To equip CPAs and other finance professionals with the tools, metrics, and modern planning strategies needed to develop accurate, agile, and results-driven corporate budgets.

• Key financial and operational metrics relevant to budgeting and forecasting
• AI-augmented forecasting and connected planning
• Advantages of integrated FP&A platforms, including:
  – Anaplan
  – Workday Adaptive
  – Planful
• Overview of various classes of KPIs:
  – Financial performance
  – Predictive and real-time
  – Operational and strategic
  – Financial team digital productivity
  – Enterprise digital
• Rolling forecast fundamentals and best practices
• Effects of inflation, supply chain, and workforce disruption
• Limitations of traditional budgeting and strengths of results-based budgeting
• Predictive analytics and real-time FP&A monitoring
• Effects of AI on forecast accuracy and financial team workload

To equip CPAs and other finance professionals with the tools, metrics, and modern planning strategies needed to develop accurate, agile, and results-driven corporate budgets.

DETAILED LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Identify the purpose and components of forecasting and distinguish forecasting from budgeting

• Describe traditional budgeting methods and their limitations

• Explain the principles and benefits of results-based and outcome-based budgeting

• Recognize key drivers of business performance and how they link to financial outcomes

• Apply modern forecasting techniques including trend analysis, driver-based forecasting, and scenario modeling

• Understand rolling forecasts and continuous planning approaches

• Interpret KPI dashboards related to revenue, expense, profitability, cash flow, working capital, and operational efficiency

• Evaluate forecast accuracy using bias, variance patterns, and predictive indicators

• Utilize AI-enhanced forecasting tools for anomaly detection, automated insights, and scenario generation

• Assess the role of integrated FP&A platforms and connected planning in improving decision-making

• Analyze OPEX vs. CAPEX structures and their impact on resource allocation

• Monitor working capital metrics such as receivables, payables, and inventory turnover

• Identify strategic and operational KPIs essential for measuring organizational performance

• Explain how real-time FP&A monitoring supports agility and faster decision cycles

• Recognize how post-COVID volatility reshaped budgeting, forecasting cadence, and financial planning practices

• Evaluate data pipelines, automation, and digital finance capabilities that improve forecasting accuracy

• Understand financial health indicators including liquidity ratios, leverage ratios, and profitability measures

• Apply scenario planning frameworks to model best, base, and downside outcomes

• Assess cost optimization opportunities through predictive cost modeling

• Describe how continuous planning and digital FP&A operating models enhance organizational responsiveness

• Identify how AI copilots support narrative report writing and automated variance explanations

• Understand the role of predictive analytics in improving revenue, expense, and cash flow forecasting

• Evaluate how data integration across ERP, CRM, and HRIS systems enhances planning accuracy

• Recognize the benefits of real-time dashboards for monitoring operational and financial performance

• Explain how scenario sensitivity tools such as tornado charts help quantify risk exposure

• Assess how workforce capacity forecasts align staffing needs with organizational demand

• Interpret financial performance ratios within executive dashboards to support strategic decisions

• Understand digital transformation benchmarks and their implications for FP&A excellence

• Describe how connected planning reduces siloed decision-making and improves collaboration

• Apply budgeting and forecasting best practices to strengthen financial stewardship and agility
 

• Key financial and operational metrics relevant to budgeting and forecasting
• AI-augmented forecasting and connected planning
• Advantages of integrated FP&A platforms, including:
  – Anaplan
  – Workday Adaptive
  – Planful
• Overview of various classes of KPIs:
  – Financial performance
  – Predictive and real-time
  – Operational and strategic
  – Financial team digital productivity
  – Enterprise digital
• Rolling forecast fundamentals and best practices
• Effects of inflation, supply chain, and workforce disruption
• Limitations of traditional budgeting and strengths of results-based budgeting
• Predictive analytics and real-time FP&A monitoring
• Effects of AI on forecast accuracy and financial team workload