Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Planning
Build realistic budgets and forecasts that support strategy and keep spending under control.
- 5 days
- Classroom · Live virtual · In-house
- Afriskora Certificate of Completion
Course overview
This course covers the full planning cycle: linking budgets to strategy, budgeting methods, rolling forecasts, scenario planning and variance analysis. It includes Excel-based modelling exercises and examples from corporate and public-sector budgeting.
Who should attend
- Finance and budget officers
- Managers with budget responsibility
- Planning and strategy staff
- Public-sector budget analysts
What you will be able to do
- Link budgets to strategic objectives
- Choose suitable budgeting methods
- Build rolling forecasts and scenarios
- Analyse and explain variances
- Improve the budgeting process
Course outline
Day 1Planning foundations
- • Strategy and budgets
- • Budget cycle
- • Roles and governance
- • Revenue and expenditure planning
Day 2Budgeting methods
- • Incremental and zero-based
- • Activity-based budgeting
- • Programme budgeting
- • Capital budgets
Day 3Forecasting
- • Forecasting techniques
- • Rolling forecasts
- • Scenario and sensitivity analysis
- • Excel modelling
Day 4Monitoring and control
- • Variance analysis
- • Reporting to management
- • Cash flow forecasting
- • Corrective action
Day 5Improving the process
- • Budget negotiations
- • Beyond budgeting
- • Technology
- • Improvement plan
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Budgeting, Forecasting and Financial Planning course?
The course runs for 5 days. Daily start and finish times are confirmed in your joining instructions. Live virtual sessions cover the same programme.
Do I receive a certificate?
Yes. Every participant who completes the course receives an Afriskora Certificate of Completion with a unique code that employers can verify online.
Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?
Yes. We can run it at your premises or online for your team, on dates that suit you, and adapt examples and case studies to your sector.
How do I book and pay?
Request dates and we'll send available sessions and a quote. Bookings are confirmed by invoice and paid by EFT. South African clients can include the course in their Workplace Skills Plan.
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