Turn Numbers into Narratives
This bootcamp-style program walks participants through a complete financial reporting cycle – simulating a real client period-end close from start to finish. From executing a high-quality close and building an accurate trial balance, to surfacing insights and delivering meaningful recommendations, participants leave with the skills to do more than report the numbers – they learn to tell the story behind them.
Built for the Complete CAAS Professional
Hands-on situational analysis exercises and case studies go beyond technical skills — developing the interpersonal capabilities that define a true advisor: confident communication, critical thinking, effective delegation, and giving and receiving feedback.
The result? A faster, more purposeful journey from accountant to advisor. The bootcamp includes six stages of instructor-led lectures and interactive exercises, and a total of 12 CPE credits.
Learning Objectives
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
- Analyze trial balance accounts and related account relationships to determine whether balances are accurate, complete, and supported by appropriate adjustments or corrections.
- Evaluate budget-to-actual variances by considering key assumptions, activity drivers, and client inquiry results to identify causes of performance differences.
- Design and interpret client- and industry-specific key performance indicators to assess trends, significance, and business implications.
- Communicate financial results, operational insights, and recommendations using clear language, effective visuals, and messaging appropriate for finance and non-finance audiences.
- Develop updated budgets and forecasts using period-end close results, variance analysis, KPI trends, and client communications.
Course Outline
| TOPIC | MINUTES |
|---|---|
| Opening | 15 |
| Stage 1: Getting the Numbers Right | 100 |
| Stage 2: Performing Variance Analysis on Budget vs. Actual Results | 120 |
| Stage 3: Preparing and Analyzing Key Performance Indicators (KPI) | 100 |
| Stage 4: Finalizing the Trial Balance and Completing the Final Review | 50 |
| Stage 5: Summarizing Results and Communicating High-Impact Insights with Confidence | 100 |
| Stage 6: Updating Budgets and Forecasts | 100 |
| Closing | 15 |
| Total | 600 |
Course Information
| Delivery Methods | Fields of Study |
|---|---|
| Group Live Group Internet | Accounting (2) Finance (7) Communications and Marketing (3) |
| CPE Credits | Prerequisites |
| 12 Credits | None |
| Level | Advance Preparation |
| Basic | None |

