PLANNING, FORECASTING & BUDGETING USING SPREADSHEET

TRAINING OVERVIEW

At DixonTech, the ability to plan, budget, and forecast effectively is crucial for organizations to proactively address and navigate the swift and transformative changes that pose significant challenges to 21st-century enterprises. This training program places emphasis on developing practical spreadsheet skills that are directly applicable to comprehending and actively contributing to essential planning, budgeting, and forecasting procedures. Additionally, the course aims to instil a comprehensive understanding of contemporary challenges and innovative strategies in these processes, ensuring participants are well-equipped to manage the complexities of dynamic business environments.

TRAINING TOPICS

By the end of this training course, delegates will be able to:

• Participate in and support the planning, budgeting, and forecasting process.
• Apply advanced Excel modelling skills in these key processes.
• Apply latest techniques in cost forecasting and management.
• Build effective spreadsheet models to assist in investment decision-making.
• Develop models for applying sensitivity analysis to risk management.

TRAINING IS TAILORED TO

This training course at DixonTech is not only tailored for planning team members but also offers valuable insights and tools for professionals in related fields. Specifically, the course will be highly beneficial for:

• Financial and accounting team members
• Cost and management accounting staff
• Finance managers
• Budget managers
• Commercial managers
• Capital investment and project team members.
• Investment analysts and acquisition team members
• Risk managers

DAY ONE:

FUNDAMENTALS OF BUSINESS PLANNING

• The aims and principles of strategic planning
• A framework for effective strategic execution
• The structure and format of financial statements
• Measuring and managing financial performance
• Principles of financial modelling
• Spreadsheet skills: Excel best practice and modelling tips

DAY TWO:

PRINCIPLES AND TECHNIQUES OF BUSINESS FORECASTING

• Spreadsheet skills: using Excel’s statistical analysis tools.
• Using moving averages to analyse time series data.
• Using linear regression for sales trend analysis
• Applying exponential smoothing to forecasting
• Spreadsheet skills: using Excel Solver to minimise forecasting error.
• Avoiding common forecasting problems
• Data visualisation – presenting data to non-financial managers.

DAY THREE:

BUDGETING FOR REVENUE AND OPERATING COSTS

• The role of budgeting in the planning cycle
• Traditional and advanced approaches to cost analysis
• Spreadsheet skills: using regression and correlation for cost forecasts.
• Criticisms and limitations of conventional budgeting methods
• Beyond Budgeting
• Spreadsheet skills: building rolling forecast models

DAY FOUR:

CASH FLOW FORECASTING AND CASH BUDGETING

• Understanding the drivers of business cash flow
• Spreadsheet skills: building a cash flow forecast model.
• Principles of capital budgeting
• Capital investment appraisal tools.
• Understanding discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis
• Spreadsheet skills: building a capital investment appraisal model.

DAY FIVE:

INCORPORATING RISK MANAGEMENT IN TO PLANNING AND FORECASTING

• Identifying and analysing business risk
• Probability-based approach to decision-making.
• Spreadsheet skills: building decision trees in Excel
• Sensitivity analysis and “What-If” forecasting
• Identifying the key drivers of financial performance
• Spreadsheet skills: building a “What-If” forecast for sensitivity analysis