Business Intelligence & Analytics for Finance Professionals

Business Intelligence is primarily descriptive: it consolidates, organises and reports on historical and current data to explain what has happened and what is happening in the business, typically through reports, scorecards and dashboards. Business Analytics extends this into the predictive and prescriptive space, using statistical models, forecasting techniques and simulation to anticipate what is likely to happen and to evaluate alternative courses of action. Finance professionals need both because the modern finance function is expected to move beyond reporting the past towards actively supporting forward-looking, data-driven decision management. During the course, we examine the features, tools and terminology of BI systems alongside descriptive and predictive analytics, so that delegates can position each technique correctly within their own organisation's decision-making processes.

No. The course has been designed for finance and planning professionals rather than data scientists or IT specialists. All statistical concepts, including probability, distributions, time series analysis, regression and Monte Carlo simulation, are introduced from first principles and are immediately applied through practical Excel-based exercises. Delegates who are comfortable with everyday spreadsheet work will be able to follow all sessions. The emphasis throughout is on interpretation and business application: understanding what the analysis is telling you, how reliable it is, and how to communicate the resulting insight to decision-makers, rather than on mathematical derivation or programming.

The practical sessions are built primarily around Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, which are deliberately chosen because they are universally available and provide an excellent foundation for statistical analysis, forecasting, data visualisation, dashboards and infographics. The concepts, however, are entirely transferable: the same principles of descriptive and predictive analytics, KPI design and dashboard construction apply whether your organisation uses Power BI, Tableau, Qlik, SAP, Oracle or another Enterprise Resource Planning or BI platform. We also discuss the sources and types of BI and BA tools available in the market, so delegates leave with a framework for evaluating and exploiting the specific systems used in their own organisations.

Delegates learn a structured toolkit that includes time series data analysis, trend analysis and forecasting using moving averages, linear regression-based forecasting, 'what-if' predictive scenarios and Monte Carlo simulation, all built and demonstrated in Excel. Each technique is developed through worked examples using realistic business data, so delegates practise preparing forecasts of the kind used in budgeting, planning and performance management. Equally important, we discuss the assumptions and limitations of each method, enabling delegates to select the right technique for a given decision and to communicate the degree of uncertainty attached to any forecast honestly and clearly.

Day Four is devoted to communicating financial insight visually. We distinguish between data, information and insight, compare data visualisation with infographics, and examine the principles of choosing the right chart or graphic for the message. Delegates practise designing visuals aimed specifically at non-financial users, and learn practical techniques for building scorecards, dashboards and 'mashboards' in Excel, supported by PowerPoint for presentation. The objective is that delegates return to work able to transform dense financial reports into clear, compelling visual communication that genuinely influences management decisions.

The final day focuses on turning analytical capability into organisational reality. We introduce the Agile approach to systems development, including the practical steps of Agile BI/BA design and implementation, and contrast it with traditional development methods. We then address the human dimension: creating a sense of urgency, taking effective steps to achieve change, and overcoming resistance from colleagues and stakeholders. This matters because most BI and BA initiatives fail not for technical reasons but because of poor implementation and change management, and finance professionals are frequently at the centre of these projects.