Foundations of Financial Modelling
Learn to build structured, assumption-driven financial models in Excel to support forecasting and real-world business decisions
Duration
3 weeksWeekly study
2 hours100% online
How it works
Foundations of Financial Modelling
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Build professional financial models in Excel
How do finance professionals build models that support business planning and decision-making? Financial modelling is a core skill for analysts, but creating professional-grade models requires understanding best practices, structure, and integration techniques.
This three-week course teaches you to build a complete, assumption-driven model in Excel, forecast key drivers, and integrate the three financial statements. You’ll learn to separate inputs, calculations, and outputs, and design clear formulas that are easy to audit.
Understand modelling best practice and Excel structure
Explore financial modelling fundamentals, including best practices for layout, structure, and documentation. You’ll learn to separate inputs, calculations, and outputs, and design clear formulas easy to audit and maintain.
You’ll discover techniques for building dynamic operating models using scalable, assumption-driven logic.
Learn forecasting and three-statement integration
Forecast revenue, costs, and working capital based on realistic business drivers and scenarios. You’ll create an integrated income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow model that responds to changes in assumptions.
You’ll understand how different business decisions flow through to profitability, cash, and financial position.
Explore scenario analysis, model checks, and professional presentation
Learn scenario planning and sensitivity analysis to test the impact of different business cases. You’ll develop model validation and error-checking techniques to increase reliability and avoid common pitfalls.
You’ll refine spreadsheet presentation, making models clear, user-friendly, and ready to share with stakeholders or employers.
Syllabus
Week 1
Excel Modelling Techniques and Best Practices
Lesson 1: Intro Video to Course
The introductory video provides an overview of the course, highlighting key topics and outlining the skills learners will develop, with a call to action to get started.
Lesson 2: Model Structure and Layout
Teaches the importance of consistency and organisation in a financial model, including the separation of inputs, calculations, and outputs.
Lesson 3: Formula Design and Dynamic Functions
Focuses on how to write clean, efficient formulas using Excel best practices, including dynamic lookups and error handling.
Lesson 4: Model Documentation and Auditability
Covers how to document assumptions clearly, maintain transparency in logic, and track changes for collaboration and review.
Week 2
Operating Model Forecasting
Lesson 05: Revenue Forecasting Techniques
Covers top-down and bottom-up approaches to revenue modelling using growth rates, volume-price frameworks, and business drivers.
Lesson 06: Cost and SG&A Forecasting
Focuses on forecasting operating expenses including COGS and SG&A using margins, fixed/variable cost assumptions, and headcount modelling.
Lesson 07: Working Capital Forecasting
Explains how to forecast accounts receivable, inventory, and accounts payable using days-based metrics and tie these into operating cash flow.
Week 3
Three-Statement Model Construction and Scenarios
Lesson 08: Linking the Three Financial Statements
Walks learners through the process of connecting income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow forecasts so that changes in one area flow through the entire model.
Lesson 09: Cash Flow Derivation and Validation Checks
Covers indirect cash flow statement logic and the setup of key model checks to ensure integrity and consistency of outputs.
Lesson 10: Scenario and Sensitivity Analysis
Teaches learners how to build tools for testing multiple assumptions, including data tables, switches, and toggles, to evaluate model outcomes under uncertainty.
Lesson 11: Course Conclusion
This conclusion lesson reviews key concepts and includes a wrap-up video and final quiz to reinforce learning and assess understanding.
Who is this accredited by?
The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Apply Excel modeling best practices to structure financial models for accuracy and usability.
- Forecast revenues, expenses, and working capital using assumption-driven logic.
- Build an integrated three-statement model and perform scenario/sensitivity analysis.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for learners building practical financial modelling skills in Excel for real business settings, especially aspiring financial analysts, investment banking and corporate finance professionals, consultants, FP&A teams, and business students.
Who will you learn with?
Who developed the course?
Starweaver
Starweaver is a next generation platform that engages your workforce as no other. Combining business and technical skills, Starweaver provides real-time skill building that is in line with your business objectives and strategies, and in your associates day to day tasks and jobs.
| Best ValueBest Value - learn more, save more! | |||
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Start learning today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $54/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 3 weeks |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$54/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 3 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 2 November 2026 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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