Financial Analysis, Microsoft Excel, Financial Analysis Techniques, Valuation, Forecasting, Financial Reports, Modelling
What you will learn
Fundamentals of Financial Analysis
Leveraging Excel for Financial Insights
Core Financial Analysis Techniques
Valuation & Forecasting
Advanced Analysis Techniques
Extra Section: How to Write Professional Financial Reports
Why take this course?
Welcome to Program: Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Modeling by MTF Institute
Course provided by MTF Institute of Management, Technology and Finance
MTF is the global educational and research institute with HQ at Lisbon, Portugal, focused on business & professional hybrid (on-campus and online) education at areas: Business & Administration, Science & Technology, Banking & Finance.
MTF R&D center focused on research activities at areas: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Science, Big Data, WEB3, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency & Digital Assets, Metaverses, Digital Transformation, Fintech, Electronic Commerce, Internet of Things.
MTF is the official partner of: IBM, Intel, Microsoft, member of the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
MTF is present in 215 countries and has been chosen by more than 698 000 students.
Course Author:
Dr. Alex Amoroso is a seasoned professional with a rich background in academia and industry, specializing in research methodologies, strategy formulation, and product development. With a Doctorate Degree from the School of Social Sciences and Politics in Lisbon, Portugal, where she was awarded distinction and honour for her exemplary research, Alex Amoroso brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table.
In addition to her doctoral studies, Ms. Amoroso has served as an invited teacher, delivering courses on to wide range of students from undergraduate level to business students of professional and executives courses. Currently, at EIMT in Zurich, Switzerland, she lectures for doctoral students, offering advanced instruction in research design and methodologies, and in MTFΒ Institute Ms. Amoroso is leading Product Development academical domain.
In synergy between academical and business experience, Ms. Amoroso achieved high results in business career, leading R&D activities, product development, strategic development, market analysis activities in wide range of companies. She implemented the best market practices in industries from Banking and Finance, to PropTech, Consulting and Research, and Innovative Startups.
Alex Amoroso’s extensive scientific production includes numerous published articles in reputable journals, as well as oral presentations and posters at international conferences. Her research findings have been presented at esteemed institutions such as the School of Political and Social Sciences and the Stressed Out Conference at UCL, among others.
With a passion for interdisciplinary collaboration and a commitment to driving positive change, Alex Amoroso is dedicated to empowering learners and professionals for usage of cutting edge methodologies for achieving of excellence in global business world.
Financial analysis is the process of evaluating businesses, projects, budgets, and other finance-related entities to determine their performance and suitability. It involves using various tools and techniques to assess the financial health of an organization, forecast future trends, and support decision-making.
Key aspects of financial analysis include:
Assessing profitability: Evaluating a company’s ability to generate profits over time, considering revenues, costs, and expenses.
Analyzing liquidity: Determining an organization’s capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations and maintain sufficient cash flow.
Examining solvency: Assessing a company’s long-term financial stability and ability to repay its debts.
Evaluating efficiency: Measuring how effectively a company utilizes its resources to generate revenues and manage expenses.
Forecasting future performance: Projecting financial outcomes based on historical data, market trends, and other relevant factors.
Importance of financial analysis skills for your career:
Improved decision-making: Financial analysis skills enable you to make informed decisions based on solid financial data, rather than relying on intuition or guesswork. This is crucial for choosing investments, managing budgets, and identifying growth opportunities.
Enhanced problem-solving: By understanding financial statements and analyzing trends, you can pinpoint areas of weakness or inefficiency within an organization and develop strategies to address them.
Increased career opportunities: Financial analysis skills are in high demand across various industries, opening doors to roles such as financial analyst, investment banker, portfolio manager, or management consultant.
Competitive advantage: Possessing strong financial analysis skills can differentiate you from other candidates in the job market and increase your earning potential.
Importance of financial analysis skills for building your own business:
Effective financial management: Understanding your company’s financial performance is essential for making strategic decisions about pricing, marketing, product development, and resource allocation.
Securing funding: Investors and lenders rely on financial analysis to assess the viability and potential return on investment of your business. A strong financial track record and well-prepared financial projections can significantly increase your chances of securing funding.
