Financial Modelling with Power BI Training Course

Participants can design a star-schema model that supports consistent finance analysis.

• Star schemas designed around fact tables and conformed dimensions
• Date dimensions configured for fiscal years, periods, and quarters
• Chart-of-accounts mappings maintained through bridge tables and account groups
• Actual, budget, forecast, and scenario tables modelled at consistent grain
• Many-to-many relationships resolved using bridge tables and allocation keys
• Model relationships validated with filter direction and cardinality checks

Participants can prepare finance source data using controlled Power Query transformations.

• Power Query connectors used for Excel, CSV, folders, and SQL sources
• Query folding assessed before loading large finance datasets
• Data types, locale settings, and error handling standardised before loading
• Append queries combine monthly actuals files into controlled fact tables
• Merge queries enrich transactions with account mappings and cost centres
• Parameters control file paths, reporting periods, and environment settings

Participants can create accurate and maintainable DAX measures for finance reporting.

• DAX measures distinguish filter context from row context
• CALCULATE function modifies filters for finance-specific analytical measures
• Base measures created for actuals, budget, forecast, and prior year
• DIVIDE handles zero denominators in margin and variance calculations
• Variables improve measure readability and reduce repeated calculation logic
• Measure naming conventions separate raw values, ratios, and presentation outputs

Participants can build finance measures that respect fiscal calendars and reporting periods.

• Fiscal calendars support custom year ends and nonstandard reporting periods
• Time-intelligence measures calculate month-to-date, quarter-to-date, and year-to-date results accurately
• Prior-period comparisons use DATEADD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, and aligned fiscal dates
• Rolling twelve-month measures handle incomplete current reporting periods
• Working-day adjustments separate calendar effects from operational performance
• YTD budget phasing reconciles cumulative actuals against planned run rates

Participants can construct financial statement reports with controlled line-item logic.

• Financial statement layouts built with disconnected row-selector tables
• SWITCH measures map account groups into presentation line items
• Sign conventions standardise revenue, expense, asset, and liability displays
• Gross margin, EBITDA, and operating profit measures reconcile consistently
• Balance sheet subtotals reflect account hierarchy and reporting classifications
• Cash flow bridges connect profit, working capital, and capital expenditure

Participants can model budgets, forecasts and scenario assumptions in Power BI.

• Driver-based budgets link volume, price, headcount, and cost assumptions
• What-if parameters model exchange rates, inflation, and growth assumptions
• Scenario tables compare base, upside, downside, and approved plans
• Forecast versions controlled through version dimensions and effective dates
• Rolling forecasts extend planning horizons using current actuals and drivers
• Assumption registers document owners, sources, approval status, and update frequency

Participants can investigate financial performance drivers using structured analytical methods.

• Variance analysis separates price, volume, mix, and timing effects
• Waterfall charts explain bridges from budget to actual performance
• Contribution margin analysis identifies profitable products, customers, and channels
• Working capital metrics track receivables, inventory, payables, and cash conversion
• Ratio measures calculate liquidity, profitability, efficiency, and solvency indicators
• Drill-through pages investigate variances by entity, cost centre, and account

Participants can create clear management reports for executive and operational audiences.

• Executive dashboards apply visual hierarchy, exception signals, and clear labelling
• Matrix layouts present financial statements with controlled subtotals and formatting
• Report tooltips provide definitions, drivers, and prior-period comparisons
• Bookmarks create guided views for board, management, and analyst audiences
• Drill-through and drill-down support controlled investigation of reported numbers
• Mobile layouts prioritise high-value KPIs and exception reporting

Participants can apply governance controls when publishing finance models and reports.

• Reconciliation checks compare Power BI totals with source-system control totals
• Data quality rules identify missing mappings, duplicates, and unexpected balances
• Row-level security restricts entity and cost-centre access by user role
• Workspace roles, endorsement, and deployment pipelines support controlled publication
• Refresh schedules, gateway requirements, and failure alerts maintain reporting continuity
• Model documentation records assumptions, measure logic, ownership, and change history
• Implementation plans sequence data, model, report, testing, and release activities