Overview:
In the current economy, there is a need to do more with less. As a result, analysis has to be quick, efficient, and provide meaningful information. Accountants are creating more forecasts because of the fast-changing business environment, yet have less time to create forecasts. This webcast will show you how to:
- Create and maintain robust financial models
- Turn data into information via analysis
- Identify areas of profitability and growth
- Provide strategic value to your organization
Objective:
To provide accountants and other financial professionals with the tools and techniques to develop effective, efficient and robust models. You will learn how to use the models you create to produce actionable forecasts and business analyses.
Emphasis:
- Modeling tools—Excel and other software options
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Elements of a good model
– Planning, execution and review
– Complexity vs. simplicity: the tradeoff
– Data tables, checks and parameters
– Using key Excel tools (i.e., Solver, Goal Seek, filters, etc.)
– Avoiding common modeling errors
– Importance of documentation and data protection - Turning your model into a useful, comprehensible report
- Key forecasting tools—financial and production models, linear programming, Monte Carlo simulation, regression analysis
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Analytical techniques
– Cost-Volume-Profit
– Horizontal vs. vertical
– Ratio analysis
– Benchmarking
– When to use present value (NPV or FPV)
– Variance analysis
