Financial Analysis and Modelling using Excel Course

Introduction

Excel has become an essential tool for finance professionals who need to analyze financial data, develop models, and support sound decision-making. The Financial Analysis and Modelling Using Excel course is designed to equip participants with the skills to build robust, accurate, and insightful financial models using Microsoft Excel.

This hands-on course combines foundational financial principles with advanced Excel techniques to provide participants with a practical understanding of how to structure and interpret financial models. From analyzing financial statements to forecasting, budgeting, investment appraisal, and scenario analysis, this course guides learners in applying real-world financial modelling practices that are widely used in corporate finance, investment analysis, and strategic planning.

Participants will learn how to streamline complex calculations, design dynamic models, and create clear and compelling financial reports and dashboards. The course emphasizes best practices in spreadsheet design, error checking, and documentation to ensure model transparency, consistency, and reliability.

Whether you are a finance executive, business analyst, accountant, or professional seeking to enhance your analytical capabilities, this course offers the tools and techniques to make better financial decisions and add immediate value to your organization.

Duration

5 Days

Who should attend?

It is especially beneficial for:

• Finance and Accounting Professionals seeking to enhance their Excel modelling and analytical skills.
• Business Analysts and Financial Analysts responsible for budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
• Investment Analysts and Portfolio Managers involved in evaluating investment opportunities and risk scenarios.
• Corporate Strategists and Consultants who need to model financial outcomes to inform strategic planning.
• Project Managers responsible for financial planning and cost-benefit analysis.

Course Objective

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

·       Create clear, professional, and dynamic charts in Microsoft Excel to effectively visualize financial data and trends.

·       Efficiently manage, structure, and analyze large volumes of financial and operational data using Excel tools and functions.

·       Develop a solid understanding of accounting and bookkeeping principles, including double-entry systems and financial reporting standards.

·       Accurately build and structure a company’s financial statements Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement from raw data.

·       Perform detailed financial statement analysis to evaluate a company’s operational and financial health.

·       Grasp the timing principles of revenue and cost recognition and their impact on reported performance.

·       Calculate and interpret key financial ratios (liquidity, solvency, profitability, and growth) to assess business performance and stability.

·       Evaluate project feasibility using tools such as NPV, IRR, and payback period, and model various investment scenarios.

·       Construct and interpret a comprehensive loan amortization schedule, factoring in interest types, tenures, and repayment structures.

·       Understand and differentiate between fixed and variable interest rates and their implications on financing decisions.

·       Conduct industry and competitive analysis using Excel models to benchmark performance and identify strategic positioning.

·       Understand the key value drivers behind a business and integrate them into a dynamic valuation framework.

·       Analyze and model a business holistically using Excel, incorporating financial data, industry benchmarks, and risk assessments to support informed decision-making.

Course outline

Module 1: Foundations of Financial Modelling

• Principles of effective financial model design: accuracy, flexibility, auditability, and user-friendliness
• Best practices in model structure: inputs, calculations, outputs
• Common modelling pitfalls: circular references, #REF! errors, hard-coding traps
• Implementing checks and controls: factual, rational, and structural checks
• Model stress testing, scenario thinking, and logical validation
• Introduction to Excel modelling standards and model documentation

Module 2: Essential Excel Functions for Finance Professionals

• Data analysis and logic functions: IF, IFS, AND, OR, IFERROR, ISBLANK
• Lookup functions: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX, MATCH, XLOOKUP
• Aggregation functions: SUM, SUMIF, SUMIFS, COUNTIF, COUNTIFS, AVERAGEIFS
• Advanced calculations: ROUND, INT, TRUNC, MOD, CEILING, FLOOR
• Financial functions: NPV, XNPV, IRR, XIRR, PMT, IPMT, FV
• PivotTables, Slicers, and dynamic dashboards
• Scenario analysis, data tables, and Monte Carlo simulation basics
• Data cleaning tools: Text to Columns, Remove Duplicates, Flash Fill, Power Query basics

Module 3: Financial and Operational Planning Models

• Building a working capital management model
• Developing a capital budgeting model with investment appraisal techniques
• Creating an inventory optimization model using EOQ and reorder point
• Scenario-based plant expansion or closure model
• Building a rolling forecast model for short-term planning

Module 4: Advanced Analytical Models for Financial Decisions

• Debt scheduling and amortization modelling
• Debt waterfall models (senior, subordinated, mezzanine structures)
• Modelling depreciation and amortization for book vs tax purposes
• Deferred tax asset/liability modelling
• Capital asset sales and net book value calculations

Module 5: Credit and Risk Analysis in Modelling

• Evaluating capital structure and leverage
• Debt coverage ratios: Interest Coverage, Debt-to-EBITDA, Fixed Charge Coverage
• Liquidity analysis: Current Ratio, Quick Ratio, Cash Ratio
• Working capital cycle: Days Receivables, Inventory, and Payables
• Integrating credit rating indicators into models

Module 6: Capital Structure and Financing Models

• Modeling existing capital structure
• Revolving credit facility and borrowing base modelling
• Term loans, bonds, and hybrid instruments modelling
• Book equity vs market equity
• Leveraged buyout (LBO) model introduction

Module 7: Cost of Capital Modelling

• Estimating Cost of Debt and Cost of Equity (CAPM)
• Calculating Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC)
• Modelling scenarios for changing capital costs
• Linking WACC to project evaluation and valuation models

Module 8: Business Valuation Techniques

• Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) modelling: FCFF and FCFE
• Building single-stage and multi-stage growth models
• Relative valuation: Multiples (EV/EBITDA, P/E, P/B)
• Hybrid models combining DCF and comparables
• Conducting a valuation sanity check: triangulating results
• Sensitivity and scenario analysis in valuation

Module 9: Transaction-Based Modelling for Corporate Finance

• Modelling for mergers and acquisitions (M&A)
• Building a synergy and post-merger integration model
• Project finance model including SPVs and covenants
• Sensitivity analysis on debt covenants and financial ratios

Module 10: Model Review, Audit and Presentation

• Final model review and evaluation checklist
• Clear objectives and transparent assumptions
• Logical flow and modular structure
• Input integrity and traceability
• Linking, interdependencies, and formula consistency
• Model output interpretation and scenario outputs
• Auditing and stress-testing financial models
• Presenting financial models to stakeholders using Excel dashboards

Training Approach

This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.

Tailor-Made Course

This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808

Training Venue 

The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.

Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant

Certification

Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.

Airport Pickup and Accommodation

Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808 

Terms of Payment

Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.