December 12, 2024

What to Look for in a Financial Modeling Course

If you want to make a career in equity research, private equity investment banking, or finance in general, you must gain expertise in Financial Modeling. An in-demand skill, Financial Modeling is used for representing the financial position of an organization, a project or investments in mathematical models. It doesn't matter if you are just stepping into the finance industry or seeking an upgrade in financial skills. One must select the right financial modeling training online for the best learning experience.

But how does one know what financial modeling excel course will be the right one? Don’t you worry – our blog will be the guide for you!

Curriculum and Course

It is important to do some research on the type of content and curriculum different training providers offer. You must ensure that the course consists of all the important topics, tools, skills, concepts, case studies, etc., in a comprehensive structure. Draw comparisons between different training providers to see which one is offering the most.

Some of the key topics that you must ensure:

  • Excel
  • Financial Statements
  • Valuation Techniques
  • Forecasting and Projections
  • Scenario and Sensitivity Analysis
  • Advanced Modeling

Course Duration and Structure

The duration of the course differs among the training providers. While one platform may cover the course under 20 hours, others may offer a course spanning for 3-6 months. Note that just because some courses may have a duration under 20 hours or so, it may not be feasible for you. Your schedule is the key factor to determine which one to go for.

Remember, a good course is structured to divide the crucial topics into several sub topics. It helps in encoding the knowledge better, instead of flooding your brain with all of it together. It will provide enough time for you to understand the topic well and master the same.

Hands-on Practice is Important

Some things are best learnt in theory but some require hands-on training. Good financial modeling classes online provide vigorous hands-on training to learners. It ensures that the learners develop skills by practicing crucial financial modeling procedures.

Here are a few things you should look for while choosing among the financial modeling classes online:

  • Offer Excel templates that may be downloaded for practice.
  • Provide case studies that mimic actual circumstances.
  • enable you to focus on creating models from the ground up instead of only finishing activities that have already been constructed.
  • Promote interactive tasks, tests, or assignments that call on you to use what you've learned.

Trainers

Learning experience can be great as long as the trainer is an exceptional one. The quality of the trainer also plays a significant role in making a course smooth and successful. When you’re checking out different providers, always ensure that the trainer:

  • is equipped with in-depth knowledge and practical skills pertaining to the course
  • has the ability to turn complex topics into simpler, easy to understand explanations.
  • is capable of providing useful feedback and insights regarding your progress in the course
  • is able to understand and effectively answer your queries regarding any topic

It is advisable for the learners to do their part of research on the trainer. Check his/her professional profiles such as websites, LinkedIn, platforms consisting of positive feedback/reviews for the trainer, etc.

Accreditation and Certification

If you want to check how credible a course is, look up its accreditations. A good financial modeling excel course will have accreditations from Corporate Finance Institute, CPD-USA or Financial Modeling Institute. These accreditations ensure that the training providers are adhering to quality guidelines and promises only the best learning experience.

Additionally, don’t forget to look into the certification the course will provide at the end. The only certifications you need are the ones that add more value to your CV/resume.

Type of Learning Modes

As individuals, we all have different learning requirements. These requirements differ on the basis of our work schedule, leisure time, and different preferences in general. While one individual would like to attend classes physically, many actually prefer online learning in today’s day and age. Which is why one needs to figure out their learning requirements to get the most out of your financial modeling training.

You can choose among the following modes of learning, based on your preferences:

  • eLearning
  • Instructor-led online mode
  • Instructor-led classroom mode
  • On-the-job training mode