Budgeting and Financial Planning

Course overview

A budget is only useful if it is realistic, owned by the people who must deliver it and updated as conditions change. Many budget holders, however, receive a template and a deadline but little guidance. This budgeting and financial planning course gives finance staff and managers practical skills to prepare budgets and financial plans that actually guide decisions.

Participants learn the purpose of budgets and the main approaches, including incremental, zero-based, activity-based and rolling budgets, and when each fits. They build a budget step by step: revenue and activity forecasts, cost estimates, staff costs, capital items and cash flow, all in a structured Excel model. The course then covers financial planning beyond the annual budget: multi-year projections, scenario and sensitivity analysis, and linking budgets to performance targets. A final session looks at digital planning tools and how technology is changing financial planning. Examples come from businesses, NGOs and public bodies.

Participants leave able to prepare realistic budgets and forecasts and to explain and defend them to decision-makers.

What you will be able to do

• Explain the purpose of budgets and the main budgeting approaches
• Forecast revenue and activity levels for the budget period
• Estimate operating, staff and capital costs realistically
• Build a structured budget and cash flow model in Excel
• Use zero-based and rolling approaches where appropriate
• Apply scenario and sensitivity analysis to financial plans

Who should attend

For finance staff, budget holders and managers who prepare or contribute to budgets and financial plans. Basic Excel skills are expected.

• Budget officers
• Accountants
• Finance managers
• Department heads and budget holders
• NGO programme and finance staff
• Small business owners
• Planning officers

Course outline

Fees are per participant in US dollars and cover tuition, course materials and your certificate. Travel and accommodation are not included.