Programme Content
Over the course of eight weeks, you will learn forecasting, analysis, business partnering, and financial storytelling in a curriculum that combines technical and interpersonal skills with real-world applications practiced at top corporations. This self-paced online program culminates in a closing ceremony and the receipt of a certificate from Wharton Online.
Module 1
This module introduces the FP&A profession and its role in businesses of various sizes across different industries. We then examine common FP&A work products, evaluate current and emerging tools of the trade, and introduce a key skill set for FP&A professionals: strategic cost accounting.
Module 2
We review best practices for long-range planning and effectively managing the five phases of the annual budgeting process. The module covers how to get more out of your planning process by collaborating closely with the cross-functional team.
Module 3
You will learn the forecasting techniques that are used today by major firms, including time series analysis, driver-based planning, sales pipeline forecasting, zero-based budgeting, and scenario planning methods. We cover methods for accurately projecting sales, expenses, cash flow, headcount, and capex.
Module 4
The module covers the financial analysis process end-to-end, from data cleaning over evaluating data quality to identifying cost-saving opportunities, variance analysis commentary, and using operational metrics to spot trends early.
Module 5
We cover how to create financial models from scratch in Excel using commonly accepted modeling standards. The module covers the financial model types top finance teams use to make go / no-go decisions about major investments, such as Payback, Return on Investment, Life Time Value (LTV), and Discounted Cash Flow models.
Module 6
You will learn how to build strong professional relationships and influence, preparing you to become a strategic advisor to the business. We cover developing business acumen and using it to raise accountability, challenge assumptions, and create visibility of business performance while protecting the relationship.
Module 7
The module teaches how to effectively communicate financial information, be it in written form or when presenting live. It provides a deep dive into best practices for the performance management calendar, including flash reports, management reporting decks, visualizations, and telling a complete story of the business.
Module 8
The final module of the program covers best practices for using emerging technologies, including generative AI and machine learning. We move past the basics to cover 14 specific prompting techniques tailored for FP&A. Through real-world use cases, you'll learn exactly which framework to apply to varying financial scenarios-ensuring your outputs are accurate, contextual, and ready for leadership review.
