AI for Finance with Microsoft Copilot Training Course

Introduction and Learning Objectives

A live poll will assess current AI usage habits and verify each participant's Copilot licence type, allowing the session's pace and examples to be tailored accordingly.

Copilot for Finance – Transitioning to Consistent Daily Practice

Key Topics

•     Distinguishing between Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot: features of each edition

•     Utilising Copilot across the Microsoft 365 applications most relevant to finance teams

•     Understanding where the Premium edition enhances capabilities and evaluating the value of an upgrade

•     Establishing a personal daily routine for using Copilot

Practical Exercise (identical for Basic and Premium users)

•     Participants will audit their routine finance tasks to identify immediate opportunities for Copilot integration

Advanced Prompting Techniques for Finance

Key Topics

•     Structuring prompts for financial accuracy

•     Providing Copilot with appropriate context and constraints

•     Iterating and refining output results

•     Mitigating common errors in numerical outputs

Practical Exercise (identical for Basic and Premium, conducted in Copilot Chat)

•     Participants will refine weak prompts into robust ones using their own finance scenarios and compare the resulting outputs

Excel – Data Reconciliation and Cleaning

Key Topics

•     Utilising Copilot to detect mismatches and anomalies

•     Cleaning and standardising irregular datasets

•     Automating repetitive checks (full functionality available only on Premium)

Practical Exercise (dual workflow)

•     Premium: Reconciling a two-source dataset directly within Excel using in-app Copilot

•     Basic: Uploading the xlsx file to Copilot Chat, generating a mismatch report, and applying corrections in Excel based on the provided guidance

•     Shared outcome: A documented, reusable process applicable in the workplace

Excel – Forecasting and Budgeting

Key Topics

•     Creating forecast scenarios with Copilot support

•     Validating budget assumptions

•     Articulating variance drivers in clear, non-technical language

Practical Exercise (dual workflow)

•     Premium: Building and adjusting a basic forecast model in Excel, testing two scenarios with Copilot

•     Basic: Uploading the model to Copilot Chat, generating and comparing two scenarios in the chat, then transferring the results into the Excel model

Financial Reporting and Executive Communication

Key Topics

•     Converting raw analysis into clear management reports

•     Summarising financial performance for non-finance stakeholders

•     Drafting executive-ready commentary with Copilot

Practical Exercise (dual workflow)

•     Premium: Drafting the executive summary directly in Word using in-app Copilot

•     Basic: Generating commentary in Copilot Chat and finalising the document in Word

•     Shared outcome: A one-page executive summary derived from a dataset used earlier in the session

Recap, knowledge assessment, and personal action plan

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the day, participants will be able to:

•     Write consistently effective prompts for financial tasks

•     Reconcile and clean data more efficiently using Copilot, regardless of licence tier

•     Construct and test forecast and budget scenarios with AI assistance

•     Produce clear, executive-ready reports and summaries

•     Accurately identify the capabilities of their current licence and determine when an upgrade to Premium is justified

•     Immediately apply a personal action plan and reusable prompt examples in their daily work