Best Practice Financial Modelling
Model design and construction skills taught using the FAST Standard
Our entry-level course teaches the core techniques that everyone working with financial models should know. Whether you are brand new to financial modelling or an experienced professional looking to hone their existing knowledge, our highly structured and disciplined approach will transform your productivity. Focusing on the forecast of 3 financial statements (Income, Cash Flow and Balance Sheet), our case study is relevant to those working in business modelling teams, financial advisory, corporates, banking, treasury, government and infrastructure.
Book Your Course
| Date | Format | Location | Duration | Instructor | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 & 16 Oct | Classroom-based | London | 2 Days | Andrew Berkley | £1,900.00 | |
| 20, 21 & 22 Oct | Live Online | Europe / Gulf timezone | 12 hours | Andrew Berkley | £1,595.00 | |
| 2 & 3 Nov | Classroom-based | Dubai | 2 Days | Omar Shaker | £1,900.00 | |
| 22 & 23 Feb | Classroom-based | London | 2 Days | Andrew Berkley | £1,900.00 | |
| Any | Video-based | Online | 12 hours | Andrew Berkley | £495.00 | |
| As requested | In house | As requested | As requested | Any | Variable | Enquire |
Course Preview
Not yet ready to purchase? Curious about our Best Practice Financial Modelling course? You can now preview the training with a free one-hour session and experience our practical, hands-on teaching style before enrolling.
Designed for finance professionals and analysts, the course focuses on real-world modelling techniques, industry best practices, and building robust, flexible financial models with confidence.
Our Clients
Course Content
What will I learn?
We will build together, step-by-step, the calculations required to build a fully dynamic forecast model ready for sensitivity analysis and the running of scenarios. More advanced topics will include inflation and equity valuation.
Working with a case study based on a business acquisition and a template start model, your detailed modelling will follow best practice principles and the FAST Standard. As you build your model from scratch, you can expect intensive, immersive hands-on learning supported by detailed instruction from an expert instructor.
Following one of our live courses, you will receive full and ongoing access to the video-based version of the course, online support from our team of modelling experts and the opportunity to submit additional case studies for review and feedback.
Is this course right for me?
Best Practice Financial Modelling is designed for professionals who need to build, modify or run financial models.
For those with limited experience, the course is an excellent introduction to best practice financial modelling. Experienced modellers find the quality and productivity of their modelling improves through the introduction of a standardised approach to model design and construction.
Pre-Course Topics
Excel Proficiency Skills
- Excel settings for financial modelling
- Keyboard shortcuts for productivity
- Basic worksheet navigation
- Working with rows and columns
Generally accepted best practice
- ICAEW: The Financial Modelling Code
- The FAST Standard
Course Topics
Demand forecasting
- Calculation blocks
- Link-based modelling
- 2D modelling
Working with time
- Flags
- The Time Sheet
Operating costs
- Costs: fixed vs. variable
- Copying calculation blocks
- Sign switches
Inflation
- Rates and factors
- Date-related series data
- XLOOKUP vs INDEX / MATCH
- Inflation: general vs specific
Working capital
- Accounts receivable
- Accounts payable
Depreciation
- Working with initial balances
- Corkscrew accounts
- Accounting depreciation
- Capital expenditure
- Depreciation on capex
Financing
- Simple scenario selection
- INDEX vs OFFSET vs CHOOSE vs IFS
- Senior debt principal
- Senior debt interest
- Lender ratios
Taxation
- Tax expense vs tax paid
- Deferred tax balance
- Tax depreciation
- Tax losses
Shareholder distributions
- Share capital redemption
- Dividends
- Cash and profit tests
Valuation
- Net present value
- NPV() vs XNPV()
- Internal rate of return
- IRR() vs XIRR()
Key outputs and analysis
- Sensitivities
- Scenario managers
- INDEX & MATCH
Quality control
- Quality control
- Checks and alerts
Model finalisation
- Relocating inputs
- Removing placeholders
Post-Course topics
Additional case studies
- Case study assignments
- Start (“BEG”) models
- Solution (“SOL”) models
Meet Our Instructors
John Dimberline
John has 18+ years of experience and has led advisory teams on many complex projects supporting both public sector procurers, private sector bidders and corporates. Formerly head of financial modelling at Grant Thornton, John leads the senior management team at F1F9.
John Dimberline
Managing Director UK
John has 18+ years of experience and has led advisory teams on a large number of complex projects supporting both public sector procurers, private sector bidders and corporates.
Andrew Berkley
With a background in business education and financial advisory work, Andrew leads training delivery at F1F9. Andrew has delivered financial modelling courses to numerous institutions including European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Deloitte, KPMG, Grant Thornton and Siemens.
Andrew Berkley
Director UK
With a background in business education and financial advisory work, Andrew leads training delivery at F1F9. He has been with F1F9 since 2013. Andrew has delivered financial modelling courses to numerous institutions including European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Deloitte, KPMG, Grant Thornton and Siemens. He is an experienced model builder and reviewer with sector experience in telecommunications and transport. He has also worked with smaller businesses in preparing financial forecasts for early stage equity funding proposals. He is also a Chartered Accountant.
Omar Shaker
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with an aggregate value of more than USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Omar Shaker
Director Dubai
Omar is a highly experienced financial modeller having spent the last 15+ years building FAST compliant models in the project finance advisory (debt and equity) space. He has worked on some of the largest transactions globally with aggregate value in excess of USD 20bn. He is fluent in Arabic both written and spoken.
