, and better prepared me for senior leadership roles."
Mattias Leveugle
Head of Business Development at Green Hydrogen
"I made this year count by achieving a turning point in my career: I launched my own international tax practice! Vlerick helped me by providing the tools for understanding how to better manage my business. To make your Vlerick year count, use the tools that the professors lay out for you. The result? Youll give your best in class and in Corporate Finance."
