6-lesson course · about 2 hours
Every figure in your pack shows its period, currency, units and method
For CFOs, controllers, FP&A teams, accountants and finance operations professionals
Everything for Finance teamsA focused 2-hour course for FP&A teams and controllers: build a simple label convention, then use an AI check to catch mismatched labels before a pack or deck reaches the board.
What you’ll be able to do
By the end, you can…
How it works
A tutor that meets you where you are
- Lessons that adapt to your levelSix lessons across two modules. Later lessons are written for your level as you reach them, so you spend time on what you need rather than what you already know.
- An AI tutor you can ask anythingAsk questions typed or out loud, for example how to label a rolling 12-month figure or where a unit label belongs on a chart, and get answers tied to the lesson.
- Quizzes and flashcards for each lessonShort quizzes and flashcards linked to each lesson help you check your understanding and keep the label formats and checklist steps in mind.
- Progress tracking and a certificateTrack where you are across the course at your own pace, and receive a certificate of completion when you finish.
Curriculum
The curriculum
The course has two modules. The first builds your label convention for tables, charts, commentary and method notes; the second uses AI to check those labels and a checklist to decide when a pack is ready to share.
Module 1Build a label convention for every figure3 lessons
1The four fields every figure must carry
- Explain how a figure copied without labels can mislead a reader such as the board
- Define the four fixed fields of period, currency, units and calculation method for your team's convention
- Spot figures in a draft pack that are missing one or more of the four fields
2Naming conventions and labelling in tables, charts and commentary
- Write period, currency and unit labels in one agreed format, such as 'YTD Mar 2025' and 'EUR m'
- Choose whether a label belongs on a single figure or on a table header, column or chart axis
- Rewrite a commentary sentence so the figure it quotes carries its period, currency and units
3Writing a calculation-method note
- Write a calculation-method note that a colleague can follow to recalculate a figure
- Link a figure in a table or slide to its method note with a short reference
- Spot a method note that is too vague to reproduce the figure
Module 2Check labels with AI before anything is shared3 lessons
4Building an AI consistency check prompt
- Write an AI prompt that lists every figure with its labels and flags missing or conflicting labels
- Specify an output table that a reviewer can work through line by line
- Choose what data may go into the AI tool based on your organisation's approved tools and data rules
5Reviewing AI flags and recording decisions
- Decide for each AI flag whether to fix it, confirm it against the source or leave it as is
- Record each decision with a reason in a simple flag log
- Spot a false flag and a missed mismatch in an AI check output
6The pre-share checklist
- Apply a pre-share checklist to a draft pack and decide whether it is ready to share
- Identify which checklist steps must be repeated after a late edit
- Adapt the checklist to your team's reporting cycle and reviewer sign-off
Who it’s for
Made for you if…
Made for: CFOs, controllers, FP&A teams, accountants and finance operations professionals
FP&A analysts preparing management packs and board decks
You copy figures from models into slides and need every number to carry its period, currency and units when it lands there.
Controllers and finance managers who review packs before they go out
You need a quick, repeatable way to confirm labels are present and consistent, and a record of what was checked.
Reporting accountants producing monthly reporting packages
You want a shared labelling standard and method notes so colleagues can trace and recalculate any figure you report.
Questions
Good to know
How long does the course take?
It is designed to take about 2 hours, across six self-paced lessons in two modules.
What do I need before I start?
Working knowledge of management reporting in spreadsheets, familiarity with YTD, month-to-date and rolling-period reporting, a draft pack, deck or table to practise on, and knowledge of which AI tools your organisation has approved for finance data.
Which AI tool do I need?
The course does not require a specific tool. You use the tool your organisation has approved, and lesson 4 covers choosing what data may go into it based on your approved tools and data rules, including keeping customer identifiers and nonpublic reporting data out of unapproved cloud tools.
Will the AI fix the labels for me?
No. The AI check lists figures and flags missing or conflicting labels. You review each flag, decide whether to fix it, confirm it against the source or leave it as is, and record the reason.
Does the course cover reconciliations, variance commentary or FX policy?
No. It does not cover reconciliation differences, variance explanation, scenario models, source file cleaning, accounting standards, FX rate policy or tool configuration. It focuses on labelling figures and checking those labels.
What level is this course?
It starts at a beginner level for labelling conventions and takes you to an intermediate level. You should already know what YTD, month, EUR and thousands mean.