AI for Finance with Microsoft Copilot Training Course

Welcome and Objectives

A live poll assessing current AI usage and verification of each participant's Copilot license type to customize the pace and examples accordingly.

Copilot for Finance – Transitioning from Occasional Use to Consistent Daily Practice

Topics Covered

•     Comparison between Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot: benefits of each edition

•     Copilot integration across the Microsoft 365 applications most utilized by finance teams

•     Additional capabilities offered by the Premium edition and when an upgrade is justified

•     Establishing a personal routine for daily usage

Practical Exercise (Identical for Basic and Premium)

•     Participants will review their everyday financial tasks to identify immediate opportunities for Copilot application

Advanced Prompting Techniques for Financial Tasks

Topics Covered

•     Structuring prompts for financial precision

•     Providing Copilot with appropriate context and constraints

•     Iterating and refining outputs

•     Avoiding common errors in numerical data

Practical Exercise (Identical for Basic and Premium, conducted in Copilot Chat)

•     Participants will transform weak prompts into effective ones using their own financial scenarios and compare the resulting outputs

Excel – Data Reconciliation and Cleaning

Topics Covered

•     Utilizing Copilot to detect mismatches and anomalies

•     Cleaning and standardizing disorganized datasets

•     Automating repetitive checks (full functionality available only in Premium)

Practical Exercise (Dual Workflow)

•     Premium: Reconciling a two-source dataset directly within Excel using the in-app Copilot

•     Basic: Uploading an xlsx file to Copilot Chat, generating a mismatch report, and applying corrections in Excel based on the provided guidance

•     Shared deliverable: A documented, reusable process to implement back at the workplace

Excel – Forecasting and Budgeting

Topics Covered

•     Developing forecast scenarios with Copilot assistance

•     Testing budget assumptions

•     Explaining variance drivers in plain language

Practical Exercise (Dual Workflow)

•     Premium: Building and adjusting a simple forecast model directly in Excel, testing two scenarios with Copilot

•     Basic: Uploading the model to Copilot Chat, generating and comparing two scenarios within the chat, then transferring the results into the Excel model

Financial Reporting and Executive Communication

Topics Covered

•     Transforming raw analysis into clear management reports

•     Summarizing financial results for non-finance stakeholders

•     Drafting executive-ready commentary with Copilot assistance

Practical Exercise (Dual Workflow)

•     Premium: Drafting the executive summary directly in Word, using the in-app Copilot

•     Basic: Generating the commentary in Copilot Chat and finalizing the document in Word

•     Shared deliverable: A one-page executive summary based on a dataset reviewed earlier in the day

Recap, knowledge check, and personal action plan

Outcomes

By the end of the day, participants will be able to:

•     Craft consistently effective prompts for financial tasks

•     Perform data reconciliation and cleaning more efficiently with Copilot, irrespective of license type

•     Develop and test forecast and budget scenarios with AI support

•     Produce clear, executive-ready reports and summaries

•     Understand the full capabilities of their current license and when upgrading to Premium is justified

•     Immediately implement a personal action plan and reusable prompt examples at their workplace