Financial Planning and Analysis (Online)
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Integrate Financial Expertise with a Strategic Mindset
Economic uncertainty, regulatory complexities, and rapid advancements in AI and automation are redefining financial planning and analysis (FP&A). Today’s finance leaders must move beyond static reporting and embrace agile scenario planning to drive business resilience. They need to adapt quickly and have the ability to turn data into strategic decisions that drive growth while staying compliant with shifting regulations and ESG standards.
The Financial Planning and Analysis (Online) program from Columbia Business School Executive Education equips finance professionals like you with a holistic understanding of FP&A, strategic financial forecasting capabilities, and real-world financial models to navigate disruption. Led by Doron Nissim, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting at Columbia Business School, this program blends interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on learning to refine your approach to financial planning and elevate your decision-making skills, strengthening your ability to step into senior leadership roles with confidence.
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Key Takeaways
The Financial Planning and Analysis (Online) program will enable you to:
Analyze complex financial data to improve budgeting, forecasting, and risk management
Apply FP&A principles to support strategic data-driven decision making within your organization
Evaluate financial strategies for alignment with organizational goals and optimization of resource allocation
Generate compelling financial data and perspectives that effectively influence stakeholders and drive decision making
Who Should Attend?
This program is designed for professionals looking to acquire the skills and tools to turn financial data into tangible business insights. These can include finance and accounting professionals, financial advisors and consultants, and business leaders.
This program is particularly beneficial for:
Early- to mid-career finance and accounting professionals seeking to move beyond reporting and data preparation to directly influence corporate strategy, business planning, and decision making
Consultants and advisors in financial services looking to deepen their expertise in financial planning and analysis to better serve clients and advance their careers
Business leaders, owners, and entrepreneurs aiming to strengthen their financial acumen, improve planning and reporting capabilities, and drive sustainable business growth
Program Modules
Describe the role of FP&A in an organization, its core functions, and the ways it contributes to value creation
Identify the connections and interdependencies between FP&A and accounting
Identify essential skills in FP&A
Understand the role of data in FP&A
Explore the steps of the planning and control cycle
Explain strategic planning as the process of establishing long-term goals, coordinating resources, and outlining actions to drive value creation
Explain the purpose, structure, and key components of the balance sheet, income statement, and statement of cash flows
Reformulate financial statements for profitability analyses
Conduct a profitability analysis to gain insights into key drivers of profitability
Explain the fundamentals of financial modeling, including structure, assumptions, inputs, and outputs
Build integrated income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements
Forecast key financial statement line items
Evaluate drivers of profitability using forecasted financial statements
Analyze how business strategies influence profitability drivers and financial performance
Explain key cost concepts
Apply traditional and activity-based costing methods
Analyze cost behavior to distinguish between fixed and variable costs
Conduct a cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis
Conduct a sensitivity analysis
Make informed pricing decisions using cost estimates and relevant financial data
Explain the budgeting process, including methods like zero-based budgeting and incremental budgeting
Describe the master budget and its components
Distinguish between budget preparation for manufacturing, merchandising, and service organizations
Analyze variance between budgets, forecasts, and actual results
Generate actionable insights that address variances between actual and budgeted amounts
Explain the principles of working capital and cash flow management
Develop strategies to optimize working capital, manage cash reserves, and enhance liquidity
Conduct liquidity analyses to evaluate an organization's ability to meet short-term financial obligations
Apply performance evaluation methods and key performance indicators to measure financial effectiveness
Conduct risk analyses to inform management of company-specific and market-related risks
Analyze economic and market trends to inform financial planning
Create realistic financial forecasts using data science methods
Conduct scenario analyses and scenario-based planning
Discuss key considerations for long-term strategic planning
Apply the time value of money in cash flow analysis and investment decision making
Evaluate the viability and strategic alignment of investment opportunities, including potential externalities
Use cash flow forecasts and the weighted average cost of capital to determine project-specific discount rates
Evaluate investments using various criteria, comparing their advantages and limitations
Learn to apply common business valuation methods
Program Faculty
Doron Nissim is an accomplished academician and seasoned industry professional who brings a unique perspective and wealth of experience to the program.
Program Director, Ernst & Young Professor of Accounting and Finance, Columbia Business School
Certificate
Upon completion of the Financial Planning and Analysis (Online) program, you will receive a certificate of participation from Columbia Business School Executive Education. This certificate also awards two credits toward the Certificate in Business Excellence, which grants select alumni and tuition benefits. Learn More
Your digitally verified certificate will be issued in your legal name and emailed to you, at no additional cost, upon completion of the program, including all modules of the program (online, in person, or live online, inter-module). All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Columbia Business School Executive Education.
FAQs
How do I know if this program is right for me?
After reviewing the information on the program landing page, we recommend you submit the short form above to gain access to the program brochure, which includes more in-depth information. If you still have questions on whether this program is a good fit for you, please email learner.success@emeritus.org, and a dedicated program advisor will follow-up with you very shortly.
Are there any prerequisites for this program?
Some programs do have prerequisites, particularly the more technical ones. This information will be noted on the program landing page, as well as in the program brochure. If you are uncertain about program prerequisites and your capabilities, please email us at the ID mentioned above.
Note that, unless otherwise stated on the program web page, all programs are taught in English and proficiency in English is required.
What is the typical class profile?
