Financial Modelling Course
Our Financial Modelling Fundamentals course teaches you to build models in Excel the way analysts do: model structure and best practice, the three financial statements and how they link, forecasting revenue and costs, working capital, debt schedules, discounted cash flow valuation and scenario analysis. The course is taught through recorded lessons you can study at your own pace, and you can book one-to-one sessions with a verified finance tutor. Suitable for finance, accounting and business students, and for graduates preparing for analyst roles.
Reviewed by A. Jhunjhunwala, Chartered Accountancy, Institute of Chartered Accountants of IndiaLast updated
$11 – $25
per hour
Free demo class · pay only if you continue
What you will learn
Learning outcomes
- Build a fully linked 3-statement financial model in Excel
- Calculate WACC and perform a DCF valuation with sensitivity tables
- Structure a basic leveraged buyout model
- Present model outputs clearly with charts and executive summary
Prerequisites
- Basic Excel
- GCSE-level Maths
- Interest in finance
Tags
Course structure
Syllabus(4 modules)
- Excel shortcuts
- Named ranges
- Lookup functions
- Financial functions
What is Financial Modelling?
In short: this course gives one-to-one online tutoring in financial modelling. A verified tutor teaches Excel model structure, linking the three statements, forecasting, DCF valuation and scenario analysis, and reviews your own models.
Financial modelling is building a spreadsheet representation of a company's finances to forecast performance and value it, usually in Excel. The core models are the integrated three-statement model, discounted cash flow (DCF) valuation and the leveraged buyout (LBO) model, used in investment banking, equity research, corporate finance and private equity.
This online course teaches Financial Modelling one to one with a verified tutor who has studied or taught it at university level, at your pace and aligned with your own module.
Related subject: Financial cases and modelling help.
What does the Financial Modelling course cover?
| Topic | Key content |
|---|---|
| Excel for finance | Shortcuts, named ranges, lookup functions such as XLOOKUP and INDEX-MATCH, financial functions, model layout |
| Three-statement model | Income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement, linking the statements, balancing checks |
| DCF valuation | Free cash flow projections, WACC, terminal value, enterprise and equity value, sensitivity tables |
| LBO fundamentals | Deal structure, sources and uses, debt schedule, returns analysis (IRR and multiple) |
How do the three financial statements link?
- Net income from the income statement starts the cash flow statement.
- Non-cash items such as depreciation are added back.
- Changes in working capital come from balance sheet movements.
- Capital expenditure reduces cash and increases fixed assets.
- Ending cash from the cash flow statement becomes cash on the balance sheet.
- Net income, less dividends, flows into retained earnings, so the balance sheet balances.
How do you build a simple DCF valuation?
- Forecast revenue, margins and costs for five to ten years.
- Calculate unlevered free cash flow = EBIT × (1 − tax) + depreciation − capex − change in working capital.
- Estimate WACC from the cost of equity and after-tax cost of debt.
- Calculate terminal value with the Gordon growth or exit multiple method.
- Discount cash flows and terminal value to today to get enterprise value.
- Subtract net debt to get equity value, and run sensitivity tables on WACC and growth.
What does a worked cash flow link look like?
Here is a simple example of how the statements link: a company has net income of £100k, depreciation of £20k and an increase in receivables of £10k.
| Line | Amount (£k) |
|---|---|
| Net income | 100 |
| Add back depreciation (non-cash) | +20 |
| Increase in receivables (cash tied up) | −10 |
| Cash flow from operations | 110 |
Where do students lose marks in Financial Modelling?
Students most often lose marks in Financial Modelling through the habits below. Each is easy to fix with practice and feedback on your own work.
| Mark-loser | What to do instead |
|---|---|
| Hard-coded numbers | Link every formula to labelled inputs |
| Balance sheet doesn't balance | Check the cash and retained earnings links |
| Circular references | Avoid or control them deliberately |
| No sensitivity analysis | Test key assumptions with data tables |
| Unclear layout | Separate inputs, calculations and outputs |
How is it assessed, and how can a tutor help?
Financial modelling is usually assessed through modelling case studies and tests, in university finance modules, professional courses and job interviews.
