Course Details

This course is appropriate for a wide range of professionals but not limited to:

• Financial managers, controllers, and analysts responsible for planning and forecasting.
• Department heads and project managers involved in budget preparation and control.
• Senior executives seeking to strengthen their strategic financial planning skills.
• Non-financial professionals contributing to budget and performance processes.
• Business owners and entrepreneurs aiming to improve financial planning efficiency.

• Expert-led sessions with dynamic visual aids
• Comprehensive course manual to support practical application and reinforcement
• Interactive discussions addressing participants’ real-world projects and challenges
• Insightful case studies and proven best practices to enhance learning

By the end of this course, participants should be able to:

• Understand the principles and components of financial planning and control.
• Develop accurate forecasts and integrate them into financial plans.
• Prepare, manage, and monitor effective budgets aligned with strategic goals.
• Use variance analysis and key performance indicators to evaluate results.
• Communicate financial plans and budget performance to stakeholders.

DAY 1

Foundations of Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Welcome and introduction
• Pre-test
• The Role of Financial Planning in Strategic Management
• The Relationship Between Strategy, Forecasting, and Budgeting
• Overview of the Financial Planning Process
• Linking Business Objectives to Financial Outcomes
• Types of Budgets: Strategic, Operational, and Cash Budgets
• Group Activity

DAY 2

Forecasting and Financial Analysis

• Financial Forecasting: Concepts, Methods, and Applications
• Techniques for Revenue and Expense Forecasting
• Sensitivity and Scenario Analysis for Better Decision-Making
• Identifying Key Financial Drivers and Assumptions
• Ratio and Trend Analysis for Performance Evaluation
• Workshop

DAY 3

 Budget Preparation and Resource Allocation

• The Annual Budget Cycle: Planning, Preparation, and Review
• Operating Budgets: Sales, Production, and Expense Budgets
• Capital Budgeting and Investment Planning
• The Cash Budget: Managing Liquidity and Cash Requirements
• Activity-Based and Zero-Based Budgeting Approaches
• Exercise

DAY 4

Budget Execution, Monitoring, and Control

• Implementing Budgets Across Departments
• Responsibility Accounting and Budget Ownership
• Flexible vs. Static Budgets: Choosing the Right Approach
• Variance Analysis: Identifying and Interpreting Deviations
• Performance Measurement Using KPIs and Financial Ratios
• Behavioral and Ethical Dimensions in Budgeting
• Case Study

DAY 5

Strategic Integration and Financial Communication

• Linking Financial Planning to Long-Term Business Strategy
• Financial Control Systems and Continuous Improvement
• Communicating Financial Results to Executives and Stakeholders
• Preparing Effective Financial Reports and Dashboards
• Final Group Project
• Post-test
• Certificate ceremony