Name: Financial Analysis and Forecasting: Tools and Techniques
Start: 2021-06-27
End: 2021-07-01
Location: Dubai

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Course Methodology

The course is a hands-on workshop that applies the forecasting techniques utilizing MS Excel through the use of different exercises and case studies.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

Use ratio and financial analysis to Interpret company financials and industry position
Analyze real-life financial statements from companies traded on the world and 'GCC' stock exchanges
Apply different forecasting techniques that will help in making financial and business decisions
Utilize Microsoft Excel to build forecasting models effectively

Target Audience

Financial controllers, analysts, finance and accounting managers, supervisors, and finance professionals who need to interpret and analyze financial statements and use them to create and maintain forecasts in their organizations.

Target Competencies

Understanding and performing financial analysis
Perform vertical, horizontal and trend analysis
Forecasting
Modeling financial statements
Applying Excel functions and tools

Note

This is a hands-on training course using laptops. Participants are required to use their own laptops equipped with Excel 2016 or higher for the duration of the training.

Required components of financial statement analysis
- Role of financial reporting and analysis
- Core financial statements and the importance of the annual report
- The important role of notes and supplementary information
- Objectives of financial statements audit
- Types of audits
- Financial statement analysis framework
- The accounting cycle
- Financial reporting mechanics
- Relationship, elements and classification of financial statements
Mechanisms of financial analysis techniques
- Vertical analysis and strategy: balance sheet and income statement approaches
- Horizontal, trend analysis and growth
- Liquidity analysis:
  - Current, quick, and cash ratios, defensive interval and cash conversion cycle
- Asset management and activity ratios:
  - Total and fixed assets turnover
- Solvency analysis:
  - Debt, equity, and times interest earned ratios
- Profitability analysis:
  - Profit margin, gross margin, return on assets, return on equity
- Market and valuation:
  - Price earnings and earnings-per-share ratios
- DuPont analysis: the three-step and five-step models
- Limitation of ratio analysis
Forecasting techniques
- Qualitative models
  - Market research approach
  - Delphi method technique
- Quantitative models
  - Causal models
    - Econometric models
    - Regression analysis: simple and multiple
    - Correlation coefficient and coefficient of determination
- Time series methods
  - Simple average
  - Moving average
  - Exponential smoothing
  - Expected value
Modeling projected financial statements
- Micro and macro factors
- Forecasting sales
  - Estimating market demand
  - Estimating company demand
  - Developing sales forecast
- Forecasting cost of sales
- Forecasting operating expenses
- Forecasting key assets and liabilities accounts
- Modeling the income statement forecast
- Modeling the balance sheet forecast

Meirc Professional Certificate (MPC)

MPC certified courses by Meirc Training and Consulting are designed for those willing to challenge themselves and go the extra distance. Participants who fully attend an MPC course and successfully complete the test on the last day, will receive a Meirc Professional Certificate (MPC), in addition to the one they receive for attendance. MPC certificates are regionally recognized and can be quite valuable when applying for more senior roles within the organization or outside.