Morten Siersted
Morten founded F1F9 in 1999. He has played a key role in developing the FAST Standard, including setting up the FAST Standard Organisation in 2011.
Morten Siersted
Director & Founder Europe
Morten founded F1F9 in 1999. He has played a key role in developing the FAST Standard, including setting up the FAST Standard Organisation in 2011.
Client Reviews
S. C. Invest NL
I liked the format and the fact that you are building up the model. i think the course was most helpful when you needed to think for yourself and build a part – perhaps more time spent doing this would have been good.
S. V.EBRD
Thanks a lot for the course, it was very useful and well structured. The instructor explained it awesome!
Jord W.
Excellent training! well thought program, really guiding you through the process of setting a financial model! I can really recommend it to everybody who is interested in following a financial modelling course.
Maryam Ahmed Network Rail
Great course- has given me a solid foundation to understand and build basic models within my role. Pacing is good and found the tutor’s instructions to be very straighforward to follow. Highly informative and will definitely consider coming back for the next level once I have put some of the skills learnt on this course into practice. Thank you
Charles Serinet SUEZ
Very useful to understand the impact of changes in revenue, gearing, DSCR on CFADS, Average DSCR, Div and Equity IRR. Very interesting as well to build step by step the balance sheet, P&L and CF to understand the connections between each statements. The track and resources tabs are really useful too.
Michael Leonhart KPN
The structure of the course was good and gave a good insight in how to build the consistent model. Sometimes, it was more about doing rather than really understanding why, so maybe a little more time spend on that topic would be nice. In general I learned a lot about the various shortcuts an modelling in general.
Mthandeni Vilakazi, AIIM
Specifically found the shortcuts and best-practice principles on model construction particularly helpful in improving productivity and efficiency. I also appreciated the use of a tracking sheet, as well as the time taken to explore alternative functions and approaches to understand their limitations.
Agie Turowska, Network Rail
The practical tools were great and will be very handy to pass on and help my colleagues too. The format was very good and easy to follow. I liked that we had two instructors helping when anyone got stuck while the rest were able to carry on.
Anonymous
Andrew was comprehensive, friendly and attentive. He managed the group very well, catered to all learning speeds, and ensured everyone’s questions were answered without disrupting the flow of the course.
Mthandeni Vilakazi, AIIM
The shortcuts and model construction best practices were particularly helpful in improving my productivity and efficiency. Andrew and Judith were phenomenal, the pace of teaching was excellent and very accommodating.
Get In Touch
Are you or your team looking to increase their financial modelling skills? Are you interested in team-based training focused on best practice and standardised approaches? Are you hoping to build up your own skills and expertise?
Our financial modelling instructors would be pleased to hear from you…
Best Practice Financial Modelling Course from F1F9
F1F9’s Best Practice Financial Modelling course teaches you how to build clear, robust and best-practice financial models using Microsoft Excel and the FAST Standard. You’ll learn how to construct fully integrated income statements, balance sheets and cash flow forecasts, while improving model structure, accuracy and transparency for real-world finance applications.
Designed for finance professionals at all levels, the course combines practical instruction with hands-on exercises to strengthen your financial forecasting and modelling skills. With flexible delivery options including live online and classroom training, you’ll gain the confidence to build, review and adapt financial models used in corporate finance, banking and advisory roles.
Course Feedback
Recent Participant Testimonials
Mthandeni Vilakazi, AIIM
“The shortcuts and model construction best practices were particularly helpful in improving my productivity and efficiency. Andrew and Judith were phenomenal, and the pace of teaching was excellent and very accommodating.”
Anonymous
“Andrew was comprehensive, friendly and attentive. He managed the group very well, catered to all learning speeds, and ensured everyone’s questions were answered without disrupting the flow of the course.”
Mthandeni Vilakazi, AIIM
“Specifically found the shortcuts and best-practice principles on model construction particularly helpful in improving productivity and efficiency. I also appreciated the use of a tracking sheet, as well as the time taken to explore alternative functions and approaches to understand their limitations.”
Agie Turowska, Network Rail
“The practical tools were great and will be very handy to pass on and help my colleagues too. The format was very good and easy to follow. I liked that we had two instructors helping when anyone got stuck while the rest were able to carry on.”
Kate Willis
Jermaine Cameron
Meg Brooks
Adam Kenwrick
Ryan Cope
Rajan Jagatia
Lauren Gillan
R. V.
“I found the general format very useful. At first I was skeptical about the initial content but found everything that was covered can be applied to the models which I work on. From shortcuts, use of macros, and building the models with consideration for revenue and debt.”
Anonymous
“Good progression at a good speed, particularly enjoyed the more complex elements – project finance debt.”
D. K.
Anonymous
Anonymous
A. K.
Chris Walsh
Martin Smith
Rudi
Anonymous
“The learned shortcuts are very helpful and I feel much more advanced after it.”
Anonymous
“The learned shortcuts are very helpful and I feel much more advanced after it.”
Anonymous
“Already given in the course.”
Maximiliane Schwab, BBH Group
“I liked the shortcuts a lot and how much we practiced using them.”
Udo Glusa, BBH Group
Anonymous
V. L., BBH Group
“very good, great skills and helfpful input”
Anonymous
“Overall, the main highlights for me were the spreadsheet engineering and build up of the statements and assumptions in this way. The debt sculpting piece was also very insightful. The associated macros were a game-changer.”
K. W.
“I found the course very clear and effective – the learning curve was steep when it came to getting comfortable with navigating excel (more) like a pro.”