Financial Planning and Analysis Course

Lesson 1 • Financial Statements as FP&A Inputs

Reviews income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement from an analyst's lens. Builds the data literacy required for all modeling and forecasting work.

Lesson 2 • The FP&A Calendar and Cycle

Maps the annual planning cycle including budgeting, forecasting, and close processes. Students understand how each process connects and drives the next.

Lesson 3 • The FP&A Function Defined

Defines FP&A's mandate, key deliverables, and stakeholder relationships. Anchors all subsequent technical content in real organizational purpose.

Lesson 1 • Model Architecture and Design

Establishes principles of clean model structure: input separation, flow logic, and documentation. Prevents common errors that undermine model credibility.

Lesson 2 • Dynamic Assumptions and Drivers

Teaches driver-based modeling where outputs update automatically from a central assumptions table. Connects model flexibility to faster scenario testing.

Lesson 3 • Core Excel Functions for Analysts

Covers lookup, logical, date, and aggregation functions essential to FP&A workflows. Enables efficient data retrieval and dynamic calculations.

Lesson 4 • Data Handling and Automation

Covers Power Query and structured tables for importing and refreshing large datasets. Reduces manual effort and improves data consistency across reports.

Lesson 1 • Budget Consolidation and Presentation

Aggregates departmental budgets into a consolidated P&L and presents to leadership. Develops the communication skills needed to defend budget assumptions.

Lesson 2 • Operating Expense Budgeting

Plans headcount, COGS, and discretionary expenses using driver-based methods. Connects expense budgets to the revenue and operational assumptions already built.

Lesson 3 • Revenue Budget Construction

Builds revenue budgets using volume, price, and mix assumptions by segment. Establishes the top-line foundation that drives all downstream expense planning.

Lesson 4 • Capital Expenditure Planning

Covers CapEx request evaluation, prioritization, and integration into the budget. Links capital spending decisions to depreciation and cash flow projections.

Lesson 1 • Statistical Forecasting Techniques

Applies moving averages, exponential smoothing, and regression to historical data. Provides quantitative rigor to complement judgment-based estimates.

Lesson 2 • Driver-Based Forecasting

Links financial forecasts to operational drivers such as units, headcount, and conversion rates. Produces forecasts that update automatically when business conditions change.

Lesson 3 • Forecast Communication and Governance

Structures forecast packages for executive audiences and establishes accountability. Closes the loop between forecast production and business decision-making.

Lesson 4 • Rolling Forecast Design

Designs a rolling 12- to 18-month forecast process that replaces static annual budgets. Enables continuous planning aligned to current business reality.

Lesson 1 • Bridge and Waterfall Charts

Builds bridge charts that visually explain period-over-period and plan-vs.-actual changes. Translates numerical variances into executive-ready visual narratives.

Lesson 2 • Root Cause Analysis Techniques

Applies structured methods to trace variances to their operational and strategic causes. Moves reporting beyond description toward diagnosis and recommendation.

Lesson 3 • Variance Analysis Mechanics

Calculates price, volume, mix, and rate variances across revenue and cost lines. Provides the technical foundation for all performance reporting work.

Lesson 4 • Continuous Improvement in Reporting

Evaluates report effectiveness and streamlines the close-to-report cycle. Builds a culture of reporting quality and efficiency within the FP&A team.

Lesson 1 • Sensitivity Analysis Techniques

Applies one-way and two-way data tables to isolate the impact of individual assumptions. Identifies which drivers most significantly affect financial outcomes.

Lesson 2 • Scenario Planning Fundamentals

Introduces base, upside, and downside scenario construction and their strategic purpose. Frames uncertainty quantification as a core FP&A responsibility.

Lesson 3 • Monte Carlo Simulation Basics

Introduces probabilistic modeling using simulation to generate outcome distributions. Elevates scenario analysis from point estimates to probability-weighted ranges.

Lesson 4 • Stress Testing Financial Plans

Applies extreme but plausible shocks to test plan resilience and liquidity thresholds. Prepares organizations to respond to adverse conditions before they occur.

Lesson 1 • Pricing and Profitability Analysis

Analyzes product, customer, and channel profitability to surface margin improvement opportunities. Directly informs pricing strategy and portfolio rationalization decisions.

Lesson 2 • The Business Partner Mindset

Reframes the FP&A role from data provider to trusted advisor embedded in business units. Establishes the behaviors and credibility required for strategic influence.

Lesson 3 • Strategic Planning Support

Connects FP&A outputs to long-range planning, market analysis, and strategic initiatives. Positions analysts as contributors to corporate strategy, not just reporters.

Lesson 4 • Influencing Without Authority

Develops techniques to drive action through data storytelling, framing, and relationship capital. Closes the gap between analytical insight and organizational change.

Lesson 1 • Performance Management Frameworks

Designs balanced scorecards and OKR-linked financial frameworks that align teams to strategy. Embeds FP&A at the center of organizational performance management.

Lesson 2 • FP&A Leadership and Team Development

Covers hiring, developing, and leading high-performing FP&A teams and managing upward. Prepares analysts for managerial roles and FP&A function ownership.

Lesson 3 • Working Capital and Cash Flow Management

Models cash conversion cycles, working capital drivers, and free cash flow projections. Extends FP&A scope beyond P&L to full balance sheet and cash management.

Lesson 4 • FP&A Technology and System Architecture

Evaluates EPM platforms, ERP data flows, and automation tools that power modern FP&A. Prepares analysts to lead technology selection and implementation projects.