Sustainable growth: By monitoring key financial metrics and identifying potential risks, you can make proactive adjustments to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of your business.
Improved profitability: Financial analysis can help you identify areas where you can cut costs, increase revenues, and optimize your pricing strategy, ultimately leading to improved profitability.
In conclusion, financial analysis is a critical skill set that can significantly impact your career trajectory and your ability to build a successful business. Whether you’re working for a large corporation or starting your own venture, honing your financial analysis skills can empower you to make informed decisions, solve complex problems, and achieve your financial goals.
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Course Overview
- This Professional Certificate program is meticulously designed to transform aspiring financial professionals and business managers into expert financial analysts and modelers.
- Focusing on practical application, the course provides an immersive experience in deconstructing financial data, building robust predictive models, and generating insightful reports that drive strategic decision-making.
- Beyond theoretical concepts, you will gain hands-on mastery in leveraging industry-standard tools to interpret complex financial narratives and project future performance.
- Earn a recognized credential that underscores your proficiency in critical financial analytical techniques and advanced modeling capabilities.
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Requirements / Prerequisites
- A foundational understanding of basic accounting principles, including familiarity with core financial statements like the Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statement.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel is beneficial, including basic data entry, formula creation, and spreadsheet navigation.
- A strong analytical mindset and a keen interest in finance, data interpretation, and problem-solving.
- Access to a computer with Microsoft Excel (preferably a recent version) installed.
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Skills Covered / Tools Used
- Strategic Financial Interpretation: Develop the acute ability to dissect complex financial statements and extract actionable insights, moving beyond surface-level numbers to understand underlying business performance drivers.
- Dynamic Scenario Building: Master the art of constructing flexible and robust financial models in Excel, enabling you to test various market conditions, strategic decisions, and economic fluctuations to predict future outcomes with confidence.
- Investment Decision Support: Gain proficiency in applying diverse valuation methodologiesβincluding Discounted Cash Flow (DCF), comparable company analysis, and precedent transactionsβto objectively assess investment opportunities and risks, guiding sound capital allocation.
- Performance Projection & Planning: Acquire the expertise to build sophisticated forecasting models for revenue, expenses, and cash flows, crucial for strategic planning, budgeting, and performance management across an organization.
- Data Visualization & Reporting: Learn to transform raw financial data into clear, compelling, and professional reports and presentations, effectively communicating complex financial narratives to both expert and non-expert stakeholders.
- Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Cultivate the analytical prowess to identify potential financial vulnerabilities, quantify their impact, and formulate strategies to mitigate risks, safeguarding organizational value.
- Tool Mastery: Achieve advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, utilizing its full potential for financial analysis through advanced formulas, pivot tables, data validation, sensitivity analysis, and charting techniques.
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Benefits / Outcomes
- Enhanced Career Mobility: Significantly boost your employability and career trajectory in high-demand roles across corporate finance, investment banking, private equity, portfolio management, and financial consulting.
- Confident Decision-Making: Empower yourself to make data-driven, strategic financial decisions based on rigorous analysis and predictive modeling, directly impacting business growth and profitability.
- Improved Business Acumen: Develop a holistic understanding of financial health, strategic drivers, and value creation within any organization, enabling you to contribute at a higher level.
- Professional Credibility: Earn a tangible professional certificate that not only validates your expertise in financial analysis and modeling but also signals your commitment to continuous professional development.
- Practical Application: Gain immediately applicable skills that can be leveraged to solve real-world business challenges, optimizing financial performance and strategic planning from day one.
- Strategic Communication: Develop the ability to articulate complex financial insights clearly and persuasively, bridging the gap between numbers and strategic recommendations for senior management.
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Pros
- Highly practical, skill-focused curriculum designed for immediate real-world application.
- Directly applicable to a wide range of analytical and strategic finance roles.
- Comprehensive mastery of Microsoft Excel as the primary tool for financial analysis and modeling.
- Structured path to build a robust foundation in financial analysis, valuation, and forecasting.
- A professional certificate enhances resume visibility and demonstrates specialized expertise.
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Cons
- Requires a significant time commitment and self-discipline to fully master the advanced techniques and build proficient models.