Financial Modelling Course in Excel

George profile picture
George
6 months ago
I recently completed the Financial Modelling in Excel course at the Johannesburg School of Finance, and I can confidently say it was an incredibly valuable experience.
The course is exceptionally well structured, focusing not only on Excel techniques but also on the underlying thinking and design principles required to build reliable and effective financial models. What stood out most was the emphasis on practical application — every concept was grounded in real-world scenarios, making it immediately useful beyond the classroom. The course successfully builds both confidence and competence, even for those without a strong financial background, which aligns with its goal of making finance accessible and practical.
Mr John Mitchell is an outstanding instructor. His ability to simplify complex financial concepts and explain them in a clear, logical, and relatable way truly sets him apart. With decades of experience in finance training, he brings both depth of knowledge and a very human, patient teaching style to the course.
He ensures that no one is left behind, taking the time to reinforce understanding and encourage questions. His approach makes learning engaging, structured, and genuinely enjoyable.
Overall, this course exceeded my expectations. It is highly practical, thoughtfully delivered, and extremely relevant for anyone looking to build strong financial and analytical skills using Excel. I would highly recommend the Johannesburg School of Finance to anyone serious about developing real, applicable financial expertise
Allan B. profile picture
Allan B.
6 months ago
I did the Financial Modeling course with the Johannesburg School of Finance. I had an exceptional experience with this course. From the very beginning, the structure was clear, well-organized, and easy to follow. Each module built logically on the previous one, making even complex topics feel manageable and engaging.
The instructor, Mr John Mitchell demonstrated deep knowledge of the subject matter and explained concepts in a way that was both practical and easy to understand. I especially appreciated the real-world examples, which helped bridge the gap between theory and application.
The course materials were high quality, and the assignments were thoughtfully designed to reinforce learning without feeling overwhelming. Feedback was timely and constructive, which made a big difference in my progress and confidence.
What stood out most was how relevant and applicable the content was. I’ve already been able to apply what I learned in real-life situations, which speaks volumes about the value of this course.
Francis C. profile picture
Francis C.
7 months ago
I recently attended a financial short course offered by the Johannesburg School of Finance, and I would like to commend the institution for delivering a highly professional and impactful training experience. The course was well organized and structured in a way that ensured participants gained both theoretical understanding and practical financial skills.
The training content was relevant and comprehensive, covering key financial concepts that are essential for effective financial management and decision-making. The facilitator demonstrated a high level of expertise and was able to present complex financial topics in a clear, practical, and engaging manner. The use of real-life examples and practical exercises greatly enhanced the learning process and made it easier to relate the concepts to real work situations.
Another notable strength of the program was the interactive learning environment. Participants were encouraged to actively participate through discussions, questions, and sharing of experiences, which enriched the overall learning experience and allowed for a deeper understanding of the subject matter.
The course materials provided were also very useful and will continue to serve as valuable reference tools in my professional work. The knowledge and skills gained from this training will undoubtedly contribute to improving financial analysis, budgeting, and financial decision-making in my professional role.
Overall, the training delivered by the Johannesburg School of Finance was of a very high standard. I would highly recommend their short courses to professionals seeking to strengthen their financial knowledge and practical financial management skills.
Saskia van R. profile picture
Saskia van R.
7 months ago
I had a fantastic experience with John doing the Finance for Non-Financial Managers course. It was fun, informative and practical. I felt like I really understood the fundamentals which made me more confident. He has a great teaching style; patient and encouraging! There were lots of practical exercises to apply everything. Highly recommended!
Roberto Bauab P. profile picture
Roberto Bauab P.
7 months ago
I've made a Finance course in Johannesburg School of Finance when I was a Commercial Director. Couple of months after I've got a promotion to Country Manager, partly because I've got a better understanding of the business finance language and principles acquired in this course. I highly recommend it.
Dalene B. profile picture
Dalene B.
7 months ago
When you are done with the frustration of trying to understand text books, you go straight to Johannesburg School of Finance where you understand the training from the get go. Personal attention from John Mitchell who has decades of experience will bring clarity to the non-financial person to fully understand the world of finance in business.
Thank you John for your unique and patient sharing of your knowledge - your passion makes all the difference!
Ashraf I. profile picture
Ashraf I.
7 months ago
As an attendee of the Johannesburg School of Finance in 2018, I am writing this review to express my sincere appreciation for the quality of education and professional development provided by the institution.

Navigating the complexities of modern finance requires more than just theoretical knowledge; it requires a sharp, analytical mindset and the ability to apply concepts to real-world scenarios. My experience at JSF was instrumental in sharpening these skills.

