Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis, Modelling & Forecasting

Syllabus

Module 1: Fundamentals of Financial Analysis

• Key financial ratios and performance indicators
• Trend, variance, and comparative analysis
• Horizontal and vertical analysis
• Industry benchmarking and KPIs

Module 2: Excel for Financial Modelling

• Advanced functions: INDEX-MATCH, OFFSET, INDIRECT
• Data validation, drop-downs, conditional formatting
• Error-proofing models and using auditing tools
• Creating assumptions tables and dynamic models

Module 3: Building Financial Models from Scratch

• 3-statement model construction: linking Income Statement, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow
• Modelling working capital and depreciation
• Debt schedules and interest calculations
• Balancing the model and sensitivity checks

Module 4: Valuation Modelling Techniques

• DCF (Discounted Cash Flow) valuation
• Comparable company and precedent transaction analysis
• Sensitivity and scenario analysis
• Building valuation dashboards

Module 5: Forecasting Techniques and Business Planning

• Time series analysis and trend-based forecasting
• Scenario planning and stress testing
• Bottom-up vs top-down forecasting approaches
• Rolling forecasts and budgeting models

Module 6: Case Study and Model Presentation

• End-to-end modelling project with real or simulated data
• Executive summary creation and storytelling with data
• Peer reviews and instructor feedback
• Certificate issuance and next steps for career progression