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KnowledgeCity

Understanding Financial Planning and Analysis

Support better financial decisions through forward-looking analysis and planning.
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Course: On-Demand
Provider :  KnowledgeCity  13 Lessons ·  24m  in English 

Course Description

In this Understanding Financial Planning and Analysis course, you’ll learn how FP&A connects data, planning, and strategic decision-making. We’ll also explore forecasting methods and budgeting strategies. These tools help align financial performance with business goals. To build this capability, we’ll focus on the foundational elements of the FP&A process.

We’ll explore how FP&A supports forecasting and budgeting, presenting tools like driver-based models and rolling forecasts. You’ll build stronger financial models and develop clearer planning insights. We’ll also address how to prepare accurate data, assess trends and business drivers, and apply appropriate budgeting methods to give you a complete understanding of financial planning in practice. By the end of this course, you’ll know how to support informed decisions through analysis and planning.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain how FP&A connects strategy, data, and decisions

• Identify reliable financial and operational data for planning models

• Analyze trends and drivers to build accurate forecasts

• Apply appropriate budgeting methods based on organizational needs

• Compare forecasting approaches to support informed financial planning

What You'll Learn

  • Explain how FP&A connects strategy, data, and decision-making
  • Identify reliable financial and operational data for planning models
  • Prepare data for financial models
  • Analyze trends and business drivers to build accurate forecasts
  • Apply appropriate budgeting methods based on organizational needs
  • Compare forecasting approaches to support informed financial planning

Key Takeaways

  • FP&A connects data, planning, and strategic decision-making to align financial performance with business goals.
  • Tools like driver-based models and rolling forecasts support forecasting and budgeting.
  • Accurate data preparation and analysis of trends and business drivers are foundational to building reliable forecasts.
  • Budgeting methods should be chosen based on organizational needs.
  • Analysis and planning together enable informed financial decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this course cover?

The course covers the foundational elements of the FP&A process: how FP&A connects data, planning, and strategic decision-making; preparing accurate data for financial models; forecasting with trends and business drivers; and applying appropriate budgeting methods. It also presents tools like driver-based models and rolling forecasts.

What skills will I gain from this course?

You will develop skills in budgeting, forecasting, and data analysis, and learn to build stronger financial models and develop clearer planning insights.

How is the course structured?

The course is organized into lessons including an Introduction, Defining FP&A in Finance, Preparing Data for Financial Models, Forecasting With Trends and Drivers, and Applying Budgeting Methods, with 'Test Your Knowledge' checks along the way.

What will I be able to do by the end of the course?

By the end of the course, you will know how to support informed decisions through analysis and planning, including explaining how FP&A connects strategy, data, and decisions, building accurate forecasts, and applying budgeting methods suited to organizational needs.