Financial Modeling from Coursera

Long-term projects require a thorough analysis, negotiations with investors, lenders, and partners. The financial model in MS Excel is the most important tool for planning, structuring, and analysis of a project. Here you pull up and summarize all available information on your expectations and forecast. Quality of your model defines the precision of your decisions and your ability to convince the other participants of the project. In this online-course you will learn how to build for your project a financial model with all reports and ratios that used in project finance. We will go through the path from a blank Excel workbook, discuss the best practice for financial modeling, dig into technical and financial aspects of the methods and ratios that we use in the model. Within the course we will work with a typical project finance model, but this model has a wide range of possible applications. The same structure and principles could be used for any project to create a new business, launch a product or for venture investments. You will see that the approach we use is universal and the model we build in the course can be your template for many future projects. The course is aimed at students with some experience in Excel. We will not be learning the basics of spreadsheets or MS Excel interface, but all special functions and services will be presented and explained before we use them in our model. All stages the development of the model will be supplemented with Excel files, so by the end of the course you will have both new skills and ready professional financial models. During the last week of the course you will develop your capstone project – your own financial model. After the HSE course, students will have necessary knowledge and skills to build a fully-fledged financial model for a project or a company. The model can be used to support investment decisions, raise capital or apply for debt financing The course consists of short video lectures, 7 to 12 minutes long, with embedded non-graded questions. Each week there will be a graded test, a and a final exam – capstone project. Students will choose a real or fictious project, collect necessary data and build a model from a template provided here. Finally, you will be required to submit your model for peer evaluation. It gives them a taste of what financial analysts go through in real life when developing a financial model. The goal of the course is to provide practical skills in financial modelling of investment projects by discussing best practice with the teacher as well as students work on their own projects. Students’ performance is evaluated on a 10-point mark scale as follows: 10 points - Distinguished performance 8-9 points - Excellent performance 6-7 points - Good performance 4-5 points - Satisfactory performance 0-3 points - Fail The rounding of the definitive performance grade is conducted in accordance with the standard mathematical rounding rules. The rounding of the intermediate grades is not conducted to avoid the rounding bias. The instructors use traditional methods of instruction by providing well-structured reading during contact hours with a lot of illustrations, problems and real case studies and discussing the materials.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Explores concepts relevant to roles in project finance

Uses practical simulations to guide learners through real-world situations

Includes a final capstone project that helps learners apply their knowledge

Assumes a foundation in Excel, which may limit accessibility for beginners

Reviews summary

Financial modeling with excel

This course offers exemplary instruction in creating financial models using Excel. Students develop practical skills in project finance modeling by applying best practices in a hands-on, project-based learning environment. The course is well-structured and provides clear explanations, making it easy for learners to grasp the concepts and apply them to real-life scenarios.

Well-structured course with clear explanations.

"The course is well-structured and provides clear explanations, making it easy for learners to grasp the concepts and apply them to real-life scenarios."

Apply skills to real-world projects.

"Students develop practical skills in project finance modeling by applying best practices in a hands-on, project-based learning environment."

Learn practical financial modeling skills.

"This course offers exemplary instruction in creating financial models using Excel."

"Students develop practical skills in project finance modeling by applying best practices in a hands-on, project-based learning environment."

Model focus not on US practices.

"Practical and to the point, only I wish if he built the model using US$ as well as the USA inputs since the participants are a multinational students"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Financial Modeling with these activities:

Read the book 'Financial Modeling for Dummies' by Peter Way.

Show steps

This book provides a comprehensive overview of financial modeling, making it useful for students who want to build a solid foundation in the subject.

View Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Technology... on Amazon

Show steps

Read the book from beginning to end.
Take notes on the key concepts.
Work through the practice problems at the end of each chapter.

Follow the tutorials on the Coursera website for the course.

Show steps

These tutorials provide a step-by-step guide to the financial modeling process, which can be helpful for students to reinforce what they have learned in the course.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

Show steps

Watch the video tutorials.
Follow the step-by-step instructions.
Complete the practice exercises.

