Excel for Financial Professionals

Advanced Corporate Credit – Warning Signals is a highly interactive three-day course worth 24 CPD points. The course is designed to refine the analytic skills needed to identify the early warning signals of credit deterioration. It will also help participants to determine a company’s ability to improve performance or repair the existing capital structure. The course will draw upon lessons learned from the credit crisis to determine sustainable levels of indebtedness, the robustness of deal structures, and how best to respond to problems facing a corporate client. Current trends will be examined to highlight any potential pockets of risk.

Advanced Financial Modeling is a two-day course worth 16 CPD points. This course will develop the best practice approaches to structuring fully flexible and auditable models whilst cultivating the most efficient data analysis tools and solve other common modeling problems. Areas covered include flexible forecasting, quarterly modelling and period consolidation, auditing, building consistent checks, debt modelling and structuring, modelling taxes, NOLs and deferred taxes, large volume data analysis, modeling pensions, dynamic charting and sensitivity analysis. Advanced Financial Modeling is aimed at financial modelers, M&A analysts and associates with significant financial modeling experience. This course can also be run in-house.

The overall goal of this course is to develop a deeper understanding of global fixed income markets, trading strategies and market signals. 

Advanced Insurance Company Analysis - Warning Signals is a two-day course worth 16 CPD points. The course aims to cover a wide variety of troubled insurance companies in short case studies, and looks at signs of distress, operating environment, management and shareholders, business risk and financial risk. The course is targeted at experienced credit risk managers, fixed income investors and regulators who are already familiar with the key analytic tools for analyzing insurance companies. Advanced Insurance Company Analysis - Warning Signals can also be delivered in-house.

Advanced Presentation Skills is a one-day course designed to enhance presentation skills through the discovery of new techniques to captivate an audience. Through practical exercises and by watching yourself present via camera, your ability will improve as your confidence grows. You will learn how to structure and build compelling presentations, consistently deliver in an engaging manner, build instant rapport, understand how best to use your voice, and how to be remembered. Whether you are an experienced analyst, associate or at Director level this course is ideal if you are looking to really engage and motivate your audience.

The objective of this course is to drill down into the financial statements of banks operating globally with universal, less standard business models to identify and quantify the risks of more complex business lines, such as broker dealer activity and securitization. Who should attend, Experienced analysts, regulators, risk and fixed income professionals with a good understanding of the analysis of financial institutions.&nbsp,

Bank Capital Adequacy Under Basel III is a two-day intermediate course worth 16 CPD points. The overall goal is to provide participants with an understanding of how capital is regulated under Basel II and III and appreciate the impact that changing regulatory capital requirements may have upon the bank’s exposures, and ultimately upon its balance sheet management and strategy. The target audience is bankers, internal auditors, regulators and analysts, but is also appropriate for those who wish to gain insight into capital adequacy and its importance for banks. The course assumes a basic understanding of accounting, banking products and functions.

Best Practice Finance Modelling is a two-day course worth 16 CPD points. The key learning outcomes are, • Know how to construct professional models • Understand how to build integrated models with additional valuation or analysis • Understand the sensitivity of key drivers, significantly improve efficiency of using shortcuts, and optimize the use of financial functions. Designed for professionals in corporates and financial institutions who wish to raise their financial valuation skills to a superior level, attendees should have a good basic excel knowledge and basic accounting knowledge. Best Practice Financial Modeling (Intermediate) can also be delivered in-house.

Business Writing Skills for Research and Sales Teams is a one-day course designed to help participants structure compelling written communications. The key learning outcomes are, • Prepare materials that motivate readers to take action • Structure documents and transmit clear messages • Write in a concise style that makes your desired impact • Recognize smart business writing, and improve your own writing objectively. Business Writing Skills for Research and Sales Teams can also be delivered in-house.

Capital Structures and Debt Products is an interactive two-day course that utilizes case studies and exercises to illustrate key learning points. The goal is to enhance the analytic skills needed when evaluating or structuring funding solutions for new business opportunities and in the context of re-financing existing corporate debt. This course is designed for banking and finance professionals involved in credit risk management, origination, structuring or relationship / portfolio management of companies actively managing their capital structures. Participants are expected to have a basic knowledge of Excel and a sound understanding of corporate risk analysis.

Central Counterparties, Clearing Houses & Exchanges is a two-day course worth 16 CPD points. The goal is to offer a structured approach to the credit analysis of Financial Markets Infrastructures (FMIs), specifically central counterparties (CCPs), clearing houses, settlement agents and exchanges. The course covers markets in securities and derivatives, operating environment, risk and financial analysis, and exposure structuring. This intermediate course is aimed at risk managers, treasurers, capital markets and regulatory professionals who need to review and analyze credit exposures to different types of securities and derivatives exchange, clearing house and central counterparty.

