Advanced Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Control Program

Advanced Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Control Program

Location

Duration

Online / In-class

1 week

Contact with our Team

Sector:

Cross-Industry – Corporate Finance

Technical Focus Area:

Budgeting & Cost Control (BUD)

About the Course

Budgets are the cornerstone of financial management, providing the foundation for effective planning, control, and decision-making. This course focuses on building advanced budgeting and forecasting skills essential for resource allocation, strategic alignment, and operational efficiency. Participants will learn how to integrate forecasting models, conduct what-if and sensitivity analysis, and manage performance through robust variance reporting and budget control systems.

Objectives

By the end of this program, participants will be able to:

- Develop budgets aligned with organizational strategic plans.
- Apply advanced forecasting techniques including regression, correlation, and exponential smoothing.
- Prepare and implement effective sales, production, cash, and capital budgets.
- Integrate financial and operational planning for long-term strategy.
- Conduct sensitivity and what-if analyses for informed decision-making.
- Implement performance indicators and variance analysis for control.
- Identify and address the limitations of budgeting systems.
- Recommend actionable improvements based on scenario analysis.

Who Should Attend

- Financial Managers and Controllers
- Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) Professionals
- Executives with Budgetary Responsibilities
- Project Managers and Business Planners
- Cost Accountants and Analysts
- Professionals seeking advanced budgeting and financial control expertise

Course Program

The Essentials of Budgeting and Financial Planning

- Strategic planning, forecasting, budgeting, and costing defined

- The interrelationship of strategic and operational budgets

- Benefits and limitations of budgets in financial control

- Types of budgets: fixed, variable, zero-based, activity-based, and capital budgets

- Features and applications of activity-based budgeting (ABB)

- Identifying cost drivers and key activities for ABB models

- Preparing the master budget using Excel (sales, production, cash, and capital budgets)

- Linking budget planning with organizational objectives

Forecasting Future Financial and Market Variables

- Purpose and objectives of forecasting in budgeting

- Forecasting techniques: qualitative and quantitative methods

- Time series analysis and exponential smoothing

- Correlation and regression analysis using Excel

- Recognizing patterns and seasonality in historical data

- Forecasting market trends using SWOT and PESTLE analysis

- Implementing forecasts in budget control plans

- Managing uncertainty through hedging strategies (forwards, futures, options, and swaps)

Budget Preparation and Implementation Based on Forecasts

- Preparing sales, production, cash, and capital budgets

- Determining pricing, credit, and investment policies

- Using Excel models for project appraisal (NPV, IRR, MIRR, payback)

- Linking capital budgeting with financial strategy

- Conducting sensitivity and what-if analysis to assess impact of variable changes

- Implementation strategies for effective budgeting systems

- Identifying management skills required for successful execution

- Integrating forecasting and budgeting into strategic control

Break-Even, Sensitivity & Scenario Analysis

- Understanding cost behavior and break-even analysis

- Identifying fixed, variable, and semi-variable costs

- Determining profit and sales thresholds

- Performing sensitivity and what-if analysis using Excel

- Developing scenario models (best/worst case, Monte Carlo simulations)

- Building financial simulation models for forecasting performance

- Setting key performance indicators (KPIs) for decision-making

- Planning contingencies through re-projection and scenario tools

Variance Analysis, Reporting & Strategic Control

- Designing effective accounting and responsibility systems

- Establishing cost accounting and control structures

- Performing variance analysis and interpreting results

- Preparing and presenting variance reports for management decisions

- Linking performance results to strategic business plans

- Evaluating financial outcomes through variance trends

- Developing control mechanisms for continuous improvement

- Applying variance results to strengthen planning and budgeting systems

Course Dates & Prices

Location	Starting Date	Price
Online	19/10/2025	1799 $
Dubai (UAE)	20/10/2025	2549 $
Dubai (UAE)	20/10/2025	2799$
Cairo (Egypt)	27/10/2025	2549 $
Online	27/10/2025	1799 $
Online	03/11/2025	1799 $
Dubai (UAE)	10/11/2025	2799 $
Muscat (Oman)	10/11/2025	2799 $
Dubai (UAE)	17/11/2025	2799 $
Online	17/11/2025	1799 $
Muscat (Oman)	24/11/2025	2799 $
Online	24/11/2025	1799 $
Online	24/11/2025	1799 $
Dubai (UAE)	01/12/2025	2799 $
Online	01/12/2025	1799 $
Online	01/12/2025	1799 $
London (UK)	01/12/2025	3299 $
Dubai (UAE)	08/12/2025	2799$
Online	08/12/2025	1699 $
Istanbul (Turkey)	15/12/2025	2799 $
Dubai (UAE)	15/12/2025	2799 $
Online	15/12/2025	1799 $
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	22/12/2025	3899$
Doha (Qatar)	22/12/2025	2799 $
Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)	22/12/2025	3899$
Online	29/12/2025	1799 $
Dubai (UAE)	29/12/2025	2799$
Istanbul	29/12/2025	2549 $
Online	29/12/2025	1799 $