COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed for financial professionals to enhance financial insight through intelligent analytics. It is practical and immediately applicable, with a focus on how AI can support financial analysis, auditing, forecasting, fraud detection, and reporting in Excel.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the course, participants will:
- Use Excel’s built-in AI features to analyze financial data
- Automate common reporting and audit tasks using intelligent tools
- Build forecasts and detect anomalies in cash flow and expenses
- Apply AI-driven features like Analyze Data, Forecast Sheet, and Power Query
Lesson 1: Introduction & Overview
- The role of AI in modern financial reporting
- Overview of AI tools in Excel
Lesson 2: AI-Driven Insights with Analyze Data & Natural Language
- Asking Excel questions in plain English
- Practical: Explore a trial balance and let Excel find insights
- Use case: Variance and audit reviews
Lesson 3: Forecasting & Trend Analysis o Creating time-based forecasts using Forecast Sheet
- Best practices for interpreting Excel forecasts
- Visualizing trends with Sparklines and Conditional Formatting
- Hands-on: Forecasting monthly expenses or cash flows
Lesson 4: Data Cleaning & Automation with Power Query
- Using Power Query for intelligent data import and cleanup
- Automated data transformations and column detection
- Use case: Preparing large transaction logs or bank feeds
- Exercise: Clean and combine multiple financial files
Lesson 5: Anomaly Detection & Fraud Flags
- Flagging outliers with formulas and Z-score logic
- Highlighting risky transactions with Conditional Formatting o Introduction to Power Pivot for custom financial logic
- Exercise: Build a dashboard that flags expense anomalies
Lesson 6: Case Study & Wrap-Up
Case Study: AI-assisted monthly close checklist
Discussion: Use cases from participants
Resources & next steps