Participate in a peer study group.

Show steps

Peer study groups can provide helpful support and feedback as students work through the course material.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

Show steps

Find a group of students to work with.
Meet regularly to discuss the course material.
Work together on practice problems.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Build a financial model for a new business using the techniques learned in the course.

Show steps

Create a model that focuses on the financial aspects of a business idea and see the direct application of formulas and equations learned in the online-course.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

Show steps

Identify the key financial drivers of the business.
Create a financial model that incorporates these drivers.
Test the model using different scenarios.
Write a report that summarizes the results of your analysis.

Create a blog post or article that explains a financial modeling concept.

Show steps

Explaining a concept helps reinforce understanding and creating a blog post or article can share that understanding and potentially help others.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

Show steps

Choose a financial modeling concept to write about.
Write a clear and concise explanation of the concept.
Use examples to illustrate the concept.
Publish your blog post or article.

Create a presentation on a financial modeling topic.

Show steps

Creating a presentation can help students to synthesize their knowledge of financial modeling and communicate it to others.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

Show steps

Choose a financial modeling topic to present on.
Research the topic and gather information.
Create a presentation that is clear and concise.
Practice your presentation.
Present your presentation to a group of people.

Develop a financial model for a real-world project.

Show steps

Working on a real-world project gives students the opportunity to apply the skills they have learned in the course and see how financial modeling is used in practice.

Browse courses on Financial Modeling

Show steps

Identify a real-world project to work on.
Gather the necessary data.
Develop a financial model for the project.
Present your findings to a group of stakeholders.

Career center

Learners who complete Financial Modeling will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts provide forecasts for companies and help to make investment decisions. They gather financial data from various sources, analyze it, and develop models to predict future performance. This course would be extremely valuable to someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models. The course covers a wide range of topics, including how to use Excel to create financial models, how to analyze financial data, and how to develop financial forecasts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Investment Banker

Investment Bankers help companies raise capital and advise them on mergers and acquisitions. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to evaluate the financial health of companies and make sound investment decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Investment Banker

Private Equity Analyst

Private Equity Analysts evaluate investment opportunities and make recommendations on whether or not to invest. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to value companies and make sound investment decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Private Equity Analyst

Venture Capital Analyst

Venture Capital Analysts evaluate investment opportunities in early-stage companies. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to value companies and make sound investment decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Venture Capital Analyst

Corporate Finance Analyst

Corporate Finance Analysts help companies make financial decisions, such as how to raise capital, how to invest their money, and how to manage their debt. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to analyze the financial health of companies and make sound financial decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Finance Analyst

Financial Planner

Financial Planners help individuals and families plan for their financial future. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to develop financial plans and make sound investment decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Planner

Portfolio Manager

Portfolio Managers manage investment portfolios for individuals and institutions. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to develop investment strategies and make sound investment decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Portfolio Manager

Financial Controller

Financial Controllers are responsible for the financial reporting and accounting of a company. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to prepare financial statements and make sound financial decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Controller

Credit Analyst

Credit Analysts evaluate the creditworthiness of borrowers. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to assess the risk of default and make sound lending decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Credit Analyst

Risk Manager

Risk Managers identify and manage financial risks for companies. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to quantify risks and make sound risk management decisions. This course would be very helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, analyze, and interpret data to help companies make informed decisions. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to analyze financial data and make sound recommendations. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help companies improve their business processes and make better decisions. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to analyze financial data and make sound recommendations. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Management Consultant

Management Consultants help companies solve problems and improve their performance. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to analyze financial data and make sound recommendations. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant

Actuary

Actuaries assess and manage financial risks for insurance companies and other financial institutions. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to quantify risks and make sound risk management decisions. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary

Economist

Economists analyze economic data and make predictions about the future of the economy. They need to have a strong understanding of financial modeling in order to be able to analyze financial data and make sound economic forecasts. This course may be helpful for someone in this role, as it would provide them with the skills and knowledge necessary to build financial models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Economist