An intensive professional development training course on
Planning, Managing and Measuring Performance using Spreadsheet Skills
Why Choose Planning, Managing and Measuring Performance using Spreadsheet Skills Training Course?
The Structure
This comprehensive training course consists of two modules which can be booked as a 10 Day Training event, or as individual, 5 Day training courses.
Module 1 - Spreadsheet Skills for Planning, Forecasting & Budgeting
Module 2 - Effective Budgeting & Operational Cost Control
The Course Content
Module 1 - Spreadsheet Skills for Planning, Forecasting & Budgeting
- The aims and principles of strategic planning
- A framework for effective strategic execution
- The structure and format of financial statements
- Measuring and managing financial performance
- Principles of financial modelling
- Spreadsheet skills: Excel best practice and modelling tips
- Spreadsheet skills: using Excel’s statistical analysis tools
- Using moving averages to analyse time series data
- Using linear regression for sales trend analysis
- Applying exponential smoothing to forecasting
- Spreadsheet skills: using Excel Solver to minimise forecasting error
- Avoiding common forecasting problems
- Data visualisation – presenting data to non-financial managers
- The role of budgeting in the planning cycle
- Traditional and advanced approaches to cost analysis
- Spreadsheet skills: using regression and correlation for cost forecasts
- Criticisms and limitations of conventional budgeting methods
- Beyond Budgeting
- Spreadsheet skills: building rolling forecast models
- Understanding the drivers of business cash flow
- Spreadsheet skills: building a cash flow forecast model
- Principles of capital budgeting
- Capital investment appraisal tools
- Understanding discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis
- Spreadsheet skills: building a capital investment appraisal model
- Identifying and analysing business risk
- Probability based approach to decision-making
- Spreadsheet skills: building decision trees in Excel
- Sensitivity analysis and “What-If” forecasting
- Identifying the key drivers of financial performance
- Spreadsheet skills: building a “What-If” forecast for sensitivity analysis
Module 2 - Effective Budgeting & Operational Cost Control
- The key role of budgeting and cost control in contemporary organizations
- The 21st century business imperative: Delivering value added (but to whom?)
- Financial vs. Managerial accounting (for decision making)
- Understand your processes: Integrating financial and non-financial aspects
- The budgeting process
- Examples and Discussion
- The key features of budgeting
- Advantages and concerns with budgeting
- Accountability and centers of responsibility
- Zero-based budgeting
- Budgeting and cost control
- Examples and Discussion
- Different costs for different purposes
- Fixed vs. Variable costs
- The Cost-Volume-Profit analysis model
- Contribution Margin analysis
- Examples and Discussion
- Under-costing and over-costing: The consequences for profitability
- Indirect (OH) vs. Direct costs
- Traditional Cost Allocations systems vs. Activity-Based Costing (ABC)
- Linking resources, activities and management
- Variance analysis
- Video, Case Study and Examples
- Broadening performance measurement systems
- Beyond budgeting: Integrating financial and non-financial issues
- Introducing the Balanced Scorecard
- Introducing the Strategy maps
- Introducing Six-sigma
- Video, Case Study and examples
Certificate and Accreditation
- AZTech Certificate of Completion for delegates who attend and complete the training course
How Aztech Saudi Can Enhance Your Professional Career
At Aztech Saudi, we believe that professional development is the foundation of long-term career success. This training course is expertly designed to equip individuals with practical skills, forward-thinking strategies, and the confidence to navigate today’s dynamic work environments. Each course is delivered by subject matter specialists with extensive industry experience, ensuring that every learning experience is relevant, impactful, and aligned with real-world challenges. Whether you're looking to strengthen your technical expertise, enhance leadership abilities, or stay ahead of industry trends, Aztech Saudi provides the tools you need to elevate your performance and deliver measurable value to your organization.
Our training is more than just knowledge transfer—it’s a catalyst for career transformation. By participating in our courses, professionals gain a competitive advantage in their fields, improve their decision-making capabilities, and position themselves for new opportunities and leadership roles. We take pride in supporting individuals across various sectors and career stages, helping them unlock their full potential through high-quality, globally benchmarked learning experiences. With Aztech Saudi as your development partner, you’re not only investing in education—you're investing in a stronger, more successful future.
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