Mastering Spreadsheet Techniques for Planning, Forecasting, and Budgeting

Introduction:

Planning, forecasting, and budgeting are crucial drivers of business success. While professionals often have access to necessary tools, they may not fully utilize them. This financial forecasting and planning spreadsheet course will leverage Excel to enhance your skills in these areas.

Participants will learn to create advanced spreadsheets and models to achieve more accurate planning, forecasting, and budgeting in less time. The course will also cover various "what-if" analyses to identify key factors for management and how to integrate these tools into broader business plans to maximize their effectiveness.

Objectives:

By the end of this financial forecasting and planning spreadsheet course, participants will be able to:

• Employ various planning, forecasting, and budgeting tools in MS Excel.
• Conduct detailed "what-if" analyses for strategic decision-making.
• Choose and apply appropriate Excel techniques based on the situation.
• Utilize advanced spreadsheet techniques effectively.
• Understand when to take risks and when to avoid them.
• Develop and use various types of Excel models.
• Recognize how non-business-related Excel worksheets contribute to performance enhancement.
• Analyze the pros and cons of different planning components.
• Determine the impact of alternative inputs on critical outputs.
• Assess the overall impact of decisions and how models apply to practical scenarios.

Training Methodology:

• Interactive Workshops
• Case Studies
• Demonstrations
• Group Discussions
• Real-Life Cases
• Advanced Excel Tutorials

Course Outline:

Unit 1: Introduction to Microsoft Excel

• Types of worksheets: grid, column, etc.
• Absolute vs. Relative Address Mode using F4 key
• Displaying all formulas in a worksheet
• Creating named ranges
• Locking rows, columns, and cells for security
• Using the Function Wizard
• Linking tables across worksheets
• Keyboard shortcuts and hidden functions

Unit 2: Importance of Planning

• Overview of planning techniques
• Scenario and Sensitivity Analysis
• Example: EOQ for inventory control
• Data Tables: One-way and Two-way
• Maximization vs. Optimization techniques
• Using Goal Seek and Solver for product mix and capital budgeting

Unit 3: Advanced Forecasting

• Qualitative vs. Quantitative Forecasting
• Smoothing Techniques
• Regression Analysis and Time Series Analysis
• Forecasting Growth Rates: IGR, SGR
• Using MIN, MAX, MEDIAN, MODE, AVERAGE, GEOMEAN, RANK, QUARTILE, PERCENTILE functions

Unit 4: Beyond Budgeting

• Constructing a basic budget
• Developing a flexible budget model
• Elements of operating and financial budgets
• Variance Analysis: Importance and calculation

Unit 5: Comprehensive Model Creation

• Building planning, estimation, and budgeting models
• Interlinking models
• Optimizing capital structure
• Bond redemption