Financial Planning & Analysis

This is a half-semester introductory course in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A). No prior knowledge of this topic is required or even expected. FP&A sits at the heart of modern decision-making. This course equips students with the skills to translate financial data into actionable insights that drive strategy, product portfolio, performance, and growth. Blending financial modeling, budgeting, investment analysis, and performance evaluation, the course mirrors how FP&A teams operate inside real organizations. Students will learn not only how to build financial models, but why they matter—developing the judgment to challenge assumptions, communicate with senior leaders, and support strategic decisions. This course is ideal for students pursuing careers in corporate finance, consulting, strategy, investment roles, entrepreneurship, private equity, or general management. This course is mutually exclusive with the elective course “B8122 – Accounting for Consultants” (AfC). If you have taken AfC for credit or plan to do so, you will not be able to enroll in this course for credit. Please contact me immediately in case of such a conflict. The following topics will be covered: ▪ Product costing ▪ Profitability analysis, incl. Customer Lifetime Value ▪ Budgeting and variances ▪ Decentralization and performance metrics (KPIs) ▪ Capital budgeting ▪ Strategy and balanced scorecards ▪ Internal control issues