Introduction

This leading-edge KC ACADEMY Financial Analysis, Modelling and Forecasting course will provide you with the essential financial modelling skills to analyse and manage risk and business performance in the turbulent conditions of the 21^st century. In today’s globally competitive world decision-makers face unprecedented levels of risk and uncertainty and traditional financial analysis and forecasting tools do not provide the flexibility and responsiveness to manage in these demanding conditions.

This practical hands-on workshop will provide you with the methods and techniques of financial modelling in Excel that will equip you with a set of powerful financial tools with which to anticipate and manage the opportunities and threats confronting your organisation. 

This KC ACADEMY training course will highlight:

• Competitive challenges for 21^st century business
• Advanced skills in financial modelling with Excel
• Mastering the tools and techniques of financial analysis
• Improving forecasting quality and minimising error
• Effective capital investment decision-making
• Models and techniques for managing risk and uncertainty

Objectives

This KC ACADEMY training course has been designed to provide you with up to date knowledge and practical skills in the preparation and interpretation of public sector financial statements and budgets.

By the end of this KC ACADEMY training course you will have learned to:

• Design and build practical and effective financial models in Excel
• Improve your skills in analysing and interpreting financial statements
• Build financial forecasting models for a range of business applications
• Apply financial modelling techniques to investment decision-making
• Use a range of tools to analyse and manage business risk

Training Methodology

This KC ACADEMY training course will be structured as a highly participative workshop with formal presentations, case studies and interactive worked examples. Relevant examples and case studies illustrate the application of each of the topics covered and ample opportunities are provided to practice and perfect financial modelling in Excel with one of our laptops, or your own.

Organisational Impact

The organisation will benefit from the practical implementation of up to date techniques in financial analysis, forecasting and financial modelling that can be applied to improve the quality and relevance of business decision-making in the context of raised levels of risk and uncertainty – specifically:

• Advanced skills in financial analysis and interpretation of financial data
• Highly developed financial modelling capabilities
• Application of critical analysis to capital investment decisions
• Development of high quality forecasting skills
• Flexible approach to risk analysis and management

Personal Impact

Delegates will benefit from this hands-on workshop that has been designed to provide them with the essential theory of financial analysis, forecasting and financial decision-making whilst focusing heavily on building the practical skills to develop their own financial models in Excel. This KC ACADEMY Finance & Budgeting training course on Financial Analysis, Modelling & Forecasting will greatly enhance their contribution to organisational performance and improve their career prospects by:

• Raised awareness of management of risk and uncertainty
• Greater involvement in management planning and decision-making processes
• Advanced knowledge of Excel and its most powerful financial functions
• Using powerful Excel financial modelling skills for forecasting and decision-making
• Ability to model and apply investment decision-making techniques

Who Should Attend?

This KC ACADEMY Financial Analysis, Modelling & Forecasting training course is designed to provide useful insights and practical skills to professionals from a wide range of disciplines and industry sectors, but particularly those involved in planning, forecasting and investment decision-making in an age of risk and uncertainty.

This KC ACADEMY training course is suitable to a wide range of professionals but will greatly benefit:

• Financial Accounting Team Members
• Cost and Management Accounting Staff
• Finance Managers
• Planning Managers
• Commercial Managers
• Capital Investment and Project Team Members

Course Outline

DAY 1

The Competitive Challenge in the 21^st Century 

• Identifying and Managing Stakeholder Needs
• Business Models and How They are Disrupted
• An Integrated Approach to Risk Management
• The Essentials of Business Performance Management

Fundamentals of Financial Modelling

• Financial Statements Basics
• Fundamentals of Financial Modelling

DAY 2

Mastering Financial Analysis 

• Building a Financial Ratio Database in Excel
• Practical Modelling: The Cost-Volume-Profit Relationship
• Measuring and Improving Return On Investment
• Measuring and Improving Asset Management Efficiency
• Measuring and Managing Capital Structure and Risk
• Practical Modelling: The Effect of Gearing on Shareholders’ Earnings

DAY 3

Improving Financial Forecasting 

• Practical Modelling: Using Excel Statistical Analysis Tools
• Avoiding Common Forecasting Problems
• Using Moving Averages to Analyse Time Series Data
• Using Linear Regression for Sales Trend Analysis
• Using Excel Solver to Minimise Forecasting Error
• Using Regression and Correlation to Forecast Costs
• Practical Modelling: Cash Flow Forecasting

DAY 4

Financial Models to Improve Investment Decision-making 

• Principles of Capital Investment Decision-making
• Sources and Cost of Business Finance
• Practical Modelling: Using Excel Discounted Cash Flow Tools
• Practical Modelling: Capital Investment Analysis
• Essentials of Business Valuation
• Practical Modelling: Business Valuation Based on Shareholder Value Added

DAY 5

Managing Risk and Uncertainty 

• Identifying and Analysing Business Risk
• Probability Based Approach to Decision-making
• Monte Carlo Simulation
• Sensitivity Analysis and “what-if” Forecasting
• Identifying the Key Drivers of Financial Performance
• Practical Modelling: Key Driver “what-if” Forecast