Success of Inaugural Diploma class at Sa?d Business School, as numbers for second intake increase threefold!

The year-long, masters-level module-based Diploma course is designed for finance professionals who have the potential to reach boardroom positions, and will help them take a more active role in the financial and business strategy of their organisations.

The first intake attracted participants from a wide range of backgrounds, from a mergers and acquisitions specialist in the oil industry to a finance director of a start-up company and a business analyst from the public sector.

Ben Davies, who has just completed the programme, and secured a distinction, has recently accepted a new position with Riverhill Partners, which provides advice on debt-related matters to corporates and investors. He commented:

?The programme has been very useful in consolidating my existing knowledge and introducing me to new areas of knowledge and skills - particularly in strategy and with in-depth coverage of  more theoretical areas such as options pricing.  The varied teaching approaches - lectures, seminars, group work, case studies - dovetailed with each other really well and I found the opportunity to work on a dissertation which was directly relevant to the business needs of my employer very stimulating.  I also enjoyed meeting and working with the Diploma group, who came from widely different backgrounds, and I?m sure we will stay in touch?.

?This is a unique programme? commented Jonathan Black, Programme Director for the Diploma, ?It is designed to give participants the profile of an investment banker, the strategic approach of a consultant and the skills of a finance director. The first Diploma programme has been a tremendous success and we are delighted with the results and overall performance of the inaugural Diploma group. The participants, most of whom are in senior positions, have expertly juggled the demands of their corporate roles with the challenges of this demanding programme. The class has been a vibrant and enriching one and I will follow the career progression of this first group of participants with great interest.?

Entering its second year, demand for the new qualification has been high with over 30 new participants accepted to join the next intake on 11 April 2007. This is a very international group of finance professionals with participants joining from the US and continental Europe. They come from a range of sectors including global media companies, government agencies, management consultancies and the telecoms industry.

Two scholarships have been awarded to high potential participants.

The PricewaterhouseCoopers Scholarship is a new scholarship for female finance professionals designed to increase the flow of talented women into senior finance roles within organisations. The scholarship, to cover the ?10,000 course fees, has been awarded to Haley McCartney, Interim CFO at Schering Health Care Limited.

Haley commented:  ?I am absolutely delighted to have won the PwC scholarship, which is an excellent example of their efforts to encourage more professional women into senior roles. I am also thrilled about the opportunity to study at Oxford University, with its internationally renowned reputation, and am really looking forward to starting the course. I am hoping that the programme will supplement my practical experiences with theoretical knowledge of corporate strategy, decision-making and financing, thereby equipping me for the next phase in my career.?  

A second scholarship of ?10,000 has been awarded to course participant Danielle Esterhuysen, Project Manager at Raleigh International. The Accoutancy Scholarship is provided by CCH, publisher of Accountancy Magazine, and was awarded after an essay competition addressing the topic ?Is business becoming more risky, or more risk-averse? And Why??

?I am very pleased to be the recipient of this generous scholarship from CCH. I am currently doing volunteer work with Raleigh International in Costa Rica. When I finish I would like to move into the development sector and I am hoping that this programme will give me the skills I need to play a strategic role in that sector,? said Danielle.

Drawing on Oxford?s strengths, particularly in finance and strategy, the Diploma in Financial Strategy offers a distinct intellectual edge combining the highest standards of academic rigor with a practical understanding of business and wealth creation. The Diploma allows finance professionals to complement existing professional qualifications, and support their continuing professional development requirements, whilst also developing their senior management skills.

For further details about the Diploma programme *click here*