AI for Finance with Microsoft Copilot Training Course

Welcome and Objectives

A live poll to assess current AI usage habits and a verification of each participant's Copilot license type, allowing us to tailor the pace and examples to the group's needs.

Copilot for Finance – Transitioning from Occasional to Consistent Daily Use

Key Topics

•     Differentiating Copilot Chat from Microsoft 365 Copilot: understanding the features included in each edition

•     Utilizing Copilot across the Microsoft 365 applications most frequently used by finance teams

•     Understanding where the Premium edition extends capabilities and determining when an upgrade is worthwhile

•     Establishing a personal routine for daily usage

Practical Exercise (Identical for Basic and Premium)

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

Advanced Prompting for Financial Tasks

Key Topics

•     Structuring prompts to ensure financial accuracy

•     Providing Copilot with appropriate context and constraints

•     Iterating and refining output results

•     Mitigating common errors in numeric outputs

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

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

Excel – Data Reconciliation and Cleaning

Key Topics

•     Leveraging Copilot to identify mismatches and anomalies

•     Cleaning and standardizing messy datasets

•     Automating repetitive checks (full functionality available only in 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 to generate a mismatch report, then applying corrections in Excel based on the guidance provided

•     Shared Deliverable: A documented, reusable process that can be implemented in daily work

Excel – Forecasting and Budgeting

Key Topics

•     Developing forecast scenarios with the assistance of Copilot

•     Validating budget assumptions

•     Articulating variance drivers in clear, plain language

Practical Exercise (Dual Workflow)

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

•     Basic: Uploading the model to Copilot Chat to generate and compare two scenarios, then transferring the results back into the Excel model

Financial Reporting and Executive Communication

Key Topics

•     Converting raw analysis into clear management reports

•     Summarizing financial results for non-finance stakeholders

•     Drafting executive-ready commentary with the aid of Copilot

Practical Exercise (Dual Workflow)

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

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

•     Shared Deliverable: A one-page executive summary based on a dataset utilized earlier in the session

Session Recap, Knowledge Check, and Personal Action Plan

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the day, participants will be equipped to:

•     Consistently write high-quality prompts for financial tasks

•     Accelerate data reconciliation and cleaning with Copilot, independent of license type

•     Construct and test forecast and budget scenarios with AI support

•     Create clear, executive-ready reports and summaries

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

•     Implement a personal action plan and utilize reusable prompt examples immediately in their daily workflow