Tutors explain concepts, work through practice problems with you and give feedback on your approach. Graded work you submit must be your own, as set out in our academic integrity policy. For deadline-driven guidance, see assignment help.
How the lessons work
Lessons are live and one to one on video with screen sharing and a shared whiteboard. You can follow a full course or book sessions on the topics you find hardest before exams. See also Business Management, our Capital Budgeting subject page and Derivatives and Risk Management.
Financial modelling tutor online: who this course is for, prerequisites and study plan
A financial modelling tutor online builds Excel models with you in live 1-to-1 lessons, from linking the three financial statements to a discounted cash flow valuation, and reviews your spreadsheet line by line.
This course suits finance, accounting and business students, candidates preparing for finance roles and interviews, and professionals who want to build models from scratch.
Prerequisites: basic Excel and GCSE-level maths, plus an interest in finance.
Course length: 28 lessons of 30 minutes across 4 modules.
| Stage | Module | What you can do afterwards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Excel for finance | Use formulas, formatting conventions and sensitivity tables |
| 2 | 3-statement model | Link the income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement |
| 3 | DCF valuation | Forecast free cash flow, calculate WACC and terminal value |
| 4 | LBO fundamentals | Build a simple leveraged buyout model and read returns |
Where it leads: students often pair this with our Master Statistics course or Business Management.
Financial Modelling Course: frequently asked questions
What is financial modelling?
Building a spreadsheet model of a company's finances to forecast and value it.
Do I need accounting knowledge?
Basic accounting helps; tutors explain the statements as you build the model.
What is a DCF?
A discounted cash flow valuation that values a company by discounting its future cash flows.
What is WACC?
The weighted average cost of capital, the discount rate used in a DCF.
What is an LBO?
A leveraged buyout, where a company is bought largely with borrowed money.
Which Excel skills do I need?
Lookups, IF logic, financial functions, data tables and good model layout.
Is this course useful for investment banking interviews?
Yes. It covers the core modelling and valuation concepts tested in interviews.
Can a tutor review my model?
Yes. Tutors give feedback on your model's structure and logic.
How much does a financial modelling tutor cost?
The price depends on the tutor and session length. You see the hourly rate before booking, with no subscription.
Can a tutor do my assignment for me?
No. Tutors explain, guide and give feedback so you can complete your own work, in line with our academic integrity policy.
How do the three financial statements link?
Net income flows to retained earnings and the cash flow statement; the cash balance links back to the balance sheet.
Why add back depreciation?
It is a non-cash expense that reduced net income but not cash.
What is a sensitivity table?
A table showing how outputs change as key inputs vary.
How should I structure a model?
Use separate input, calculation and output areas, with consistent formatting.
What is free cash flow?
Cash from operations minus capital expenditure, available to investors.
What is a terminal value?
The value of cash flows beyond the forecast period, often via a growth model.
Which financial modelling course is best?
The best financial modelling course is one where you build complete models yourself, from a three-statement model to a DCF valuation, using real company data and receiving feedback. Choose based on your goal, such as interviews, university coursework or work. One-to-one tutoring suits you if you want your own spreadsheets reviewed.
Is financial modelling difficult?
Financial modelling is challenging at first because you need accounting knowledge, finance theory and strong Excel skills at the same time. Linking the three financial statements and building a discounted cash flow valuation usually need the most practice. It becomes manageable when you build models step by step, and your tutor reviews your spreadsheets with you.
Do you offer lessons in my time zone?
Yes. Lessons are online, so you can book times that suit your time zone.
Is financial modelling the same as valuation?
Not exactly. Financial modelling is building a spreadsheet that forecasts a company's financial performance. Valuation is estimating what the company is worth, often using methods such as discounted cash flow or comparable companies. Valuation usually relies on a financial model, which is why the two are so often taught together.
Can I hire a financial modelling tutor?
Yes. You can learn with a 1-to-1 financial modelling tutor online through live lessons with a shared screen. Your tutor builds three-statement and DCF models with you in Excel, checks your formulas and assumptions, and prepares you for coursework or interview modelling tests, so you can build models on your own.
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