Excel for Financial Professionals Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Financial Analysts, Management Accountants and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 7 Nov 2026 Course code SD-FM-068

Before you join: Participants should be comfortable entering formulas, formatting worksheets, sorting and filtering data, and working with basic functions such as SUM, IF and AVERAGE.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Financial professionals often receive large, inconsistent data extracts and must convert them into reliable forecasts, management reports and decision-ready analysis under tight reporting deadlines. Spreadsheet errors, weak model structure, uncontrolled assumptions and inefficient manual work can undermine confidence in budgets, cash forecasts, investment cases and monthly performance reporting.

This course develops the Excel methods used in finance teams for financial modelling, reporting, planning and analysis. Participants build controlled workbooks using Excel Tables, named ranges, structured references, lookup functions, conditional aggregation, PivotTables, Power Query and Power Pivot. They apply these techniques to profit and loss reporting, working capital analysis, rolling cash forecasts, budget-versus-actuals analysis, scenario modelling, valuation support and management dashboards. Attention is given to formula design, audit checks, documentation, version control and presentation standards expected in finance functions.

Teaching combines concise tutor briefings with guided spreadsheet builds, finance cases, peer review and timed analysis tasks. Cases use realistic finance data from corporate reporting, banking, project finance and operational budgeting. Participants leave with a reusable financial analysis workbook pack containing model structures, control checks, forecast templates, reporting layouts and an individual application plan. The course is available as a five-day classroom programme in more than 50 cities or live online. Each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. Participants receive a certificate of completion.

The programme suits finance, accounting, treasury, commercial and planning professionals who already use Excel but need faster, more accurate methods for demanding financial work.

What you will be able to do

  • Build auditable financial models using structured inputs, calculations, outputs and control checks
  • Clean and reconcile financial data using Excel Tables, lookup functions and PivotTables
  • Construct integrated budget, forecast and variance analysis workbooks
  • Produce a 13-week rolling cash forecast from operational cash drivers
  • Apply scenario, sensitivity and break-even analysis to financial decisions
  • Analyse profitability, working capital and operating performance using financial ratios
  • Create management reporting dashboards with PivotCharts, slicers and exception indicators
  • Document, test and hand over controlled Excel workbooks for finance team use

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Produce finance models that withstand formula review and management challenge
  • Reduce time spent cleaning, reconciling and summarising financial data
  • Build credible cash forecasts from operational receipts and payment drivers
  • Present variance drivers and financial scenarios with greater clarity
  • Create reusable workbook structures for recurring reporting responsibilities

For your organisation

  • Fewer spreadsheet errors in budgets, forecasts and monthly reporting packs
  • Faster conversion of source data into management-ready financial analysis
  • More consistent modelling standards across finance team workbooks
  • Earlier identification of cash pressure, margin movement and reporting exceptions
  • Improved audit trails for key assumptions, reconciliations and model changes

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can structure finance workbooks for speed, traceability and reliable review.

  • Financial-model architecture using inputs, calculations, outputs and audit checks
  • Workbook navigation shortcuts, named ranges, tables and structured references
  • Number formats distinguish assumptions, formulas, dates, currencies and percentages
  • Formula auditing with precedents, dependents, Evaluate Formula and error checking
  • Absolute, relative and mixed references applied to linked schedules
  • Keyboard methods for rapid selection, editing, copying and formula filling
  • File controls: version naming, worksheet protection and external-link management

Participants can prepare financial extracts and reconcile them to reporting structures.

  • Imported trial-balance data cleaned with Tables, Text to Columns and TRIM
  • Chart of accounts mapped to reporting lines using lookup tables
  • SUMIFS and COUNTIFS reconcile balances by entity, account and period
  • XLOOKUP retrieves account mappings, rates and assumptions with error handling
  • Dynamic arrays filter transaction populations and flag exceptions
  • PivotTables summarise actuals by cost centre, account and month
  • Reconciliation checks identify missing mappings, duplicates and unbalanced extracts

Participants can write efficient formulas for recurring finance calculations and exceptions.

  • IF, IFS and SWITCH formulas classify financial results against business rules
  • SUMPRODUCT calculates weighted averages, allocations and multi-criteria financial measures
  • INDEX and MATCH support flexible two-way financial data retrieval
  • EOMONTH, YEARFRAC and WORKDAY calculate reporting periods and accrual timing
  • LET formulas simplify repeated calculations and improve formula readability
  • IFERROR separates expected data gaps from material calculation failures
  • Nested formula design follows calculation order, readability and testing principles

Participants can create driver-based budgets and analyse performance against plan.

  • Driver-based revenue forecasts link volume, price, mix and seasonality
  • Cost budgets distinguish fixed, variable, stepped and discretionary expenditure
  • Monthly phasing converts annual plans into operational reporting periods
  • Actual-versus-budget bridges isolate volume, price, mix and efficiency variances
  • Rolling forecasts update future periods using actual results and revised drivers
  • FORECAST.LINEAR estimates directional trends from historical financial observations
  • Variance commentary links material movements to accountable operational causes

Participants can build linked profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow models.

  • Integrated model links profit and loss, balance sheet and cash flow
  • Revenue schedules connect customer volumes, pricing assumptions and billing timing
  • Working capital schedules model receivables, inventory, payables and cash conversion
  • Depreciation schedules calculate asset additions, useful lives and carrying values
  • Debt schedules track drawdowns, repayments, interest expense and covenant headroom
  • Balance sheet checks confirm assets equal liabilities plus equity
  • Cash flow reconciliation explains movements between opening and closing cash

Participants can prepare short-term cash forecasts and identify working capital actions.

