Course Outline
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
Requirements
- Active Microsoft 365 business/enterprise account with access to the Copilot Chat app (mandatory for all attendees, applicable to both Basic and Premium licenses)
- Optional: Microsoft 365 Copilot (Premium) license enabled in Excel, Word, and Outlook, for the in-app workflow
- Intermediate Excel proficiency: including formulas, tables, and pivot tables
- Familiarity with AI chat tools at a basic level
- Stable internet connection (the session is conducted online)
Audience
Finance professionals who already incorporate AI into their roles, such as financial analysts, FP&A specialists, controllers, and accountants. The course accommodates mixed experience levels, ranging from confident occasional users to daily users seeking to deepen their expertise.
Testimonials (1)
i already have some reports that i know, i will use some of the prompts that looked at today