Building Reliable Financial Models for Better Business Decisions
Financial models turn historical data, business assumptions, and operational drivers into forward-looking insights. When built effectively, they help organisations forecast performance, assess cash requirements, evaluate risk, and make better-informed financial and strategic decisions.
The Corporate Financial Modelling: Building Forecasts and Cash Flows course develops the practical skills required to build structured and reliable financial forecasts in Excel. Across five days, participants explore forecasting techniques, financial statement analysis, ratio analysis, model assumptions, revenue and cost drivers, balance sheet projections, and cash flow modelling.
The programme places strong emphasis on model accuracy and integrity, helping participants create logical assumptions, identify forecasting errors, manage circular references, and develop integrated financial models that can support planning and decision-making.
You'll Learn How To
- Explain the principles and applications of corporate financial modelling and forecasting.
- Structure financial data and assumptions for effective model development.
- Use Excel tools to analyse historical financial information.
- Identify patterns and trends that can support forecasting assumptions.
- Apply growth rates, CAGR, smoothing, seasonal adjustments, and trend analysis.
- Use regression techniques to support predictive financial modelling.
- Incorporate inflation and other economic assumptions into forecasts.
- Analyse financial ratios to assess and validate forecast assumptions.
- Measure forecast accuracy and identify potential forecasting errors.
- Develop revenue, cost, asset, and liability forecasts using appropriate business drivers.
- Build forecast income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
- Model cash flows using the indirect method.
- Develop division-level forecasts for consolidated financial models.
- Apply model checks and controls to improve reliability.
- Manage iteration and circular references appropriately in Excel.