  • 13-week rolling cash forecast built from receipts, payroll and supplier data
  • Receipts timing models customer payment terms, collection patterns and credit risk
  • Payment schedules incorporate supplier terms, payroll dates, taxes and debt service
  • Direct and indirect cash flow methods compared for planning purposes
  • Days sales outstanding analysis identifies receivables collection pressure
  • Inventory days and payable days quantify working capital cash effects
  • Cash waterfall reports opening cash, net movement, facilities and closing liquidity

Participants can evaluate financial options using discounted cash flow and sensitivity methods.

  • Discounted cash flow models estimate project value from forecast free cash flows
  • Net present value compares investment returns against required discount rates
  • Internal rate of return tests project returns and reinvestment assumptions
  • Break-even analysis calculates volume required to cover fixed costs
  • Data Tables test price, volume, cost and discount-rate sensitivities
  • Scenario Manager compares base, upside and downside planning cases
  • Terminal value assumptions distinguish perpetuity growth and exit multiple methods

Participants can produce clear management reporting from linked financial data.

  • Management pack structure prioritises financial performance, risks, drivers and actions
  • PivotCharts display monthly trends, category movements and budget comparisons
  • Slicers filter management views by entity, region, product and cost centre
  • Conditional formatting highlights threshold breaches, adverse variances and exceptions
  • Waterfall charts explain profit bridges between actual, budget and forecast
  • KPI definitions align calculations, owners, targets, periods and data sources
  • Report layouts separate executive messages from supporting financial detail

Participants can combine repeatable finance data preparation with data-model analysis.

  • Power Query imports recurring files from folders, workbooks and text extracts
  • Query steps standardise dates, account codes, entity names and column structures
  • Append queries combine monthly actuals into a consistent reporting dataset
  • Merge queries adds account mappings, budget values and organisational hierarchies
  • Power Pivot relationships connect fact tables with calendar and dimension tables
  • DAX measures calculate actuals, budgets, variances and year-to-date results
  • Refresh procedures preserve data lineage and reduce manual consolidation

Participants can review, document and improve finance workbooks for team adoption.

  • Control totals verify imported data completeness before financial analysis begins
  • Reasonableness checks compare current results with history, budgets and ratios
  • Assumption registers record source, owner, date, rationale and approval status
  • Model documentation explains purpose, inputs, calculations, outputs and limitations
  • Review checklists test formulas, links, sign conventions and date logic
  • Change logs record amendments, reviewer comments and approved model versions
  • Application plans prioritise workbook improvements, stakeholders and implementation dates

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Auditable financial model template
  2. Financial data reconciliation checklist
  3. Driver-based budget and forecast template
  4. 13-week rolling cash forecast model
  5. Management reporting dashboard layout
  6. Workbook control and documentation checklist

Who should attend

  • Financial Analysts — need repeatable models and clear management analysis
  • Management Accountants — prepare budgets, forecasts, variance reports and monthly packs
  • FP&A Professionals — translate operational drivers into planning and performance models
  • Accountants — reconcile financial data and improve reporting workbook controls
  • Treasury Analysts — build short-term cash forecasts and liquidity analysis
  • Commercial Finance Managers — assess profitability, pricing and investment scenarios

Skills and tools covered

Financial model buildingCash flow forecastingVariance analysisFinancial data reconciliationManagement reportingSpreadsheet controls

Tools and standards

Microsoft Excel, Power Query, Power Pivot, IFRS

How the course runs

Training methodology

The instructor uses short briefings to introduce each Excel method, followed by guided builds using finance datasets. Participants work through reporting, forecasting, reconciliation and decision-analysis cases in pairs and small groups. Timed tasks develop speed with formulas, PivotTables and keyboard methods, while peer review focuses on model logic and audit checks. Simulations require participants to respond to changing assumptions and reporting requests. Each participant completes an application plan identifying workbooks, controls and methods to use after the course.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should be comfortable entering formulas, formatting worksheets, sorting and filtering data, and working with basic functions such as SUM, IF and AVERAGE. They should understand core finance terms including revenue, cost of sales, operating expenses, working capital, profit and cash flow. Experience preparing reports, budgets, accounts or forecasts is useful. Advanced Excel knowledge, programming experience, VBA, Power BI and prior financial modelling training are not required. Participants should bring examples of recurring spreadsheet challenges if their employer permits this.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

You should already be able to enter basic formulas, format worksheets, sort and filter data. The course teaches advanced finance uses of Excel without assuming prior VBA, Power BI or financial modelling training.

Bring a laptop with a current desktop version of Microsoft Excel where possible. You may also bring non-confidential examples of recurring reporting or forecasting issues for your personal application plan.

It is designed for professionals who prepare, analyse or review financial information, including analysts, accountants, FP&A staff, treasury analysts and commercial finance managers. It is most suitable for people beyond basic spreadsheet use.

The course uses finance tasks rather than generic office examples. Formula methods, models and reporting cases focus on budgets, actuals, cash flow, working capital, valuation and financial controls.

Participants receive reusable model, forecast, reconciliation and reporting templates. The final module also produces an application plan for improving specific workplace spreadsheets and reporting processes.

The programme contains ten modules delivered in teaching order, covering workbook design through to controls and application planning. Each day runs from 08:30 to 16:30, with about 6.5 contact hours, breaks and structured practice time.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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