Description

Day 1: Fundamentals of Budgeting and Budget Structures

Topics:

  • Concepts and principles of budgeting
  • Types of budgets (operational, capital, rolling, zero-based)
  • Budget planning and timeline
  • Budget components and classifications
  • Setting up a budget framework in Excel

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • SUM, SUMIF, SUMIFS
  • TEXT, CONCAT, LEFT, RIGHT, MID
  • PROPER, UPPER, LOWER (for cleaning data)

Day 2: Cost Estimation Techniques and Excel-Based Cost Models

Topics:

  • Direct vs. indirect cost identification
  • Activity-based costing (ABC)
  • Cost estimation templates and drivers
  • Setting up cost databases in Excel
  • Linking cost centers to budget lines

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, HLOOKUP
  • INDEX, MATCH, IFERROR
  • CHOOSE, SWITCH
  • ROUND, ROUNDUP, ROUNDDOWN

Day 3: Budget Development Using Excel Modelling

Topics:

  • Creating budget templates
  • Input assumptions and drivers
  • Scenario-based budgeting
  • Integrating revenue and expense projections

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • IF, IFS, AND, OR, NOT
  • OFFSET (for dynamic ranges)
  • INDIRECT (for referencing variable ranges)
  • DATA VALIDATION (dropdowns, error messages)

Day 4: Budgetary Analysis and Variance Analysis

Topics:

  • Comparing actual vs. budgeted values
  • Variance calculation and interpretation
  • Building variance analysis dashboards
  • Trend analysis with line graphs and charts

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • ABS, VAR.P, VAR.S, STDEV.P, STDEV.S
  • IF, IFERROR, ISERROR, ISBLANK
  • CONDITIONAL FORMATTING, SPARKLINES
  • Charts: Bar, Line, Combo

Day 5: Forecasting Techniques in Excel

Topics:

  • Introduction to forecasting
  • Time-series forecasting
  • Trend, moving average, and exponential smoothing
  • Forecasting revenue, expenses, and KPIs

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • FORECAST, FORECAST.LINEAR
  • TREND, GROWTH, LINEST
  • AVERAGE, AVERAGEIF, AVERAGEIFS
  • LINE CHARTS, SCATTER PLOTS

Day 6: Cash Flow Forecasting and Modelling

Topics:

  • Forecasting inflows and outflows
  • Monthly/quarterly cash flow planning
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Building dynamic cash flow models

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • NPV, XNPV, IRR, XIRR
  • PMT, PV, FV, RATE, NPER
  • EOMONTH, EDATE, TODAY, NOW
  • GOAL SEEK and WHAT-IF ANALYSIS

Day 7: Capital and Project Budgeting

Topics:

  • Preparing capital budgets
  • Cost-benefit analysis and ROI
  • Break-even analysis
  • Project budget monitoring tools in Excel

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • DB, DDB, SLN (depreciation functions)
  • IF, NPV, IRR, MOD, QUOTIENT
  • FORM CONTROLS for interactivity
  • Custom Excel templates for capital budgeting

Day 8: Budget Monitoring and Control Mechanisms

Topics:

  • Tracking expenses against budgets
  • Creating dynamic budget trackers
  • Alerts and flags for overspending
  • Rolling budgets and real-time updates

Excel Functions Introduced:

  • SUMIFS, COUNTIFS, IFERROR, ISNUMBER
  • CONDITIONAL FORMATTING (icons, color scales)
  • DYNAMIC CHARTS
  • DASHBOARDS using slicers and pivot charts

Day 9: Using Pivot Tables for Budget Analysis

Topics:

  • Creating PivotTables from budget data
  • Using calculated fields in pivot tables
  • Building monthly/quarterly/departmental summaries
  • Visualizing budget trends

Excel Features Introduced:

  • PIVOT TABLES, PIVOT CHARTS
  • GROUPING by date/department
  • SLICERS, TIMELINES
  • Drill-down and dynamic reporting

Day 10: Automating Budget Processes with Macros and Power Query

Topics:

  • Introduction to Power Query for importing budget data
  • Data transformation for budget reports
  • Automating repetitive budget tasks with Macros
  • Creating user-defined budget reports

Excel Features Introduced:

  • Power Query: MERGE, APPEND, TRANSFORM
  • Macros: Recording macros, assigning buttons
  • VBA Basics: Writing simple budget automation scripts
  • DATA CLEANUP, ADVANCED FILTER


Description

Objectives of the Course: 

 Mastering Budgeting, Budgetary Analysis, Forecasting, and Cost Control through Advanced Excel Modelling.

By the end of this 10-day corporate training program, participants will be able to:

  1. Understand Key Budgeting Concepts and Structures
    • Clearly define and distinguish between various types of budgets, including operational, capital, rolling, and zero-based budgets.
    • Apply practical approaches in setting up and managing budget frameworks aligned with organizational goals.
  2. Develop and Implement Accurate Cost Estimation Techniques
    • Identify direct and indirect cost components.
    • Utilize Excel to build cost models using estimation drivers and structured formulas for informed decision-making.
  3. Create Dynamic, Integrated Budgets Using Excel Modelling
    • Design and populate Excel-based budget templates.
    • Use input assumptions and scenario analysis to simulate different budgeting outcomes.
  4. Conduct Budgetary and Variance Analysis Using Advanced Excel Tools
    • Analyze budget versus actual data to determine performance and identify discrepancies.
    • Present variance reports with visual insights using dynamic charts and conditional formatting.
  5. Perform Financial Forecasting Using Time-Series and Analytical Techniques
    • Apply statistical and analytical functions to predict revenues, costs, and trends.
    • Build reliable forecasting models incorporating linear regression, trends, and smoothing.
  6. Forecast and Manage Cash Flows Effectively
    • Create cash flow models that project income and expenditure over time.
    • Apply sensitivity and what-if analysis tools to evaluate liquidity positions.
  7. Design and Manage Capital and Project Budgets in Excel
    • Prepare detailed capital expenditure plans and analyze return on investment (ROI).
    • Integrate Excel financial functions to assess project feasibility using NPV, IRR, and break-even points.
  8. Establish Strong Budget Monitoring and Control Mechanisms
    • Track and compare expenditures against budgets in real-time.
    • Set up alerts and reporting systems for controlling costs and avoiding budget overruns.
  9. Analyze Budget Data Using Pivot Tables and Dashboards
    • Generate departmental or periodical summaries using PivotTables.
    • Develop interactive dashboards for enhanced financial visibility and decision support.
  10. Automate Budgeting Processes Using Power Query and Excel Macros
    • Import, clean, and transform data using Power Query for streamlined reporting.
    • Automate repetitive tasks and custom budget reports through macros and VBA scripts.


General Notes

GENERAL NOTES
i.   The clients have many options on where they would wish to have the training
ii. The client should communicate their preferred training venue at least seven days before the training date failure to which the training shall take place in Nairobi.
iii. This course is delivered by our seasoned trainers who have vast experience as expert professionals in the respective fields of practice. The course is taught through a mix of practical activities, theory, group works and case studies.
iii. Training manuals and additional reference materials are provided to the participants.
iv. Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be issued with a Chania finance consultancy certificate.
v.   The onsite training fee covers tuition fees, training materials, tea at 10am, lunch, tea at 4pm, training venue and a certificate on completion. Accommodation and travel may be arranged for our participants upon request.
vi.   The online training fee covers tuition fees, training materials, and a certificate on completion.

Available at the following Venues

  • Nairobi
  • Mombasa
  • Kisumu
  • Nakuru
  • Zoom
  • Google Meet
  • Google Teams
  • Webex

Choose the date you would like to take the course