Power BI for Finance & Administration: Expert Techniques for Data Reporting Cape town 06.Apr.2026 (25_12044)

Course Overview

This advanced training course is designed for finance and administration professionals seeking to unlock the full potential of Power BI for financial planning, reporting, compliance, and performance monitoring. Participants will master the art of transforming financial data into actionable insights using expert Power BI techniques — from modeling and DAX measures to dashboard design and regulatory reporting. The course balances strategic objectives with hands-on implementation, tailored specifically to financial governance, budgeting, forecasting, and operational control.

Target Audience:

• Finance Managers and Analysts
• Accounting and Budgeting Officers
• Internal Auditors and Compliance Staff
• Administration Professionals overseeing Reporting
• CFOs, Controllers, and Financial Directors

Targeted Organizational Departments:

• Finance and Budgeting
• Accounting and Audit
• Administration and Operations
• Risk & Compliance
• Strategic Planning

Targeted Industries:

• Government Finance & Administration
• Banking and Financial Services
• Healthcare Finance Departments
• Energy, Manufacturing & Utility Sectors
• NGOs and Public Sector Entities

Course Offerings:

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Build finance-optimized data models using Power BI
• Automate budget tracking, forecasting, and variance analysis
• Create interactive dashboards for cash flow, cost centers, and KPIs
• Design DAX measures for financial ratios and time-based metrics
• Ensure secure role-based reporting for compliance and auditing
• Deploy financial BI solutions across teams and departments

Training Methodology:

• Real-world Finance Case Studies
• Hands-On Power BI Labs customized for budgeting and forecasting
• Interactive Team Exercises in cost center design and dashboard logic
• Data Governance Simulations using Premium and SharePoint integrations
• Review Sessions focused on reflection and practical troubleshooting

Course Toolbox:

• Pre-built Budgeting & Cost Tracking Templates
• Sample DAX Code Library for Financial Metrics
• SharePoint Integration Guide for Admin Reporting
• Financial Visual Pack (Cash Flow, P&L, Forecasting)
• Power BI Report Server Setup Guide for Compliance

Course Agenda:

Day 1: Power BI for Financial Planning and Control

• Topic 1: Introduction to Power BI for Finance and Administration
• Topic 2: Understanding Deployment Modes for Secure Financial Data Sharing
• Topic 3: Building a Financial Project Scope and Data Requirements
• Topic 4: Sample Budgeting Dashboard Walkthrough
• Topic 5: Mapping Department Roles in BI Projects (Finance vs. Admin)
• Topic 6: License Management and Compliance Considerations
• Reflection & Review: Evaluating Power BI Fit in Financial Governance

Day 2: Financial Data Modeling and Transformation

• Topic 1: Structuring Queries for Financial Datasets (Import vs. DirectQuery)
• Topic 2: Connecting to ERP Systems, Excel, and Financial Databases
• Topic 3: M Queries for Expense Transformation and Ledger Formatting
• Topic 4: Defining Parameters for Budget Scenarios and Forecasts
• Topic 5: Creating Dimensional Models: Accounts, Periods, Departments
• Topic 6: Creating Fact Tables for Transactions, Costs, Revenues
• Reflection & Review: Best Practices in Financial Data Modeling

Day 3: Advanced Financial Metrics with DAX

• Topic 1: Building DAX Measures for KPIs (Net Profit, ROI, OPEX, etc.)
• Topic 2: Time Intelligence Functions (YTD, MTD, Forecast Variance)
• Topic 3: Role-Based Access for Financial Report Security
• Topic 4: Designing CFO Dashboards and Cost Center Reports
• Topic 5: Financial Visuals: Cash Flow Maps, Variance Tables, Forecast Charts
• Topic 6: Report Planning and Layout for Executive Teams
• Reflection & Review: Financial DAX Patterns and Governance Insights

Day 4: Dashboards, Budgeting Tools & Forecasting Techniques

• Topic 1: Drillthrough Reports for Cost Centers and Vendors
• Topic 2: Forecasting and What-If Analysis for Budget Planning
• Topic 3: Custom Visuals for Financial Control and Audit Visualization
• Topic 4: Building Multi-Year Budget Dashboards
• Topic 5: Report Server Setup for Financial Data Retention
• Topic 6: Administrative Performance Dashboards (HR, Assets, Procurement)
• Reflection & Review: Ensuring Forecast Accuracy and Reporting Clarity

Day 5: Data Governance, Compliance & Finance Team Enablement

• Topic 1: Workspace Roles for Finance and Administration Teams
• Topic 2: Version Control and Change Management for Reports
• Topic 3: Regulatory Compliance Dashboards (e.g., IFRS, VAT, ESG)
• Topic 4: Sharing Financial Insights Securely (SharePoint, Excel Integration)
• Topic 5: Using Power BI Premium for Governance and Scalability
• Topic 6: Large Dataset Strategies for Annual Budget Files
• Reflection & Review: Scaling Finance Reporting While Maintaining Governance

How This Course is Different from Other Power BI Expert techniques for effective data analytics and business intelligence Courses:

It’s laser-focused on the finance and administration environment, merging BI expertise with financial governance, audit readiness, and business control. You’ll master tools finance teams truly use, like budget variance visuals, ledger-based modeling, DAX for forecasting, and secure data workflows. It’s a complete transformation toolkit for your finance department — from spreadsheets to strategic BI insights.