Role-Based Programme
RB0458

Copilot for Microsoft 365 for Finance & Accounting

AI-Assisted Financial Analysis, Reporting & Finance Operations

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

Programme Objectives

  • Develop functional proficiency in using Microsoft 365 Copilot for financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting support, reconciliations, reporting, and finance operations.
  • Build reusable workflows that convert financial data, documents, emails, and meeting information into structured insights and management-ready outputs.
  • Use Copilot in Excel to analyse financial datasets, create formulas, PivotTables, charts, variance views, and exception analyses.
  • Integrate Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Copilot Chat, and Copilot Search across realistic finance and accounting processes.
  • Apply calculation verification, confidentiality, segregation of duties, source validation, human approval, and responsible AI practices throughout financial workflows.

Tools covered

Microsoft 365 CopilotMicrosoft Copilot ChatMicrosoft Copilot SearchCopilot in ExcelWordOutlookMicrosoft TeamsPowerPointMicrosoft Graph

Who should attend

  • Finance Managers
  • Accounting Managers
  • Financial Analysts
  • Management Accountants
  • FP&A Professionals
  • Financial Reporting Professionals
  • Accounts Payable Professionals
  • Accounts Receivable Professionals
  • Finance Operations Professionals
  • Budgeting & Planning Professionals
  • Controllers / Controllership Professionals
  • Finance & Accounting Team Leads

Prerequisites & Participant Readiness

  • Working understanding of finance and accounting processes
  • Familiarity with budgets, actuals, financial statements, reconciliations, expenses, forecasts, or management reporting
  • Basic working knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint
  • Basic spreadsheet and financial-analysis skills
  • No programming expertise required
  • No requirement to complete shorter Copilot for Microsoft 365 courses
  • Feature availability may vary by organisational licensing, permissions, and administrator configuration

TOC Modules

Concepts
  • Understanding Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Chat, Microsoft Graph, and organisational work context
  • Exploring Copilot across Excel, Word, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, and Copilot Search
  • Mapping finance activities across Collect → Analyse → Validate → Report → Decide
  • Identifying where Copilot can assist versus where finance controls and professional judgement remain mandatory
Practical activities
  • Exploring Copilot across selected Microsoft 365 applications
  • Mapping an existing finance process to Copilot capabilities
  • Creating an initial cross-application finance workflow

Scenarios

Monthly Financial Close to Management Review

Financial Data + Reconciliation Status + Outlook Updates → Copilot Synthesis → Excel Variance & Exception Analysis → Word Management Commentary → Teams Finance Review → PowerPoint Executive Summary → Approved Actions

Participants create an integrated month-end review workflow that converts financial information into validated analysis, management commentary, decisions, and follow-up actions while preserving finance controls.

Budget Performance to Forecast Action

Budget + Actual Data → Copilot in Excel → Material Variances → Driver Analysis → Scenario Review → Forecast Adjustment Recommendation → Management Meeting → Approved Next Actions

Participants analyse budget performance, identify material financial drivers, compare scenarios, and prepare forecast recommendations while keeping assumptions, adjustments, and final financial decisions under accountable human ownership.

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