More than 50 percent of our participants are from outside the United States. Class profiles vary from one cohort to the next, but, generally, our online certificates draw a highly diverse audience in terms of professional experience, industry, and geography — leading to a very rich peer learning and networking experience.
What other dates will this program be offered in the future?
Check back to this program web page or email us to inquire if future program dates or the timeline for future offerings have been confirmed yet.
How much time is required each week?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page.
How will my time be spent?
We have designed this program to fit into your current working life as efficiently as possible. Time will be spent among a variety of activities including:
Engaging with recorded video lectures from faculty
Attending webinars and office hours, as per the specific program schedule
Reading or engaging with examples of core topics
Completing knowledge checks/quizzes and required activities
Engaging in moderated discussion groups with your peers
Completing your final project, if required
The program is designed to be highly interactive while also allowing time for self-reflection and to demonstrate an understanding of the core topics through various active learning exercises. Please email us if you need further clarification on program activities.
What is it like to learn online with the learning collaborator, Emeritus?
More than 300,000 learners across 200 countries have chosen to advance their skills with Emeritus and its educational learning partners. In fact, 90 percent of the respondents of a recent survey across all our programs said that their learning outcomes were met or exceeded.
All the contents of the course would be made available to students at the commencement of the course. However, to ensure the program delivers the desired learning outcomes the students may appoint Emeritus to manage the delivery of the program in a cohort-based manner the cost of which is already included in the overall course fee of the course.
A dedicated program support team is available 24/5 (Monday to Friday) to answer questions about the learning platform, technical issues, or anything else that may affect your learning experience.
How do I interact with other program participants?
Peer learning adds substantially to the overall learning experience and is an important part of the program. You can connect and communicate with other participants through our learning platform.
What are the requirements to earn the certificate?
Each program includes an estimated learner effort per week, so you can gauge what will be required before you enroll. This is referenced at the top of the program landing page under the Duration section, as well as in the program brochure, which you can obtain by submitting the short form at the top of this web page. All programs are designed to fit into your working life.
This program is scored as a pass or no-pass; participants must complete the required activities to pass and obtain the certificate of completion. Some programs include a final project submission or other assignments to obtain passing status. This information will be noted in the program brochure. Please email us if you need further clarification on any specific program requirements.
What type of certificate will I receive?
Upon successful completion of the program, you will receive a smart digital certificate. The smart digital certificate can be shared with friends, family, schools, or potential employers. You can use it on your cover letter, resume, and/or display it on your LinkedIn profile. The digital certificate will be sent approximately two weeks after the program, once grading is complete.
Can I get the hard copy of the certificate?
No, only verified digital certificates will be issued upon successful completion. This allows you to share your credentials on social platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Do I receive alumni status after completing this program?
No, there is no alumni status granted for this program. In some cases, there are credits that count toward a higher level of certification. This information will be clearly noted in the program brochure.
How long will I have access to the learning materials?
You will have access to the online learning platform and all the videos and program materials for 12 months following the program start date. Access to the learning platform is restricted to registered participants per the terms of agreement.
What equipment or technical requirements are there for this program?
Participants will need the latest version of their preferred browser to access the learning platform. In addition, Microsoft Office and a PDF viewer are required to access documents, spreadsheets, presentations, PDF files, and transcripts.
Do I need to be online to access the program content?
Yes, the learning platform is accessed via the internet, and video content is not available for download. However, you can download files of video transcripts, assignment templates, readings, etc. For maximum flexibility, you can access program content from a desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device.
Video lectures must be streamed via the internet, and any livestream webinars and office hours will require an internet connection. However, these sessions are always recorded, so you may view them later.
Can I still register if the registration deadline has passed?
Yes, you can register up until seven days past the published start date of the program without missing any of the core program material or learnings.
What is the program fee, and what forms of payment do you accept?
The program fee is noted at the top of this program web page and usually referenced in the program brochure as well.
Flexible payment options are available (see details below as well as at the top of this program web page next to PROGRAM FEE.
Tuition assistance is available for participants who qualify. Please email learner.success@emeritus.org.
What if I don’t have a credit card? Is there another method of payment accepted?
Yes, you can do the bank remittance in the program currency via wire transfer or debit card. Please contact your program advisor, or email us for details.
I was not able to use the discount code provided. Can you help?
Yes! Please email us with the details of the program you are interested in, and we will assist you.
How can I obtain an invoice for payment?
Please email us your invoicing requirements and the specific program you’re interested in enrolling in.
Is there an option to make flexible payments for this program?
Yes, the flexible payment option allows a participant to pay the program fee in installments. This option is made available on the payment page and should be selected before submitting the payment.
How can I obtain a W9 form?
Please connect with us via email for assistance.
Who will be collecting the payment for the program?
Emeritus collects all program payments, provides learner enrollment and program support, and manages learning platform services.
Are there any restrictions on the types of funding that can be used to pay for the program?
Program fees for Emeritus programs with Columbia Business School Executive Education may not be paid for with Title IV financial aid funds. Participants may be able to pay the program fee with funds from the GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or similar types of military education funding benefits. Participants must contact the Columbia University’s Office of Military and Veterans Affairs to determine benefit eligibility.
What is the program refund and deferral policy?
For the program refund and deferral policy, please click the link here.
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Didn't find what you were looking for? Write to us at learner.success@emeritus.org or Schedule a call with one of our Program Advisors or call us at +1 315 387 4431 (US) / +44 203 838 0836 (UK) / +65 3138 4449 (SG)
Flexible payment options available.
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