Financial Analyst

Program

Financial Analyst

Turn financial statements into decisions

Learn financial modeling, forecasting, and how to read statements the way analysts actually do.

8

Weeks

40

Chapters

4

Practice formats

1

Portfolio artifact

8 weeks — one module per week (8 modules, 40 chapters), each week ending with a live class every Saturday, plus a module exam before the next module opens.

Curriculum

40 chapters across 8 modules — each with guided notes, a live example, a quiz, an exercise, a challenge, and class practice.

Module 1 · FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOUNDATIONS

  1. 1Introduction to Financial AnalysisWhat financial analysts do, where they work, the core questions they answer, and the tools and skills of the role.Learn →
  2. 2Accounting FundamentalsThe accounting equation, double-entry bookkeeping, debits and credits, accrual vs cash accounting, and the trial balance.Learn →
  3. 3The Income StatementRevenue, cost of goods sold, gross profit, operating expenses, EBITDA, EBIT, interest, tax, net income, and margins.Learn →
  4. 4The Balance Sheet & Cash Flow StatementAssets, liabilities, and equity; working capital; the cash flow statement by the indirect method; free cash flow; and how the three statements link.Learn →
  5. 5Accruals, Deferrals & Revenue RecognitionAccrual vs. cash accounting, recognising revenue as it's earned, deferred revenue, accrued expenses and prepayments, and why profit and cash differ month to month.Learn →

Module 2 · ANALYSIS & EXCEL TOOLS

  1. 6Financial Ratio AnalysisProfitability, liquidity, leverage, and efficiency ratios; comparing over time and against peers; and the limits of ratios.Learn →
  2. 7Excel for Financial AnalysisModeling best practices, absolute references, lookups, SUMIF, scenarios, error checks, and structuring workbooks others can trust.Learn →
  3. 8Budgeting & Variance AnalysisThe budgeting process, budget types, actual vs budget variances, favorable and unfavorable variances, and writing variance commentary.Learn →
  4. 9The Time Value of MoneyCompounding and discounting, future and present value, compounding frequency, annuities, loan payments, and the rule of 72.Learn →
  5. 10Cost Behaviour, Break-Even & Operating LeverageFixed and variable costs, contribution margin, break-even units and revenue, target profit volume, margin of safety, and degree of operating leverage.Learn →

Module 3 · FORECASTING, MODELING & VALUATION

  1. 11Forecasting Revenue & CostsDriver-based forecasting, growth rates and CAGR, costs as a percentage of revenue, seasonality, and scenarios.Learn →
  2. 12Building a Three-Statement ModelModel structure, linking the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow, working capital and capex schedules, and model checks.Learn →
  3. 13Investment Decisions: NPV, IRR & PaybackEvaluating projects with cash flows, discount rates, net present value, internal rate of return, payback, and sensitivity.Learn →
  4. 14Valuation BasicsEnterprise vs equity value, comparable company multiples, discounted cash flow valuation, WACC, and presenting a valuation range.Learn →
  5. 15Cost of Capital (WACC) & Terminal ValueCost of equity with CAPM, after-tax cost of debt, capital structure weights, WACC, the Gordon growth terminal value, and sensitivity of valuations to these inputs.Learn →

Module 4 · COMMUNICATE & CAPSTONE

  1. 16Financial Reporting & RecommendationsKPI dashboards, charts that clarify, management reports, the pyramid principle, and writing recommendations executives act on.Learn →
  2. 17Building a Finance KPI DashboardChoosing financial KPIs, gross margin, EBITDA and margins, growth rates, quarter totals, targets and RAG status, and dashboard design for executives.Learn →
  3. 18Revenue Bridges: Price, Volume & MixExplaining revenue changes with price and volume effects, building a bridge (waterfall) chart, mix effects, and writing clear variance explanations.Learn →
  4. 19Presenting Financial Analysis to ExecutivesAnswer-first structure, translating numbers into decisions, slide design for finance, handling tough questions, and pre-wiring key stakeholders.Learn →
  5. 20Variance Commentary & Board PacksWriting variance commentary that explains causes, timing vs. permanent variances, materiality thresholds, structure of board packs, and consistent monthly reporting.Learn →

Module 5 · ON THE JOB: THE FP&A CYCLE

  1. 21On the Job: Building the Annual BudgetIt's budget season at GreenLeaf Kitchens. Run the budget calendar, build a driver-based revenue and cost model, challenge department submissions, and consolidate a budget the board can approve.Learn →
  2. 22On the Job: Month-End Close & Management ReportingDay 5 after month-end: produce the management accounts, analyse variances against budget and last year, write commentary that explains causes, and highlight actions for leadership.Learn →
  3. 23On the Job: Rolling Forecasts & Scenario PlanningHalfway through the year the budget is out of date. Run a rolling forecast, model scenarios for input-cost shocks and demand changes, and give leadership a range with decision triggers.Learn →
  4. 24On the Job: Headcount & People-Cost PlanningBuilding a headcount plan, salary and on-cost assumptions, timing of hires, part-year costs, year-end headcount, and linking people plans to the budget.Learn →
  5. 25On the Job: Capex Plans & Depreciation SchedulesCapital vs. operating expenditure, straight-line depreciation, salvage value and useful life, part-year depreciation, book values, and how capex affects the three statements.Learn →

