Financial Analysis for Business Performance: Planning Budgeting and Forecasting

Course Overview

This four-week course provides an introduction to financial analysis, helping learners gain skills in budgeting and planning. Participants will learn to interpret a business financial statement, create a set of business performance metrics, and understand how planning and budgeting help meet business goals. This course is designed to support entry-level finance or accounting professionals, current finance professionals, new managers and leaders, as well as business workers and entrepreneurs.

[Applications]
Upon completion of this course, learners will be able to apply their knowledge of financial analysis to their roles in accounting, business analysis, consulting, and business management. They will be able to interpret a business financial statement, create a set of business performance metrics, and use planning and budgeting to meet business goals. Additionally, they will be able to use Excel to analyze data and make data-driven decisions.

[Career Paths]
One job position path recommended for learners of this course is a Financial Analyst. Financial Analysts are responsible for analyzing financial data and providing insights to help businesses make informed decisions. They use a variety of tools and techniques to analyze financial statements, identify trends, and forecast future performance. Financial Analysts also develop and maintain financial models to help businesses plan and budget for future growth.

The development trend for Financial Analysts is to become more specialized in their field. As businesses become more data-driven, Financial Analysts are expected to have a deeper understanding of data analysis and be able to interpret complex financial data. They must also be able to communicate their findings to stakeholders in a clear and concise manner. Additionally, Financial Analysts must stay up-to-date on the latest trends in the industry and be able to apply them to their work.

[Education Paths]

The recommended educational path for learners of this course is to pursue a degree in finance or accounting. This degree will provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. It will also provide learners with the skills to interpret financial statements, create performance metrics, and make data-driven decisions. Additionally, learners will gain an understanding of the development trends in the field, such as the use of technology and analytics to improve financial performance.