K2's Budgeting and Forecasting Tools and Techniques

Overview

Do your budgeting and forecasting processes work as well as they should? Probably not, as many organizations report that budgeting and forecasting activities consume tremendous time and yield only marginal benefits. In this course, you will learn to achieve a greater return on your budgeting and forecasting activities using various tools and techniques available in today's market.

In addition to learning how to utilize Excel more effectively for budgeting and forecasting activities, you will also learn about other tools, such as Budget Maestro, PROPHIX, and Host Analytics, and how reducing your dependency on Excel can lead to better results. Additionally, you will learn how to account for risk and uncertainty in your budgeting and forecasting models and why doing so is a best practice for more meaningful budgets and forecasts. Join us in this course to learn how to reduce your time on budgeting and forecasting tasks while simultaneously increasing their value.

Objectives

Utilize processes for obtaining budget data and collaborating with others when using Excel, including Shared and Merged Workbooks, Excel's Audit Trail, controlling and validating data input, and collaborating with others

Apply various Excel techniques for interacting with the accounting system, such as Office Data Connections, Open Database Connectivity, importing text files, and linking Internet-based data into budgeting and forecasting models

Identify situations in which various Excel techniques are appropriately implemented, such as using Data Tables for sensitivity analysis, working with Excel's Goal Seek feature, using Solver to maximize scarce resources, working with Scenario Manager, forecasting with Regression Analysis, and analyzing risk with Monte Carlo simulations

Implement various Excel functions - including NPV, IRR, XNPV, and XIRR - in capital budgeting situations and identify different methods by which Excel computes depreciation

Compare and contrast Excel with other applications used for budgeting and forecasting activities and describe conditions in which you should use other solutions to reduce the dependency on Excel as a budgeting and forecasting solution

Highlights

Budget-centric features in Excel

Capital budgeting techniques

Working with Solver and Scenario Manager in budgeting and forecasting environments

Collaboration issues, version control, and audit history

Designed For

Business professionals involved in budgeting and forecasting activities

Prerequisites

Fundamental knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel 2019 or newer

Preparation

None

Notice

By registering for this program and, accordingly, receiving the eMaterials, you’re acknowledging that you understand both the copyright restrictions on your eMaterials and the CTCPA cancellation policy. https://www.ctcpas.org/events/cpe-policies

Fees

Credits

Level

Code

Vendor

Fields of Study

Leader(s):

Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLC

Leader Bios

Brian Tankersley, Director of Strategic Relationships, K2 Enterprises, LLC

Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 30 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.

Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the “Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology” by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group’s Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.

Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.

Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.

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