VIFM - Virginia Institute of Finance and Management
 Back to catalogue
Finance
Advanced
AFP Certified Corporate FP&A Professional

The Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis for Professionals

2–5 daysENclassroom · virtual

Course overview

The Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis Professional consists of two parts, with three domains in each part. This exam preparation. By attending this course, you will improve business decisions by allocating capital to its best use. As a FP&A, you will prove that you have deep knowledge of the entire decision support process and are able to contribute to and be responsible for individual components of that process. This course will validate that you know how to perform these functions accurately and efficiently, and can identify, assess and adapt the processes to changes in the business environment.

Target audience

The FPAC course is open to anyone who has an interest in or currently works in Senior Financial Analyst, Finance Manager Head of Long-Term Planning & Budgeting, Director of Finance, Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis, Principal Financial Analyst, Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis, Business & Planning Analyst. – Director, Business Planning Business Controller. Finance & Accounting Manager, Director, Budgeting & Financial Analysis, Director, Strategic Data Analyst Manager, Business Planning & Strategy, Director, Budgeting & Analysis, Budget & Financial Analyst and Business Analyst

Course objectives

  • Discover the knowledge and gain the confidence you need to pass AFP's Certified Corporate FP&A Professional exam
  • Identify opportunities to increase the strategic value offered by the FP&A function at your organization
  • Learn how to manage FP&A projects, process, aligned people and rightsize the technology to deliver the FP&A services
  • Learn how to build and refine models, effective analysis of data and use them in the planning process
  • Learn how to leverage Business Intelligence (BI), Corporate Performance Management (CPM), Excel, and ERP systems to deliver a best-in-class FP&S function at your organization

Target competencies

Forecasting techniques
Financial management
Data visualization
Capital management
Financial modeling
Data management

Course methodology

This course will enable the delegate to differentiate themselves within the finance profession and validate their understanding of the complex processes, tools and uniform standards. Real-life case studies, individual workshops, and team work activities.

Course outline

PART1: FINANCIAL ACUMEN

  • Knowledge Domain A - Concepts of Business and Finance: 52-58% of Exam Part I

    • Budget Types & Planning: Understanding zero-based budgets, annual budgets, and rolling forecasts.
    • Financial Report Interpretation: Annual corporate reports, interconnected financial statements.
    • Financial Principles: Time value, cost structures, cost of capital.
    • Risk Management: Hedging, value at risk, diversification.
    • Economics: Micro and macroeconomic concepts affecting planning.

  • Knowledge Domain B - Systems and Technology: 17-23% of Exam Part I

    • Spreadsheet Skills: Advanced functions, pivot tables, macros.
    • System Limitations: Business intelligence and ERP systems.
    • Data Management: ETL processes, data warehousing.
    • Governance: Internal governance, regulatory concerns.

  • Knowledge Domain C - Business Partnering: 22-28% of Exam Part I

    • Information Collection: Templates, surveys.
    • Stakeholder Interaction: KPIs, metrics.
    • Organizational Structure: FP&A, accounting, investor relations.
    • Project Management: Scope, timelines.

PART 2: FINANCIAL ANALYSIS AND BUSINESS SUPPORT

  • Knowledge Domain A - Analysis and Projections: 37-43% of Exam Part II

    • Financial Projections: Income, cash flow, balance sheets.
    • Investment Analysis: ROI, DCF, NPV.
    • Ratio Analysis: Debt/equity, liquidity.
    • Variance Reporting: Actual vs planned figures.

  • Knowledge Domain B - Models and Analytics: 42-48% of Exam Part II

    • Model Design & Assumptions: Efficient and effective model building.
    • Statistical Analysis: Standard deviation, correlation, regression.
    • Data Trend Analysis: Patterns, seasonality, outliers.

  • Knowledge Domain c - Business Communication: 12-18% of Exam Part II

    • Presentation Skills: Detailing complex issues.
    • Data Visualization: Effective charts.
    • Interpersonal Skills: Interviewing, negotiation.

Want to run this for your team?

Request a tailored quote - we'll come back with delivery options, language preferences, group-size pricing, and dates that work for you.

Request a quote