The need for quant finance expertise is ever-widening, so we've designed the CQF for ambitious professionals from a spectrum of backgrounds. CQF delegates come from a wide range of positions within the markets and a variety of academic backgrounds, including finance, economics, business, engineering and the sciences. The CQF is for anyone who wants an efficient and cost effective way to develop practical mastery of quant finance and machine learning, while also earning a globally recognized qualification.

CLO Credit Risk is a two-day course designed to equip participants with the analytic skills and understanding to assess the risk and rewards inherent in Collateralized Loan Obligations (CLOs). Key learning outcomes include, • Use a structured approach to evaluate the underlying assets, asset manager and transaction structures • Understand the impact of key variables on risk assessment models • Critique the structure to identify and assess the risks and protections afforded • Appreciate the rationale for CLOs from the perspective of the issuer and the investor • Highlight differences between CLO 1.0 and 2.0.

Corporate Credit Analysis is a four-day course worth 32 CPD points. Participants will use a structured and systematic approach to evaluate the credit standing of a company and assess the relative attractiveness of the risk-return profile of the investing/lending proposition. This is a highly interactive course where case studies and exercises are used to illustrate key learning points, allowing participants to apply the concepts acquired during the course to a real-life scenario. Fitch Learning’s Corporate Credit Analysis course can also be delivered in-house.

Counterparty Credit Risk in Derivatives is a three-day intermediate course worth 24 CPD points. The aim is to enable participants to identify the key categories and drivers of transaction credit risk in the main derivative products, and to apply a consistent approach to the quantification of these risks. The course is designed for risk managers, bankers, analysts, controllers and regulators who need to understand how derivative credit risk is measured, mitigated and accounted for in an increasingly complex world. A basic understanding of derivative product structures is required. Counterparty Credit Risk in Derivatives can also be delivered in-house.

The aim of this two-day course is to equip participants with the analytic skills to assess risk and rewards inherent in Covered Bonds backed by mortgages and public sector assets. Key learning outcomes include, • Use a structured analytic approach to evaluate the risk profile of covered bonds • Understand the legal framework used to issue covered bonds in key jurisdictions • Identify risks to continued payments should an issuer default, distinguish the credit quality of cover pools, assess the impact of programme features on ratings, and evaluate the relative risks and rewards of covered bonds vs. other funding instruments. This course is designed for investors, credit risk managers, issuers, regulators, and bankers.

Credit Portfolio Management is a two-day intermediate level course. Key learning outcomes include, • Identify the key elements of credit risk • Evaluate the inter-action of credit risk within a portfolio exposures (especially default correlation), and how these can be measured and quantified • Review how the main drivers of credit risk are modelled and sensitized • Understand how credit portfolio modelling is used within firm-wide risk management and regulatory and economic capital process. The course is designed for bankers, regulators and analysts who wish to gain insight into the credit portfolio management process, without being modelers themselves.

Credit Risk of Commodity Companies is an interactive, two-day intermediate level course. The purpose of the course is to enhance credit skills and equip participants with tools and techniques to understand a commodity trader's commercial and financial viability and to appreciate the key credit, market and country risks which occur in commodity trade transactions. The course is designed corporate bankers and analysts, credit, risk and portfolio managers, and is also suitable for finance professionals working in credit risk management and credit products who are doing business with or taking exposure against commodity companies.

Credit Risk, Key Concepts is a one-day course designed to enable participants to understand the key concepts of credit risk and how this risk is managed within financial institutions. Key learning outcomes include, • Identify the different types of credit risk and how they arise • Understand how credit risk can be quantified, monitored and controlled, exploring the role of credit portfolio management tools such as collateral, documentation and credit derivatives • Understand the need for capital, differentiating between definitions of capital applied by various stakeholders such as management and regulators.

Early Warning Signals in Banks is an intensive two-day course designed to provide a structured approach for identifying early warning signals in financial institutions. Key learning outcomes include, • Understand the causes and symptoms of both systemic and individual bank failure in the global financial crisis • Anticipate and quantify the vulnerability of institutions to liquidity and refinancing risk • Stress test solvency for write downs from credit, trading, investment and derivative positions • Differentiate qualitative, quantitative and market indicators of credit deterioration • Identify the likely triggers or events which would change the credit standing of a company in the future.

This three-day course is designed to give a structured approach to the credit analysis of banks in emerging markets. Key learning outcomes include, • Apply a structured analytic approach incorporating the operating environment, financial fundamentals, management and support • Identify banking systems with high systemic risk and evaluate the potential impact • Evaluate financial statements to identify strong and weak performers and recognize areas of vulnerability • Use international and local financial, qualitative and market indicators to distinguish early warning signals • Recognize the impact of the sovereign, systemic and regulatory change on bank performance and strategy and identify the need for and likelihood of support.