Key Highlights of the Experience:

Practical Curriculum: The coursework was meticulously designed, bridging the gap between academic theory and the practicalities of the South African and global financial markets.

Expert Instruction: The facilitators demonstrated not only a deep mastery of financial principles but also a keen understanding of current industry trends and regulatory environments.

Networking & Engagement: The environment fostered meaningful dialogue among professionals, allowing for a diverse exchange of ideas that added immense value to the formal sessions.

"The insight gained during my time at the Johannesburg School of Finance has been a cornerstone of my professional growth and my continued drive to keep myself up to date in respect of financial education especially from a business perspective.

The clarity with which complex investment and corporate finance modules were delivered is a testament to the school's excellence."

I highly recommend the Johannesburg School of Finance to any professional or organization looking to improve their financial literacy and strategic decision making capabilities.

It is an investment that yields immediate and tangible returns.

Best regards,

Mr. Ashraf Ismail
Richard H. profile picture
Richard H.
7 months ago
This is an excellent course that explains the financial workings of a business in clear and simple language, progressively introducing you to the concepts and with many practical examples and exercises. John Mitchell is a wonderfully patient tutor who is always prepared to answer your questions and explain anything you don't fully understand. He also has many fascinating anecdotes and insights that give real world relevance to what is being taught. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone who is seeking to gain a good understanding of financial concepts in their professional lives.
Samantha P. profile picture
Samantha P.
7 months ago
Did a course Finance for Non-Financial Managers with John Mitchell and it was such a dynamic and powerful course - took my career to new heights! Got an amazing job offer not long after I took the course. John is very intuitive and he has a hands-on approach on how to apply what you have learned to what you are acually doing. Highly recommend!
H P. profile picture
H P.
7 months ago
I found the course very Interesting and a serious learning curve, and although I did it a long time ago I still use what I was taught in my current daily job.
Sarah M. profile picture
Sarah M.
7 months ago
Having completed the course in Finance for non Financial Managers, I feel much more confident in attending work meetings where financial topics are being discussed. As a trainer, John was warm, engaging, and easy to approach. He broke down the concepts in a clear, simple way and used lots of examples and practical exercises to help the knowledge stick. He also shared stories from his own experience in business, which made the course feel real and relatable. The training made key finance and accounting ideas easy to understand and showed why they matter so much for running a healthy, successful business. I can gladly recommend the JSF for those looking to deepen their knowledge in in business finance.

Why Choose This Financial Modelling Course?

Build Reliable Financial Models

Model to a known outcome, use check totals for reliability, record your assumptions.

Think Like a Financial Analyst

Learn how to construct the model that will answer the questions you need to ask.

Learn Fast & Apply Immediately

No fluff. Just step-by-step, real-world learning with immediate on-the-job value.

Develop Real Excel Skills

Learn more than the functions and techniques, learn when and how to use them.

Communicate With Charts & Trends

Make your models visual and impactful — learn to build and explain charts that tell a story.

Who Should Take This Financial Modelling Course?

Computer screen displaying Excel XLS icon representing an online financial modelling course using Excel for beginners

Course Breakdown: Week 1 / Module 1

Gain practical, hands-on skills in structuring, analysing, and interpreting financial data in Excel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and professional modelling techniques.

Four Days

Monday to Thursday

08h30 to 12h30

Online or In-house

Online: Max 6 Delegates

In-house: Max 12 Delegates

R18,400 p.p. / $1,122 p.p.

Certificate of Competence

Instructor Led

Qualifying for the Financial Management Programme

Day One

Modelling Foundations and Excel Techniques

Develop the fundamentals of structured financial modelling

• Understand modelling principles, version control and best practices
• Learn shortcuts, formatting tools, and Excel thinking
• Use absolute vs relative references and basic formula building
• Apply VLOOKUP for logical matching exercises

Day Two

Charts and Visual Interpretation

Bring your data to life with Excel’s charts and visulisations

• Learn the strengths and limitations of different chart types and when to use them
• Create bar, pie, and scatter charts to visually communicate your data effectively
• Format charts to improve clarity and impact
• Analyse and present trends with chart techniques

Day Three

Building and Testing Financial Models

Design models that are structured, logical and insightful

• Plan spreadsheet layout using Input-Operation-Output discipline
• Use named ranges and formulas to create a breakeven model
• Understand model testing and interpreting outputs
• Create your model to give a known outcome before using it, for certainty

Day Four

Logic, Validation and Advanced Functions

Make your model smarter with logic, automation, and flexible structure for dynamic analysis

• Build layered logic with IF, OR, AND, nested IFs, and handle errors using IFERROR
• Apply data validation, drop-down lists, and ISBLANK
• Extend VLOOKUP to more advanced problem-solving across large data sets
• Work with arrays and dynamic logical structures

Course Breakdown: Week 2 / Module 2

In Week 2, you’ll build on your Excel financial modelling skills with deeper, hands-on tools for analysing, interpreting, and presenting real financial data with confidence.

