Professional Financial Analyst

Topic 1. What is Financial Analysis

• What financial analysis is, why it is needed and for what purposes.

Topic 2. How to “Read” the Balance Sheet

• Structure of the Balance Sheet.
•  How to read the Balance Sheet.
•  Aggregated analytical Balance Sheet.

Topic 3. How to “Read” the P&L

• How to read the Income Statement (P&L).
• Compiling the Cash Flow Statement.
• How to interpret Cash Flow Statement data.

Topic 4. How to “Read” the Statement of Changes in Equity

• How to read the Statement of Changes in Equity.

Topic 5. Limitations of Financial Statements

• Limitations of financial statements.

Topic 6. Integrated Analysis

• Ratio analysis of the company’s financial position.
• Integrated analysis based on financial ratios.

Topic 1. Key Financial Statements for Manufacturing

• P&L for manufacturing (simplified version).
• Cash Flow Statement for manufacturing (simplified and full versions).
• Verification of key financial statements.
• Manufacturing Balance Sheet (horizontal analysis).
• Manufacturing Balance Sheet (vertical analysis).

Topic 2. Key Financial Statements for the Trading Business

• P&L for the trading business.
• Cash Flow Statement for the trading business.
• Balance Sheet for the trading business.

Topic 3. Key Financial Statements for the Services Sector

• P&L, Cash Flow Statement, Balance Sheet for the services sector.

Topic 4. Summary

• Module summary.

Topic 1. Factor Analysis

• Factor analysis: assessing the impact of factors on profit.
• Factor analysis: assessing the impact of factors on revenue.

Topic 2. CVP Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis

• Graphical method for calculating indicators.
• Analytical methods for calculating indicators.
• Sensitivity analysis.

Topic 3. Trend Analysis and Moving Average Analysis

• Forecasting in financial calculations.

Topic 1. Working Capital Management

• Working capital management.

Topic 2. Cash Flow Management

• Cash flow management.
• Case 1. Cash Flow from zero: Services.
• Case 2. Cash Flow from zero: Manufacturing.
• Case 3. Cash Flow with manufacturing data.

Topic 3. Working Capital Requirement

• Working capital requirement.
• Case: Working capital parameters – manufacturing.
• Case: Working capital requirement.

Topic 1. Management Accounting in a Company

• Management accounting in a company.

Topic 2. Standard Costing Method

• Standard costing method.

Topic 3. Cost Accounting Methods

• Cost accounting methods.

Topic 4. Plan–Fact Analysis

• Plan–fact analysis.

Topic 5. Management Reporting

• Preparation of management reporting.

Topic 6. Errors in Management Accounting

• Top 15 management accounting errors.

Topic 7. Management Accounting Checklist by Areas of Responsibility

• Management accounting process checklist by areas of responsibility.

Topic 1. Financial Planning and Budgeting

• Financial planning and budgeting.

Topic 2. Analytical Work with Budgets

• Analytical work with budgets.

Topic 1. Risk Assessment and Management in Financial Calculations

• Risk assessment in financial calculations.
• Decision-making methods under risk and uncertainty.

Topic 2. Risk Analysis

• Risk analysis.

Topic 1. Methodological Foundations of Investment Analysis

• Methodological foundations of investment analysis.

Topic 2. Key Indicators and Capital Assessment of an Investment Project

• Key indicators of an investment project.
• Capital cost assessment in investment analysis.

Topic 3. Impact of Inflation and Taxation on an Investment Project

• Assessing the impact of inflation and taxation on an investment project.

Topic 1. Financial Modelling – Theory

• Introduction to financial modelling. Break-even point.
• Profit planning and cost optimisation.
• Profitability management. Financial business model.

Topic 2. Case Studies

• Margin and mark-up: calculation, differences, and the impact of discounts.
• Financial modelling of discounts: profit analysis from promotional campaigns.
• Complementary promotions: planning, calculation, implementation.
• Break-even point for a product: calculation, analysis, profit planning.
• Break-even point for a service.
• Financial model for a start-up shop: planning, calculation, payback assessment.

Topic 1. Presentation Skills for a Financial Analyst

• Google Slides.
• Data visualisation in Canva. Part 1.
• Data visualisation in Canva. Part 2.

Topic 2. Working with Tabular Data and its Visualisation

• Google Sheets: cases for using basic formulas.
• Google Sheets: cases for using text functions and working with dates.
• Google Sheets: cases for using advanced functions.
• Google Sheets: cases for using array formulas and analysis functions.
• Google Sheets: cases for using pivot tables and scripts.
• Report visualisation in Power BI.

Topic 1. How to Understand Where to Move Forward?

Topic 1. Example of Developing the “Communication” Competency.

Topic 1. How to Analyse Job Vacancies

Topic 1. Social Media Profile

Topic 1. Active Job Search: Analysing Successes and Rejections

Topic 1. Self-Presentation