Advanced modelling course – 3 days

The advanced financial modelling course builds up an investment or business case model through all key stages, to final reporting, over three days. Day one starts by reviewing current modelling practice and introducing a case study for the workshop. Sessions throughout the course then add features to the initial template, demonstrating the advantages of advanced modelling methods.

Day 1 of the course - advanced modelling practice and principles

• Session 1 - Excel financial modelling style
  • Introduction to the course
  • Excel modelling style
  • A systematic design method for model building
  • Case study outline
  • Financial modelling: planning

Advanced modelling exercise: reviewing and commenting on existing models

• Session 2 - model template
  • Setting up a basic template
  • Layout methods
  • Formats, numbers and colours
  • Flexible timing and date functions
  • Useful Excel techniques and shortcuts

Advanced modelling course exercise: starting an application template and setting up required spreadsheet tabs

• Session 3 - revenue and costs
  • Operational revenue
  • Volume drivers
  • Counters
  • Efficient coding techniques
  • Fixed and variable cost
  • Real and nominal considerations

Advanced modelling course exercise: plotting revenue and costs to calculate initial gross margin

• Session 4 - margin
  • Operating margin
  • Debt funding
  • Fixed asset schedule
  • Avoiding links and circular references

Advanced modelling course exercise: adding debt and asset schedules to generate income and balance sheet entries

Day 2 of the course - using an advanced financial model

Day two of the advanced financial modelling course builds on the workings and model from day one to produce accounting statements. Key modelling results include net present value and internal rate of return, together with sensitivity testing. The final session of day two of the course includes an exercise on auditing financial models.

• Session 5 - modelling cash flow
  • Basic income and balance sheet
  • Adding cash flow
  • Cash flow schedule
  • Model integrity and self checks
  • ISERROR functions

Advanced modelling course exercise: adding financial statements with integrity checks

• Session 6 - returns
  • Accounting returns
  • Terminal value
  • Cumulative and simple discounting
  • Single answer NPV, IRR, MIRR

Advanced modelling course exercise: Excel financial maths - calculating key results by using different discounting techniques

• Session 7 - sensitivity
  • Common sensitivity errors
  • Comprehensive scenario manager
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Dashboard analysis

Advanced modelling course exercise: stress testing in Excel, sensitivity and what if analysis

• Session 8 - auditing. Does the model work?
  • Excel audit checks
  • Checking the current model
  • Integrity checks
  • Circular references
  • Links
  • Stress testing

Advanced modelling course exercise: developing an auditing framework for the financial model. Finding errors

Day 3 of the course - advanced financial modelling topics

Day three of the advanced modelling course adds more Excel features and methods to the financial model.

• Session 9 - introduction to macros
  • Recording macros
  • Checking macros
  • Amending macros

Advanced modelling course exercise: writing, recording, auditing and checking macros

• Session 10 - optimisation
  • Using Goal Seek and Solver
  • Efficient use of optimisation

Advanced modelling course exercise: optimising Excel model results against pre-determined criteria

• Session 11 - data analysis
  • LOOKUP functions
  • Pivot tables
  • Reporting tools

Advanced modelling course exercise: analysing data using Excel tools

• Session 12 - model completion
  • Financial modelling documentation
  • Printing the model
  • Charts in Excel
  • Executive summary

Advanced modelling course exercise: final model checks. Reporting on findings from the model

Enquire about an in-house advanced financial modelling course

Our financial modelling course feedback is consistently high. If you have 4-5 staff who are interested in an advanced financial modelling course, in-house training will prove cost-effective for your company. To enquire about an in-house financial modelling course for a small group of your firm's employees, please use FTA's company contact details at the top right.

Book the advanced financial modelling training course

This course is next running March 2012. To book the advanced Excel financial modelling training course please click on the "red booking button" below.

More on advanced modelling courses From Financial Training Associates

You can download the advanced financial modelling course program here. Or please click for further details of Financial Training Associates' advanced financial modelling course program.