Directors today operate under intense scrutiny from regulators, investors, stakeholders and the public. They are expected to exercise sound judgement, challenge assumptions and provide effective oversight. Yet many governance failures, financial scandals and corporate collapses have one thing in common: the warning signs were there long before the crisis. The issue is rarely a lack of information. It is the ability to spot the signals buried in financial statements, management reports, operational data and board papers and the confidence to ask the right questions before it is too late. 

Delivered in collaboration with Deloitte Singapore, this masterclass adopts a dynamic case-study methodology and boardroom simulation approach, allowing participants to experience real-world governance challenges in a safe learning environment. Rather than focusing solely on technical accounting concepts, participants will learn how to interpret financial information through a strategic governance lens, identify emerging risks, challenge management constructively and make better-informed decisions.
 
Learning Objectives

Participants will learn how to:

1. Interpret financial statements through a governance and risk lens, identifying indicators that may signal financial distress, earnings manipulation, fraud, bribery, corruption or control weaknesses.
2. Recognise early warning signs and emerging red flags across revenue, profitability, cash flow, receivables, provisions, related-party transactions, disclosures and going-concern assessments.
3. Ask sharper and more effective boardroom questions when financial results, operational performance and management narratives appear inconsistent or misaligned.
4. Understand how financial gimmicks and manipulation techniques are used to influence perceptions of performance, liquidity and corporate health.
5. Apply lessons from major corporate failures and governance breakdowns to strengthen board oversight, challenge assumptions and improve decision-making.
6. Leverage practical tools, analytics and AI-enabled approaches to identify risks earlier and support more proactive governance intervention.

By the end of the programme, participants will leave with a sharper governance mindset, greater confidence in interpreting financial information, and a practical toolkit to identify risks before they escalate. Masterclass participants will also receive a take-home copy of the “36 Red Flags” framework for ongoing application in the boardroom.


Programme Synopsis
9.00am : Welcome and introduction
9.15am : Session 1: Financial statements through a board lens on revenue, cash flow, receivables, provisions, disclosures and going concern indicators
10.30am : Tea break
10.45am : Session 2: Spotting early warning signs and financial red flags may show up in financial statements and management reporting
12.00pm : Session 3: Financial gimmicks and misleading practices with common tactics companies may use to mislead auditors, management, boards and investors
1.00pm : Networking lunch
2.00pm : Session 4: Lessons from real-life cases, case-based discussion drawing from real-life examples with implications for board oversight
3.15pm : Tea break
3.30pm : Session 5: Tools, technology and practical approaches for earlier detection of red flags earlier.
4.30pm : Session 6: Boardroom application and discussion in applying the red flag lens to scenarios, including what directors should ask, escalate and monitor
5.15pm : Key takeaways and closing
6.00pm : End

CPD Hours : 8

SID members:  $654.00 (incl. 9% GST)
Non-members: $817.50 (incl. 9% GST)

SPEAKER



Sarjit Singh
Director, Deloitte Learning Solutions Southeast Asia

Mr Sarjit Singh serves on the boards of the Central Provident Fund Board (CPF Board) and the University of the Arts Singapore (UAS), where he is also the founding chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee. At Deloitte Learning Solutions Southeast Asia, he leads initiatives in governance, risk management, sustainability, financial leadership, and digital transformation. A Fellow Chartered Accountant in both Australia and Singapore, Mr Singh brings over three decades of leadership experience across professional services, public institutions, and education. His career has spanned senior roles such as CEO of InCorp Global, chairman and senior partner of Kreston ACA, CFO of Aviva Asia and CFO of AIA Singapore. Recognised for his innovative “36 Red Flags” framework, Mr Singh has trained and inspired thousands of professionals worldwide to identify early warning signals and turn risk blind spots into opportunities for growth. 

Upon successfully enrolling for the course, you are deemed to have read and accepted SID’s Terms and Conditions.