Responsible investing has seen a growth in interest from investors in recent years. Investors are increasingly looking for funds that offer environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, which enhance the value of a fund’s performance. This introductory course reviews the key motivations behind the increased awareness of ESG investing and the risks and challenges this presents.

This is a two-day introductory course designed for analysts who have limited or no experience in the analysis of financial statements for financial institutions. Key learning outcomes include, • Distinguish the risks in the different business lines and products offered by financial institutions and recognize how they are reflected in the financial statements • Understand the components of bank financial statements and key ratios used in bank analysis • Recognize the impact of differing accounting standards and policies on the financial statements • Use the CAMELS framework and key ratios to make a preliminary assessment of the performance and financial health of a bank.

Fundamentals of Corporate Financial Statement Analysis is a two-day introductory course designed for users of financial reports and accounts who have no prior or limited knowledge of corporate financial information. Key learning outcomes include, • How a company’s business and financing activities are reflected in its financial statements • The components of financial statements, Balance sheet, profit and loss and cash flow and key notes to the accounts • The distinction between cash flow and profits • How to measure operating, investing and financial performance using appropriate ratios and cash flow tools.

This course provides an assessment of the current economic scenarios of the G7 nations and the implications on the financial markets, for policy makers and investors alike.

Fundamentals of Economics and Financial Markets is a two-day introductory course designed to provide an assessment of the current economic scenarios of the G7 nations and the implications on the financial markets, for policy makers and investors alike. Key learning outcomes are, • Understand macroeconomic fundamentals • See the big picture - drivers, key indicators, issues of the day • Acknowledge economics as the science of manipulating macro wealth • Understand how macro factors might have an effect on different asset classes • Analyze real, current data and explain its impact on the financial markets.

The objective of this two-day course is to provide participants with the skills to analyze the financial statements of companies in order to carry out an overall effective appraisal. FTSE 100 annual reports are used to analyze the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement of companies. This is a highly interactive course where case studies and exercises are used to illustrate key learning points, allowing participants to apply the concepts acquired during the course to real-life scenarios.

Fundamentals of Financial Modeling is a one-day introductory course designed for professionals in corporates and financial institutions who need to create useful and robust financial models. Key learning outcomes include, • How to design and construct useful and robust financial modeling applications • Learn financial forecasting • Use several of the support tools and techniques in spreadsheet programs, and utilize sensitivity and scenario analysis. Participants should be able to use the basic facilities of Microsoft Excel and have basic accounting knowledge. Fundamentals of Financial Modeling can also be run in-house.

This is a one-day introductory course designed for individuals who are seeking an understanding of fixed income and related instruments. Key learning outcomes include, • Describe the government and corporate bond markets • Identify major players in the fixed income market, compare between types of fixed income instruments • Identify the role played by credit rating agencies, discuss the concept of time value of money and its application to bond pricing • Compute the price of fixed income securities • Examine the measures of sensitivity and interest rate risk, evaluate the concept of yield and the yield curve, define the concept of ‘spreads’ • Explain the process of securitization.

Fundamentals of Insurance Financial Statements is a two-day course. The course is designed to enable participants to understand the key components of an insurance company’s financial statements to appreciate how these might vary according to the accounting standard used, and to learn to use a few key ratios to analyze financial strength. This course is aimed at analysts, regulators and insurance personnel who have limited or no experience in the interpretation and analysis of insurance company financial statements. Fundamentals of Insurance Financial Statements can also be delivered in-house.

Fundamentals of Investment Management is a one-day course that provides a comprehensive, non-mathematical introduction to the key elements of investment management. The key learning outcomes include, • Understand what institutional investors are and how they operate • Identify the characteristics of the principal asset classes and distinguish between the principal investment products • Understand the importance of establishing investor preferences • Understand the basic principles of portfolio construction • Distinguish between active and passive portfolio strategies and styles • Differentiate between equity and fixed income management styles • Understand the interaction between institutional investors and brokers/investment banks.

The course provides a comprehensive understanding of private equity investment funds and leveraged buyout (LBO) transactions. This program ensures hands-on experience, enabling participants to grasp LBO value creation and deal structuring principles. Learning is achieved through practical exercises and case studies. As participants advance in the program, they will be guided to construct a robust LBO model using real-world company data, reinforcing their learning through practical application. It is for professionals in financial institutions, research analysts, private equity, and M&amp,A analysts who need an understanding of a leveraged buyout transaction and how a transaction is modelled and analysed.&nbsp,&nbsp,