The attendees in the Certified Budget Analyst (CBA) Training Course at the British Academy for Training and Development will understand financial budgeting comprehensively. For any budgeting exercise or discussion, we must always refer to the financial statements involved in their preparation. We are also to know how prices work and how to compute and allocate them to the different elements of organizational units while preparing budgets. We shall proceed with a general examination of different budgeting alternatives applicable still to various organizations. Another possible topic of discussion will be several methods that help determine whether the budget is correct and ready for approval. In some cases, it decides whether the company goes ahead with the project. Finally, one cannot prolong any discussion on a budget without assessing how the group or division performed as compared to the budget.

The budget analysts will facilitate the programme leaders in creating the programme and section budgets, check budget requests for consistency and compliance with rules and regulations, and prepare interim financial statements. In addition, the budget analyst will review an input and make recommendations for spending and arrangements to the institutional managers. 

Objective:

The objectives of the Certified Budget Analyst (CBA) Training Course are:

Understand how to prepare budgets using various approachesIdentify how to analyze differences between actual and budgetary resultsUnderstand how to read budgeted or annual financial statementsIdentify how to assess whether or not the budget is likely to be rejected or approvedAssign prices to products, departments, or services, using different approachesUtilize learned skills and knowledge to analyze the budget through other techniquesExamine how to better project costs and revenuesGet insights into price behavior and its driversCome up with project expenditure variationsAcquire skills on how to build a budget from scratchDetermine actual outcome comparisons to budget figures and variance analysisComprehend the different funding classes and their applicability and identify the most applicable for your companyUnderstand the advantages of a competent budget analyst.Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

Data analystsStrategistsFinancial controllersResource and capital planningPlanning and budgeting personnelRisk controllersBoard membersInternal auditorsRisk officersDepartmental managersChief executivesRevenue department professionalsFinancial managersDepartment leadersSenior and mid-level controllersHow will attendees benefit?

Attendees of the Certified Budget Analyst (CBA) Training Course Programme for Accountants will benefit in several valuable ways:

1. Advanced Budgeting Skills: Achieving a deep understanding of the fundamentals of budgeting, including preparations, analyses, and controls, empowers the participants to develop realistic and strategic budgets that ultimately align with the goals of the organisation.

2. Perfect Financial Planning: The programme teaches enhanced forecasting of revenues and expenses to enable sound financial planning and utilization of resources within the concerned corporation.

3. Confident Decision Making: With data-backed budgeting practices and financial modeling tools imparted within the course to certifying attendees, they will provide much needed support for the senior management regarding considered decisions. 

4. Better Budget Management: The major aspects of budget performance monitoring, variance analysis, and corrective actions will increase efficiency in budget operations. 

5. Awareness of Compliance and Risk: The programme helps participants gain knowledge regarding policies on the budget, compliance standards, and risk management practices; thus, they would be able to identify problem areas even before they occur.

6. Certification and Career Opportunities: Attainment of the Certified Budget Analyst credential will add to one's professional credibility. This credential also opens up avenues for advancement in a career in finance, audit, and budget management.

7. Practical-Oriented Learning: Through real case studies and practical exercises, the participants are enabled to apply immediately that which they have learned in their current accounting positions.

8. Strategic Thinking and Leadership: The course produces strategic budgeting perspectives through which accountants can contribute to long-term business planning and embrace leadership roles.

Module 1: Introduction to Financial Statements and Budgeting

• Budgeting techniques

• Budgeting and planning concepts

• Uncertainties, risks, and assumptions

• Sensitivity evaluation

Module 2: Various Methods for Making a Budget

• Planning

• Quarterly reviews

• Fixed/ flexible budgets

• Making a master budget

• Zero-based budgets

• Actual/budget comparison

Module 3: Financial Modelling

• Balance sheet

• Profit and loss statement

• Financial reports components

• Statements of cash flow

• Reports of the transformation in equity

• Accompanying records to the accounts

• Financial reports components

Module 4: Preparation of the Budget

• Accounting principles

• Accounting conventions

• Cash/ accrual accounting

• WorldCom/Enron scandals

• Worldwide accounting standards

• Worldwide public sector accounting standards

• Recognition of revenue

Module 5: Cost Accounting

• Break-even evaluation

• Contribution margin

• Margin principles

• Total absorption pricing

• Sensitivity evaluation

Module 6: Analyzing and Controlling Budgets

• Ratio analysis

• Market analysis and trends

• Variance analysis

• Quantity variance

• Horizontal balance sheet and statements

• Vertical balance sheet and statements

• Mix variance

• Price variance

Module 7: Sources in the Finance

• Cost of capital

• Gearing ratios

• Debt and equity financing

• Decisions concerning dividend payments

• The weighted average price of capital

Module 8: Public Sector Growth

• Return on investment

• Capital investment evaluation

• Current net value

• Public/ private corporation projects

• Payback period

Module 9: Operating with Capital Control

• Accounts receivable

• Inventory control

• Reconciliation of sub-ledgers

• Deferred taxation and tax

• Reconciliation of sub-ledgers

• Other recent assets and current liabilities