Role-Based Programme
RB0278

Microsoft 365 Copilot for Finance & Accounting

Analyse, Reconcile & Build Smarter Financial Workflows

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Duration
16 Hours
Level
Intermediate
Delivery
Instructor-Led
Format
Capability Training

Programme Objectives

  • Develop functional proficiency in applying Microsoft 365 Copilot across financial analysis, variance review, reconciliations, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and finance operations.
  • Apply advanced prompting and context techniques to produce accurate, structured, and review-ready finance outputs.
  • Use Copilot in Excel and Analyst to investigate financial data, trends, variances, exceptions, and what-if scenarios.
  • Apply Finance Agent and Microsoft 365 capabilities to support reconciliation, receivables, collections, financial communication, and recurring finance workflows where configured.
  • Apply confidentiality, financial controls, data validation, segregation of duties, responsible AI, and accountable human approval across AI-assisted finance activities.

Tools covered

Microsoft 365 CopilotCopilot ChatExcelAnalystResearcherFinance AgentFinancial Reconciliation AgentOutlookTeamsWordPowerPointLoopOneDrive & SharePoint

Who should attend

  • Finance Managers
  • Financial Analysts
  • Accountants
  • Management Accountants
  • FP&A Professionals
  • Controllers
  • Accounts Payable Professionals
  • Accounts Receivable Professionals
  • Financial Reporting Professionals
  • Budgeting & Forecasting Professionals
  • Finance Operations Professionals
  • Commercial Finance Professionals
  • Finance Business Partners
  • Finance Team Leads & Heads

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Basic familiarity with finance, accounting, budgeting, reporting, or financial-analysis activities
  • Working knowledge of Microsoft Excel and common Microsoft 365 applications
  • Familiarity with financial statements, budgets, forecasts, reconciliations, or transaction data is helpful
  • Basic understanding of organisational financial controls and data confidentiality
  • Basic understanding of Generative AI is beneficial but not mandatory
  • Completion of a shorter Copilot programme is not required

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Chat, agents, and AI-assisted finance productivity
  • Identifying Copilot opportunities across Analyse → Reconcile → Forecast → Report → Communicate workflows
  • Understanding how organisational permissions affect access to financial information
  • Recognising hallucinations, incorrect calculations, incomplete context, and financial decision risks
Practical activities
  • Mapping recurring finance and accounting activities to appropriate Copilot-assisted workflows

Scenarios

Monthly Financial Performance Review

Actuals & Budget → Copilot in Excel → Analyst → Variance Identification → Driver Analysis → What-If Scenario → Management Commentary → PowerPoint Executive Brief

Participants analyse monthly finance data, identify material variances, investigate potential drivers, test selected assumptions, and convert validated findings into an executive-ready financial performance review.

Financial Reconciliation & Exception Management

Two Financial Datasets → Financial Reconciliation Agent → Matching Rules → Reconciliation Results → Exceptions → Investigation → Corrective Actions → Review Summary

Participants use Finance Agent in Excel to compare transaction datasets, investigate unmatched or discrepant items, document follow-up actions, and prepare a reconciliation summary for accountant review and approval.

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