Budgeting, Forecasting and
the Planning Process

By the conclusion of this Budgeting, Forecasting, and the Planning Process training course, participants will be able to:

• Enhance strategic thinking and align budgeting processes with long-term planning
• Choose and apply the most suitable forecasting methods for their organisation
• Understand key financial principles, including shareholder value, cash flow, risk, and the time value of money
• Recognise cost behavior patterns and select appropriate costing systems for planning and control
• Develop comprehensive operating, capital, and cash budgets aligned with strategic business goals

This Budgeting, Forecasting, and the Planning Process training course will combine the presentation of analytical techniques, examples and case studies. Relevant worked examples will illustrate the learning points and tools and techniques in a real-world environment. Group discussion will promote exchange of experiences and ideas.

The interactive team case studies and exercises will reinforce the application of topics covered. These are supported with the help and advice of your Instructor and his extensive practical experience and knowledge of strategic planning, forecasting and budgeting. Difficult mathematical concepts are minimised wherever possible and handled in a visual way that is easy to understand – our aim is for this to be an enjoyable learning experience.

Organisations will benefit from the enhanced capabilities of their team members in the following ways:

• Improved alignment between strategic financial planning and budgeting processes
• More accurate forecasting and risk assessment to guide business decisions
• Better-informed capital structuring and financing strategies
• Enhanced implementation of modern planning and cost control systems
• Robust investment evaluation and capital budgeting practices
• Stronger integration between financial planning and enterprise performance

Attendees will significantly enhance their own competencies in planning and budgeting, including:

• Strategic analysis and the development of long-term financial plans using tools like the Balanced Scorecard
• Application of qualitative and quantitative forecasting techniques, and evaluation of financial risk
• Understanding cost behavior using Absorption and Marginal Costing, CVP analysis, and Activity-Based Costing
• Preparation and management of operating and cash budgets, including the use of ABB, flexed budgets, and variance analysis
• Assessment of different financing methods and optimisation of capital structures using metrics such as WACC
• Application of discounted cash flow methods such as NPV, IRR, MIRR, EAC, and PI for evaluating capital investment projects

This KC Academy Budgeting, Forecasting, and the Planning Process training course is designed to be suitable for anyone involved in budgeting and planning in companies, corporations, and governmental, education, and health service organisations. It is equally valuable for those working in finance and accounting, costing, and treasury departments, and all other financial and non-financial professionals who have budget responsibility or are involved in the planning process, for example:

• Line Managers
• Project Managers
• Professional Advisers and consultants who would like to further develop their strategic thinking and decision-making, and refresh and update their skill sets relating to planning, forecasting and budgeting, and their linkages