FP and A Technical Mastery

A Member of the CFA Institute Global Network of Societies

FP&A Technical Mastery

Course Goals and Overview:

FP&A professionals require a cross-functional understanding of accounting, finance, corporate strategy, and industry dynamics. This virtual training program is designed to fill the knowledge gaps we’ve seen FP&A and corporate finance professionals, covering the following topics:

The Power & Art of Business Modeling in FP&A
Data Visualization & Storytelling
Outputs & Variance Analysis
Scenarios & Sensitivities
Getting to Answers Without Modeling
Capex & Project Forecasting
Forecasting & Budgeting
Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis

Full Agenda

The Power and Art of Business Modeling

Modeling best-practices

Organizational structure and navigation
Coverage of key formulas & functions, ribbons, and functionality
Simplification of complex modeling techniques and model hygiene
Formula auditing, watch window, formula evaluator
Use of dynamic links for linking internally and to external workbooks

Model formatting

Use of defined names for cells, ranges, tables, data sets, and formulas to simplify references
Incorporation of dynamic drop-down lists, toggles, and lookups to improve efficiency

Dynamic modeling

Creation of dynamic data sets, data ranges, named ranges and formulas using OFFSET to reduce or eliminate manual updates to models and forecasts
Use toggles combined with INDIRECT to quickly and efficiently import financials or subsequently-dated data sets
Lookup Functions: INDEX, MATCH, VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, DATA VALIDATION
Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Data Visualization & Storytelling

Best-practices for conveying financial performance in visual form for meetings and presentations
How FP&A can serve as a strategic partner to non-financial business functions
Creation of deliverables with consideration given to the end-user or a wide array of audiences

Sparklines combined with dynamic data ranges
Using dynamic data sets to populate pivot charts, pivot tables, and pivot slicers

Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Outputs & Variance Analysis

Use of data visualization to communicate strategic mapping, key performance indicators (KPIs), and balanced scorecards
Approaches for identification and visual display of KPIs
Variance analysis and cash flow forecasting

Use of conditional formatting to highlight period-over-period variances
Consideration of dynamic triggers for flexible conditional formatting
Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Building and displaying impactful dashboards for meetings and presentations
Crafting and management of dynamic charts and graphs

Creation of fully-dynamic graphs with automated updating of links to source information
Incorporation of fully-flexible date range toggles within dynamic graphs
Utilization of form controls in dynamic graphs to enhance user-interface

Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Scenarios & Sensitivities

Financial consolidations

SUM OF WORKSHEETS approach to scenario management, forecasting, and budgeting

Introduction to Excel’s built-in scenario manager and scenario summary function
Enhancement of scenario user-interface with form controls (option buttons, check boxes, combo boxes, spin buttons, scroll bars, group boxes)
Differences between simulation and optimization
Conduct sensitivity analysis with dynamic 1- and 2-variable data tables combined with conditional formatting

Getting Answers without Modeling

Conduct ‘what-if’ operational simulations to minimize risk
Utilize goal seek to determine pricing and to target profitability
Demonstrate how Excel’s Solver can enhance performance while addressing resource constraints
Address break-even, profit optimization, and product mix decisions
Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Capex & Project Forecasting

Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Modified IRR (MIRR), XIRR, XNPV
Discounted cash flow analysis and the weighted average cost of capital
Utilize 1- and 2-variables sensitivity tables to display a range of probable results
Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Forecasting & Budgeting

Key terms and definitions
Forecasting methods

Top-down
Bottoms-up

How risk, uncertainty, and probability affect forecasts
How regression aids in forecasting accuracy
Real-life application through exercises and case studies

Strategic Financial Planning & Analysis

Key accounting and finance terms and definitions
Understanding the fundamentals of the financial statements

Income Statement
Balance Sheet

Statement of Cash Flows
Common-sizing and period-over-period trend analysis
Ratio analysis
Comprehensive strategic case study

Revenue and cost build by channel
Assessment of the macroeconomic and industry environment
Peer review
Liquidity and working capital management including cash conversion cycle optimization
Gap analysis
Debt sizing
Integrated venture forecast modeling

Program Conclusion

What are the characteristics of an effective FP&A function
The future of FP&A in large corporations and private companies

Who Should Attend:

Analysts and managers in financial planning and analysis
Business decision support
Internal & external financial reporting groups
Controllers
Corporate accounting professionals

What's Included?

Continuous access to WSP's self-study Excel Crash Course

What You'll Need: Laptop, Notepad, and Calculator

Instructor: Carl Seidman, Business Strategist, CFO Advisor, TedX Speaker, Trainer in Leadership and Financial Management

Carl has 10+ years of management consulting experience in finance and strategy, including turnarounds, restructurings, valuation, transactions, and crisis management. With a passion for teaching and years of directly relevant real-world experience, Carl understands the importance of teaching in a way that empowers finance professionals to apply the lessons from the classroom directly on the job.

This Virtual Course is Instructed by our training partner, Wall Street Prep.

Registration

CFAW Members: $1,099

Non-members: $1,299

Currency: U.S. Dollar ($)

Dates and Location

Coming soon.

Cancellations

Participants may cancel up to 3 weeks prior to the event for a full refund. A 20% cancellation fee will apply up to 1 week prior to the event. No refunds will be granted for cancellations made within 1 week of the event. Wall Street Prep reserves the right to cancel the seminar if enrollment is insufficient. Trainees will be refunded in full in the event of a cancellation.