Power BI for Finance Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Financial Analysts, FP&A Analysts and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-FM-151

Before you join: Participants should understand core financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and the structure of a chart of accounts.

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

Finance teams often spend the close cycle extracting ledger balances, reconciling spreadsheet versions and rebuilding the same management packs. A Power BI model can replace repeated manual consolidation with controlled refreshes, shared measures and drillable evidence, but only when finance logic is designed correctly. Poor models obscure account mappings, mix reporting currencies and produce margins that cannot be reconciled to the general ledger. This course addresses the point where finance reporting requirements meet data preparation, modelling and governed publication.

Participants build finance-ready Power BI models from general ledger, budget, forecast and operational data. They prepare source data with Power Query, design star schemas, write DAX measures and create financial statements, variance analysis, cash forecasts and executive dashboards. The course covers actual-versus-budget reporting, working capital metrics, time intelligence, scenario comparison, row-level security, refresh scheduling and reconciliation controls. Participants learn how to trace a reported number back to source transactions and explain material movements to finance leaders and budget holders.

Instruction combines short technical briefings with finance cases based on monthly reporting, forecasting, cost control and cash management. Participants work through data modelling decisions, DAX patterns, dashboard design choices and report validation checks with instructor guidance. They leave with a reusable finance reporting model blueprint, a DAX measure library, a reconciliation checklist and an application plan for a priority reporting process. The five-day instructor-led course is available in classrooms in more than 50 cities or live online, runs from 08:30 to 16:30 each day, and includes a certificate of completion.

What you will be able to do

  • Build a finance data model linking general ledger, budget, forecast and operational data
  • Transform source files using Power Query profiling, cleansing, merging and reconciliation methods
  • Model financial reporting data using star schemas, conformed dimensions and controlled relationships
  • Write DAX measures for financial statements, time intelligence, margins and variances
  • Produce actual-versus-budget dashboards with driver analysis and exception thresholds
  • Analyse cash flow, working capital and forecast scenarios through interactive Power BI reports
  • Publish governed finance reports using workspaces, refresh schedules and row-level security
  • Establish reconciliation and acceptance controls for trusted management reporting

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Build finance dashboards that reconcile to general ledger control totals
  • Replace repeated spreadsheet consolidation with refreshable Power BI reporting
  • Explain budget variances using auditable DAX measures and driver analysis
  • Create cash and working capital reports for finance leadership discussions
  • Develop a portfolio-ready finance reporting model and DAX measure library

For your organisation

  • Reduce manual effort in monthly management pack production
  • Improve consistency of KPIs, account mappings and variance calculations
  • Provide drillthrough evidence from executive reports to transaction-level data
  • Strengthen control over finance data access, refreshes and report publication
  • Shorten analysis cycles for budgets, forecasts, cash and working capital decisions

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can translate finance reporting requirements into a documented Power BI model specification.

  • Finance reporting requirements translated into Power BI data model specifications
  • Source ledgers, budgets, forecasts and operational drivers mapped systematically
  • Chart of accounts hierarchies aligned with management reporting structures
  • Grain defined for journal lines, monthly balances and transactions
  • Data lineage documented from ERP extracts to published finance reports
  • Control totals specified for completeness, accuracy and period reconciliation

Participants can prepare and reconcile finance source data using Power Query transformations.

  • Power Query connectors configured for Excel, CSV, SQL and folders
  • Query folding assessed before loading high-volume general ledger data
  • Columns profiled to identify nulls, duplicates, type errors and outliers
  • Fiscal calendars generated with custom periods, quarters and year-end dates
  • Merged dimensions standardise entity, cost centre and account mappings
  • Reconciliation queries compare source balances against transformed model totals

Participants can design a star schema that supports controlled financial analysis.

  • Star schema separates fact tables from conformed finance dimensions
  • Relationships configured for legal entity, account, period and currency
  • Inactive relationships support alternate reporting dates without duplicated tables
  • Role-playing date dimensions distinguish posting, invoice and due dates
  • Bridge tables resolve many-to-many cost allocation relationships between finance dimensions
  • Model cardinality and filter direction tested against reporting requirements

Participants can write DAX measures for core financial reporting and period analysis.

  • Measures distinguish additive balances, semi-additive balances and transaction flows
  • CALCULATE modifies filter context for entity, period and scenario analysis
  • Time intelligence compares month, quarter, year-to-date and prior-year results
  • Variables improve readability and performance in financial DAX measures
  • DIVIDE handles margin and variance percentages without denominator errors
  • Calculation groups standardise time views across approved finance measures

Participants can produce reconciled income statement, balance sheet and cash flow reports.

  • Income statement layouts follow chart-of-accounts rollups and subtotals
  • Balance sheet balances reconcile assets, liabilities and equity classifications
  • Cash flow reporting separates operating, investing and financing movements
  • Financial statement matrices use disconnected layout tables and SWITCH measures
  • Sign conventions present revenue, expenses and contra accounts consistently
  • Drillthrough exposes journal-level evidence behind reported balances

Participants can analyse actual performance against budget using driver-based variance methods.