Four Days

Monday to Thursday

08h30 to 12h30

Online or In-house

Online: Max 6 Delegates

In-house: Max 12 Delegates

R18,400 p.p. / $1,122 p.p.

Certificate of Competence

Instructor Led

Qualifying for the Financial Management Programme

Day One

Evaluating Options and Scenario Tools

Strengthen your modelling logic

• Use Excel shortcuts and practical modelling techniques
• Review and apply named ranges effectively
• Apply Goal Seek, Scenarios, and Solver tools
• Compare and test alternative outcomes

Day Two

Organising and Summarising Data

Use Excel to group, summarise, and analyse complex data

• Group and structure large data sets
• Apply subtotals and nested summaries
• Build clear reports with PivotTables
• Highlight trends and segment data

Day Three

Advanced Logic and Formatting Tools

Enhance models with smart logic and clear visual cues

• Use advanced IFs for layered logic
• Add IS functions for flexible checks
• Apply Conditional Formatting for clarity
• Build responsive, dynamic formulas

Day Four

Constructing and Interrogating a Model

Build and test a complete financial model

• Prepare structure with manual allocations
• Build using sub-routines and I-O layout
• Capture and link key assumptions
• Test outcomes and run scenarios

How This Financial Modelling Course Could Help You

Excel is everywhere in business — but building a financial model that you and your team can actually rely on takes more than knowing the functions. This course focuses on structured, disciplined modelling so your outputs are accurate, auditable, and useful for real decisions.

Whether you’re an individual looking to upskill or an L&D manager booking for a team, no prior modelling experience is needed — we start from the ground up.

Build and use financial models confidently — experiment with different inputs, assumptions, and scenarios.
Learn a disciplined approach to financial modelling in Excel — Input, Operation, Output, version control, and logging.
Model key business metrics — profit, cash flow, breakeven, and performance indicators.
Run scenarios and sensitivity analysis to spot financial risks and opportunities before they hit the business.
Build models step by step using real-world templates, guides, and examples drawn from actual business situations.
Develop real Excel skills — functions, charts, What-If tools, and sensitivity analysis — with practical application from day one.
Earn a certificate of competence as part of the Financial Management Programme — recognised proof of your financial modelling training.
Walk away with models you built yourself, skills you can use immediately, and the confidence to own your financial analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Unsure where to start? Just ask.

We’re happy to chat and see how we might be able to help. We respond within one business day, and if our courses aren’t quite what you’re looking for, we’ll do our best to point you in the right direction.

Alternatively, drop us a WhatsApp on +27 82 494 4663.

Otherwise, why not have a look at our other courses?

Category F training, fully claimable.

This course is classified as Category F on the B-BBEE Learning Programme Matrix — informal instructional programmes such as workshops, seminars, and short courses. Your organisation can claim the full invoice amount as Skills Development spend without any SETA accreditation on our side.

No SETA Accreditation Needed

Under the Amended B-BBEE Codes, Category F short courses don’t require SETA accreditation on the provider’s side for your organisation to claim the spend. Many specialist Cat F providers — JSF included — deliberately operate outside SETA to keep course costs lower.

Simple Evidence Required

For verification purposes, your organisation only needs an invoice or internal accounting record confirming the spend (Statement 300, s.5.2). That’s it — no additional SETA documentation, no external validation.

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Claimable Within the 25% Cap

Category F and G spend combined may form up to 25% of your total Skills Development Expenditure under the B-BBEE scorecard (s.5.3) — a meaningful portion of most mid-size training budgets.

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Referenced: Government Gazette 42496, 31 May 2019

Amended Codes of Good Practice for Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment — Code Series 300, Statement 300, Annexe 300(A). JSF short courses map to Category F: “Occupationally-directed informal instructional programmes such as workshops, seminars, conferences and short courses.”

What to Explore First? Start With These

Not ready for the full course? Explore some of the ideas and thinking behind what we teach — straight from our blog.

Working capital management for managers
Building a business case for finance training — JSF