Mastery in Financial Analysis and Reporting Dashboard Insights #252008

Upon successful completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Automate and transform raw financial data from multiple sources into a structured, analysis-ready format.

• Perform advanced financial analysis, including trend analysis, variance analysis, and the creation of key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with business strategy.

• Design and build interactive, executive-level dashboards using leading visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, Excel Power Pivot).

• Apply data storytelling and visualization best practices to communicate insights with clarity, impact, and persuasiveness.

• Implement a dashboard management process to ensure data integrity, security, and ongoing relevance.

• Synthesize analysis into a compelling narrative that drives strategic decision-making and action.

This course is designed for finance and accounting professionals who are responsible for analysis, reporting, and communicating financial performance:

• Financial Analysts (FP&A, Commercial, Operational)

• Finance Managers and Controllers

• Accounting Managers involved in management reporting

• CFOs and Finance Directors who consume and present data

• Internal Auditors and Business Intelligence Specialists

• Senior Accountants looking to move into an analytical role

Prerequisite: Strong proficiency in Excel and a solid understanding of fundamental accounting and finance principles.

• Pre-assessment
• Live group instruction
• Use of real-world examples, case studies and exercises
• Interactive participation and discussion
• Power point presentation, LCD and flip chart
• Group activities and tests
• Each participant receives a binder containing a copy of the presentation
• slides and handouts
• Post-assessment

Day 1: From Raw Data to Structured Analysis

• Morning Session: The Foundation of Data-Driven Finance

  • The Analyst’s Mindset: Moving from Reporting to Insight.

  • Introduction to the Data Analysis Workflow: Extract, Transform, Load (ETL).

• Afternoon Session: Mastering Data Wrangling in Excel

  • Advanced Power Query for Finance: Connecting to ERPs, Cleansing, and Transforming Data.

  • Data Model Fundamentals: Building Relationships Between Tables.

  • Hands-On Lab: Clean and structure a messy dataset from an general ledger and sales report.

Day 2: Advanced Analytical Techniques and DAX for Finance

• Morning Session: Core Analytical Concepts

  • Time Intelligence Analysis: Year-over-Year (YoY), Year-to-Date (YTD), Moving Annual Totals (MAT).

  • Advanced Variance Analysis: Identifying the Root Cause of Variances.

• Afternoon Session: Introduction to DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)

  • Writing Essential DAX Formulas for Custom KPIs and Calculated Measures.

  • Context Transition: Understanding Row vs. Filter Context.

  • Workshop: Create a set of core financial measures (e.g., Gross Margin %, Revenue per Employee) using DAX.

Day 3: Dashboard Design Principles and Data Storytelling

• Morning Session: The Art of Visual Design

  • Data Visualization Best Practices: Choosing the Right Chart for the Right Message.

  • Principles of Perception and Cognitive Load: Designing for Quick Comprehension.

  • Interactive Elements: Using Slicers, Filters, and Drill-Throughs Effectively.

• Afternoon Session: Crafting a Data Narrative

  • The Structure of a Story: Situation, Complication, Question, Answer.

  • Annotating Dashboards to Highlight Key Insights and Anomalies.

  • Critique Session: Evaluate real-world dashboard examples for clarity and effectiveness.

Day 4: Building the Executive Finance Dashboard (Power BI Focus)

• Morning Session: Dashboard Construction I – The Canvas

  • Building a Multi-Page Dashboard for a C-Suite Audience.

  • Integrating Financial Statements with Operational KPIs.

  • Creating a Consistent and Professional Layout and Theme.

• Afternoon Session: Dashboard Construction II – Interactivity & Deployment

  • Advanced Interactivity: Tooltips, Bookmarks, and Navigation.

  • Publishing to Power BI Service: Scheduling Refreshes and Managing Access.

  • Guided Project: Build a comprehensive financial performance dashboard from a provided dataset.

Day 5: Capstone Project and Mastering the Process

• Morning Session: From Insight to Impact

  • Managing a Dashboard Portfolio: Version Control, Change Management, and User Training.

  • Ensuring Data Governance, Security, and Integrity.

• Afternoon Session: Capstone and Presentation

  • Capstone Challenge: Participants are given a new, complex business problem and a raw dataset. They must:

    1. Wrangle and model the data.

    2. Perform the necessary analysis.

    3. Build an interactive dashboard.

    4. Prepare a 5-minute data story to present their findings.

  • Final Presentations & Peer Feedback.

  • Course Recap: Developing a Personal Action Plan for ongoing mastery