FINANCIAL ANALYSIS & FORECASTING
“Turning Complex Data into Competitive Advantage”
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 – 23 Jan 2025 | Doha, Qatar | USD 2995 per delegate |
Course Introduction
In today’s dynamic business climate, the ability to analyze historical financial data and forecast future performance is essential to effective planning, budgeting, and strategic decision-making. Finance professionals must go beyond reporting past performance—they must anticipate what lies ahead.
This four-day course provides practical tools and frameworks for building meaningful financial analysis and forecast models. Participants will enhance their capability to generate insights, predict future trends, and support executive decisions across departments.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Conduct thorough analysis of financial statements and performance indicators
- Design and apply robust forecasting models
- Evaluate profitability, solvency, liquidity, and efficiency
- Use financial trends to support strategy, budgeting, and investment decisions
- Model various financial scenarios and perform sensitivity analysis
- Present forward-looking financial reports to stakeholders
- Align forecasts with business drivers and KPIs.
Key Benefits of Attending
- Learn advanced forecasting techniques applicable to real business challenges
- Sharpen financial analytical skills needed for planning and decision-making
- Translate raw data into actionable insights and strategic direction
- Improve communication with decision-makers through clear financial storytelling
- Reduce uncertainty and prepare for financial variability.
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
- Financial Analysts and Planning Professionals
- Accountants, Controllers, and Treasury Staff
- Budgeting and Reporting Managers
- Business Analysts and Operations Managers
- Executives responsible for financial performance.
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
- Financial statement interpretation
- Forecasting and projection modeling
- Data-driven planning
- Business case evaluation
- Strategic decision support
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
- Improved financial forecasting and planning processes
- More informed and strategic financial decision-making
- Greater control over financial risks and performance gaps
- Stronger alignment between finance and operational goals
- Enhanced internal reporting and board-level communication.
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
- Lectures – Financial concepts and modeling frameworks
- Excel-Based Exercises – Hands-on model development
- Case Studies – Applied forecasting in real scenarios
- Group Work – Collaborative analysis and solution-building
- Feedback – Daily review of core learning outcomes
Course Outline
COURSE OUTINE
Detailed 4-Day Course Outline
Training Hours: 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Daily Format: 2–3 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Fundamentals of Financial Analysis
Module 1: Understanding Financial Statements (07:30 – 09:30)
- Income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement
- Evaluating relationships between statements
Module 2: Financial Ratio Analysis (09:45 – 11:15)
- Profitability, liquidity, leverage, and efficiency metrics
- Interpreting financial strengths and weaknesses
Module 3: Time Trend and Benchmark Analysis (11:30 – 01:00)
- Multi-year trend evaluation
- Industry comparisons
Module 4: Introduction to Forecasting Concepts (02:00 – 03:30)
- Forecasting logic and data-driven planning
Day 2: Building Forecasting Models
Module 5: Revenue and Cost Forecasting (07:30 – 09:30)
- Forecasting sales volumes, pricing, and cost structures
Module 6: Expense and Operating Forecasts (09:45 – 11:15)
- Forecasting SG&A, overhead, and fixed vs. variable costs
Module 7: Cash Flow Forecasting (11:30 – 01:00)
- Operating, investing, and financing activities projection
Module 8: Hands-On Excel Modeling Lab (02:00 – 03:30)
- Building integrated forecast models
Day 3: Risk, Scenario, and Investment Analysis
Module 9: Sensitivity and Scenario Testing (07:30 – 09:30)
- Variable testing and impact measurement
Module 10: Capital Investment Forecasting (09:45 – 11:15)
- Cash flow planning for projects and initiatives
Module 11: Forecasting Working Capital (11:30 – 01:00)
- Planning inventory, payables, and receivables
Module 12: Group Forecasting Challenge (02:00 – 03:30)
- Real-time modeling and decision-making exercise
Day 4: Communication, Insights, and Execution
Module 13: Visualizing and Presenting Forecasts (07:30 – 09:30)
- Charts, dashboards, and story-driven reporting
Module 14: Forecast vs. Actual Tracking (09:45 – 11:15)
- Monitoring performance and adapting forecasts
Module 15: Business Planning Alignment (11:30 – 01:00)
- Linking forecasts to strategy and budgeting cycles
Module 16: Final Case Presentation & Course Wrap-up (02:00 – 03:30)
- Team presentations and course reflections
Certification
Participants who complete the program will receive a Financial Analysis & Forecasting, recognizing the development of practical and strategic financial expertise.