The course emphasizes both strategic and operational perspectives, ensuring participants can align financial planning with business goals and performance management.

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

• Understand the key concepts and types of budgets and forecasts
• Design effective budgeting processes and calendar cycles
• Apply tools and techniques to improve forecast accuracy
• Link strategic planning to financial and operational plans
• Analyze variances and use planning data to support decision-making

This course is ideal for:

• Financial analysts and planners
• Budget officers and finance managers
• Accountants and controllers
• Project managers with budgeting responsibilities
• Business unit leaders and operations managers
• Anyone involved in financial planning and analysis (FP&A)

This interactive Training will be highly interactive, with opportunities to advance your opinions and ideas and will include:
• Lectures
• Workshop & Work Presentation
• Case Studies and Practical Exercise
• Videos and General Discussions

Day 1: Fundamentals of Budgeting and Planning

• Introduction to financial planning and budgeting
• The role of budgeting in performance management
• Types of budgets: operational, capital, cash, master budgets
• Top-down vs. bottom-up approaches
• Budgeting process and calendar

Day 2: Budgeting Techniques and Tools

• Incremental vs. zero-based budgeting (ZBB)
• Activity-based budgeting (ABB)
• Rolling budgets and flexible budgeting
• Building a department or project-level budget
• Using Excel and budgeting software (basic tools)

Day 3: Forecasting Methods and Best Practices

• Forecasting vs. budgeting: key differences
• Quantitative vs. qualitative forecasting
• Trend analysis, regression, and time series forecasting
• Scenario planning and sensitivity analysis
• Improving forecast reliability and reducing bias

Day 4: Strategic Planning and Integration

• Linking financial plans to business strategy
• KPIs and performance metrics in planning
• Long-range planning vs. short-term budgeting
• Integration with enterprise-wide planning (e.g., ERP, FP&A tools)
• Cross-functional collaboration in planning

Day 5: Variance Analysis, Review & Practical Workshop

• Variance analysis and management reporting
• Root cause analysis of budget vs. actual differences
• Adjusting forecasts based on performance
• Hands-on case study: preparing a full budget and forecast
• Group presentations, discussion, and feedback
• Final Q&A, wrap-up, and course certification

A RECTUS attendance certificate will be awarded to all participants who complete at least 80% of the total course duration.