Role-Based Programme
RB0279

Microsoft 365 Copilot for Finance & Accounting

Advanced Financial Intelligence, AI Workflows & Finance Automation

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Duration
32 Hours
Level
Advanced
Delivery
Instructor-Led
Format
Capability Development

Programme Objectives

  • Develop advanced proficiency in applying Microsoft 365 Copilot across financial analysis, accounting operations, reconciliation, close, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and finance decision support.
  • Build reusable AI-assisted finance workflows using Copilot in Excel, Finance Agent, Researcher, Analyst, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and organizational work context.
  • Apply Copilot to financial workbooks, statements, transactional information, policies, emails, reports, and external research while maintaining traceability and validation.
  • Design repeatable workflows for variance analysis, reconciliations, collections, close management, management reporting, and financial intelligence.
  • Apply appropriate confidentiality, segregation of duties, source validation, human approval, auditability, and accountable finance governance.

Tools covered

Microsoft 365 CopilotCopilot ChatCopilot in ExcelFinance AgentFinancial Reconciliation AgentOutlookWordPowerPointTeamsResearcherAnalystExcel Skills & ConnectorsScheduled Prompts

Who should attend

  • Finance Managers
  • Financial Analysts
  • FP&A Professionals
  • Accountants
  • Management Accountants
  • Financial Controllers
  • General Ledger Professionals
  • Financial Reporting Professionals
  • Accounts Payable Professionals
  • Accounts Receivable & Collections Professionals
  • Budgeting & Forecasting Professionals
  • Treasury Professionals
  • Finance Business Partners
  • Finance Transformation Professionals
  • Finance Directors & Senior Finance Leaders

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Familiarity with accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, or finance operations
  • Basic understanding of financial statements, reconciliations, variances, and management reporting
  • Working familiarity with Microsoft Excel is recommended
  • Basic Microsoft 365 experience is beneficial
  • Prior Generative AI experience is helpful but not mandatory
  • No programming knowledge required
  • Advanced capabilities may depend on Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing, Finance Agent availability, ERP connectivity, tenant configuration, language/region, and administrator permissions
  • Completion of shorter Copilot programmes is not required

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Copilot across Record → Analyse → Reconcile → Forecast → Report → Decide finance workflows
  • Understanding Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 applications, Finance Agent, and organizational context
  • Understanding AI assistance versus authoritative ERP, ledger, consolidation, and reporting systems
Practical activities
  • Mapping recurring finance activities to suitable Copilot capabilities
  • Identifying finance activities requiring mandatory accountant, controller, or management approval

Scenarios

Month-End Close to Management Reporting

ERP / Ledger Data → Copilot in Excel → Financial Reconciliation Agent → Variance & Flux Analysis → Close Exceptions → Management Commentary → PowerPoint / Word Reporting → Controller Approval

Participants build an advanced Copilot-assisted close workflow that converts validated financial data into reconciliations, variance explanations, issue tracking, and management-ready reporting while maintaining source traceability and formal finance approval.

Forecasting & Continuous Financial Intelligence

Historical Actuals + Business Drivers → Copilot in Excel → Analyst → Scenario Analysis → Researcher → External Business Evidence → Forecast Commentary → Scheduled Review → Leadership Decision

Participants combine internal financial models, deeper analytical reasoning, external business intelligence, and recurring Copilot workflows to support rolling forecasting and management decision-making while keeping assumptions and consequential financial decisions under accountable human control.

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