  • Actual-versus-budget measures isolate volume, price, mix and rate drivers
  • Waterfall charts explain material bridges between plan and actual outcomes
  • Flexible budgets adjust planned costs using activity driver assumptions
  • Variance thresholds flag exceptions requiring finance business-partner investigation
  • Contribution margin analysis separates fixed costs from variable costs
  • Scenario selectors compare budget, forecast and latest estimate versions

Participants can build interactive reports for forecasts, liquidity and working capital management.

  • Rolling forecasts combine historical trends, drivers and management assumptions
  • Thirteen-week cash forecasts schedule receipts, payroll and supplier payments
  • Working capital metrics track receivables, inventory, payables and cash conversion
  • Foreign currency reporting distinguishes transaction currency from reporting currency
  • Sensitivity parameters test volume, price, collection and payment assumptions
  • Forecast accuracy compares prior submissions with realised actual results

Participants can design management dashboards that focus attention on finance decisions and exceptions.

  • Executive dashboard design prioritises decisions, exceptions and accountable owners
  • KPI cards display target, actual, variance and directional status
  • Small multiples compare entities, cost centres and business units consistently
  • Field parameters let users switch measures without duplicating visuals
  • Report page tooltips add context without overcrowding management dashboards
  • Accessibility settings improve contrast, keyboard access and screen-reader descriptions

Participants can publish finance reports with appropriate access, refresh and release controls.

  • Row-level security restricts entity and cost-centre data by user role
  • Workspaces separate development, test and production finance reporting
  • Dataset refresh schedules align with close calendars and source availability
  • On-premises data gateways support controlled access to internal finance systems
  • Endorsement labels distinguish certified datasets from personal analytical models
  • Deployment pipelines promote validated reports through controlled release stages

Participants can validate report accuracy, improve performance and plan a controlled implementation.

  • DAX Performance Analyzer identifies slow visuals, queries and measures
  • Model size reduced through column pruning, aggregation and incremental refresh
  • Reconciliation checklist tests totals, filters, currencies and reporting periods
  • Finance dashboard acceptance criteria define accuracy, usability and ownership
  • Stakeholder review converts reporting requests into prioritised backlog items
  • Personal application plan schedules report improvements, controls and adoption actions

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

What you take back to work

  1. Finance Power BI model blueprint
  2. Power Query transformation checklist
  3. Financial DAX measure library
  4. Management dashboard wireframe
  5. Report reconciliation checklist
  6. Finance reporting application plan

Who should attend

  • Financial Analysts — build repeatable variance, profitability and management reporting
  • FP&A Analysts — connect budgets, forecasts and operational drivers in one reporting model
  • Management Accountants — replace spreadsheet packs with controlled financial dashboards
  • Finance Business Partners — explain performance drivers through drillable analysis
  • Controllers — strengthen reconciliations, reporting controls and close-cycle visibility
  • Finance Systems Analysts — prepare governed finance data for Power BI reporting

Skills and tools covered

Financial data modellingDAX financial measuresVariance analysisCash flow reportingPower Query transformationReport governance

Tools and standards

Power BI Desktop, Power Query, DAX, Microsoft Fabric

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings followed by guided work on finance reporting cases. Participants prepare ledger and planning data, construct models, write DAX measures and assess dashboard designs against management reporting needs. Group exercises focus on account mapping, variance explanations, cash forecasting assumptions and report control decisions. Simulations address close-cycle reporting requests, stakeholder questions and data-quality exceptions. Each participant develops an application plan for a report, dashboard or planning process relevant to their role.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should understand core financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis and the structure of a chart of accounts. They should be comfortable working with Excel tables, filters, pivot tables and formula-based calculations, and should have experience interpreting management reports. Prior exposure to Power BI Desktop is useful but not essential; the course starts with finance data preparation and model design before moving into DAX. SQL, programming, data engineering and prior DAX knowledge are not required. Participants should bring a laptop capable of running Power BI Desktop.

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

Prior Power BI experience is useful but not required. Participants should understand financial statements, budgeting and common Excel-based reporting, as the course moves quickly into Power Query, data models and DAX.

Bring a laptop capable of running the current version of Power BI Desktop and with permission to install or use the software. Sample finance data is provided, so participants do not need to bring confidential company files.

The course is designed for financial analysts, FP&A staff, management accountants, controllers and finance business partners. It also suits finance systems analysts supporting reporting, planning or close processes.

This course uses finance reporting structures, including chart-of-accounts hierarchies, financial statements, budgets, forecasts, cash flow and working capital. DAX, modelling and dashboard decisions are taught through finance reporting requirements rather than generic sales or operational examples.

Participants can use the templates and methods to improve a monthly management pack, variance dashboard, cash report or forecast model. The application plan identifies a suitable first report, required data sources, validation checks and report ownership.

The course runs from 08:30 to 16:30 each day, providing about 6.5 contact hours daily. Teaching progresses from finance data preparation and modelling through DAX, reporting, governance, validation and application planning.

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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