Module 6 · ON THE JOB: BUSINESS PARTNERING & DECISIONS

  1. 26On the Job: Pricing & Product ProfitabilityThe commercial director asks which products and customers actually make money. Build contribution margins, allocate costs sensibly, model price increases with elasticity, and recommend actions.Learn →
  2. 27On the Job: Unit Economics & Subscription MetricsGreenLeaf launches a meal-kit subscription. Analyse unit economics — CAC, LTV, payback, churn, cohort revenue — and advise whether to scale marketing.Learn →
  3. 28On the Job: Investment Cases — Lease vs Buy & Make vs BuyOperations wants new delivery vans and to bring dessert production in-house. Build decision models with relevant cash flows, NPV, sensitivities and qualitative factors.Learn →
  4. 29On the Job: Customer Profitability & Cost to ServeWhy gross margin isn't enough, activity-based cost to serve, customer contribution, segmenting customers, and actions for unprofitable accounts.Learn →
  5. 30On the Job: Writing a Business CaseStructure of a business case, options including 'do nothing', costs and benefits, financial evaluation, risks and sensitivities, and getting approval.Learn →

Module 7 · ON THE JOB: CORPORATE FINANCE & RISK

  1. 31On the Job: 13-Week Cash Forecast & Working CapitalProfits are fine but cash is tight. Build a 13-week cash flow forecast, analyse the cash conversion cycle, and find working-capital improvements in receivables, payables and stock.Learn →
  2. 32On the Job: Building & Auditing Financial ModelsYou inherit a 40-tab model nobody understands, with a £1.2M error found last quarter. Apply modelling standards, structure inputs/calculations/outputs, add checks, and review models systematically.Learn →
  3. 33On the Job: Valuation Support — Comparables & Deal AnalysisGreenLeaf is considering buying a regional bakery chain. Build a trading comparables analysis, cross-check with DCF, analyse synergies and deal structure, and support due diligence.Learn →
  4. 34On the Job: Debt & Loan AmortisationHow loans work, the annuity payment formula, interest vs. principal over time, total interest cost, amortisation schedules, and comparing financing options.Learn →
  5. 35On the Job: Foreign Exchange Risk & HedgingTransaction, translation and economic FX exposure, spot and forward rates, hedging with forwards, scenario analysis, and setting a hedging policy.Learn →

Module 8 · CAPSTONE & CAREER LAUNCH

  1. 36Capstone: Model & RecommendationBuild a financial model for a realistic business decision and present a one-page investment or budget recommendation.Learn →
  2. 37Certifications, Portfolio & Interviews for Financial AnalystsBreak into finance — choose qualifications (ACCA, CIMA, CFA, FMVA), build a modelling portfolio, and prepare for technical, Excel and case interviews.Learn →
  3. 38Job Search Strategy for Financial AnalystsFinance career paths (FP&A, corporate finance, investment, audit), entry routes, building a modelling portfolio, qualifications, and tailoring applications.Learn →
  4. 39Technical Interviews for Finance RolesCommon accounting and finance questions, walking through the three statements, valuation questions, Excel and modelling tests, case studies, and structuring answers.Learn →
  5. 40Your First 90 Days as a Financial AnalystStart well in a finance team — learn the business model, the reporting calendar and systems, own a recurring deliverable, build relationships with budget holders, and improve one process.Learn →
Start learning →

Delivery

Blended — self-paced lessons plus live model-review sessions

Portfolio outcome

A financial model and one-page investment/budget recommendation for a sample business scenario.

Certificate

Certificate of completion, verifiable online with its credential code.

By the end of this program, you'll be job-ready to…

  • Read and interpret the three core financial statements
  • Build a forecast model that supports a real decision
  • Present a financial recommendation decision-makers can act on

Salary expectations

Estimated U.S. national average annual salary by experience level.

$65,000

Entry-level

$90,000

Mid-level

$125,000

Senior-level

Estimated figures for planning purposes — actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.

Tools you'll master

Excel / financial modelingRatio analysisForecastingValuation basics

Practical training, every chapter

  • A live "try it yourself" example in every chapter you can run immediately
  • A hands-on exercise per chapter, with hints and a reveal-able answer
  • An open-ended challenge per chapter, graded against real success criteria
  • Class practice prompts for pairs or cohorts, not just solo homework

Why take this program

Interview- and job-ready

Built to the same bar Aicloud actually hires against — not a generic syllabus.

Tier 1 company partners

Program partnerships with leading employers are in progress — see Affiliation for status.

Job connection access

Graduates get access to Aicloud's own hiring pipeline and employer referral network.

Professional networking

Cohort discussion boards and live sessions connect you with peers and mentors, not just content.

A real portfolio

You leave with a concrete, explainable artifact — proof of knowledge, not just a certificate.

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