Certified Financial Analyst Program (CFAP)
CFA Program overview
This program in Financial Analysis with Agentic AI enables finance professionals and enthusiasts to master contemporary financial decision-making. The program is a blend of traditional financial models and advanced Agentic AI tools that aim to improve forecasting accuracy, strategic investment, and enterprise-wide analysis.
Who Can Apply for the Financial Analysis Program?
- Postgraduates or graduates from any recognized university (India or overseas).
- Finance professionals, analysts, investment advisors, or entrepreneurs looking to enhance their financial modeling and analytics capabilities.
What Roles Can an Advanced Certification in Financial Analysis with Agentic AI?
Skills to Master
Module 1 – Introduction
- Introduction to Excel
Spreadsheet basics for financial modeling and data analysis.
- Advanced Topics in Excel
Master advanced Excel features like pivot tables, VLOOKUP, macros, and dynamic charts.
- Mathematics and Statistics Using Excel
Use statistical functions and mathematical tools to address real-time finance issues.
- Economics for Finance—I & II
Study macro- and microeconomic concepts and their application in financial markets and decision-making.
Module 2 – Financial Accounting and analysis
- Introduction to Financial Accounting
Understand accounting concepts, principles, and the accounting cycle.
- The Balance Sheet
Learn to analyze an organization’s assets, liabilities, and equity structure.
- Statement of Profit and Loss
Understand revenues, expenses, and net income for profitability analysis.
- Cash Flow Statement
Analyze a firm’s liquidity and ability to generate cash.
- Financial Statement Analysis
Apply ratio analysis and trend analysis to measure financial health and performance.
- Hands-on Workshop I: Financial Forecasting
Apply forecasting techniques using historical data and Excel modeling.
Module 3 – Investment Banking
- Introduction to Investment Banking
Comprehend the structure, services, and revenue models of IBs.
- Issue Management, IPO & Underwriting
Examine public issue processes, pricing strategies, and underwriter roles.
- Mergers & Acquisitions—I & II
Master valuation, due diligence, synergies, and post-merger integration.
- Project Finance
Examine long-term infrastructure and industrial project funding structures.
Module 4 – Financial Instruments and Markets
- Financial Instruments & Markets
Introduction to debt, equity, derivatives, and hybrid instruments.
- Time Value of Money—I & II
Master NPV, IRR, annuities, perpetuities, and discounting cash flows.
- Stock Valuation
Learn DDM and relative valuation techniques for equity instruments.
- Bond Valuation
Learn bond pricing, yield curves, duration, and convexity.
- Hands-on Workshop II: Equity Valuation
Construct equity valuation models using real-time stock data and Excel.
Module 5 – Corporate Finance
- Capital Budgeting—I & II
Learn to appraise investment projects with NPV, IRR, and Payback.
- Risk and Return
Learn about systematic and unsystematic risks, CAPM, and Beta.
- Cost of Capital
Compute WACC and learn how it is applied in project appraisal.
- Financing and Capital Structure
Learn optimal capital structure and the consequences of debt-equity decisions.
- Hands-on Workshop III: Portfolio Optimization and Diversification
Learn modern portfolio theory and optimize portfolios using Excel and Solver tools.
Module 6 – Investment Management
- Financial Derivatives—I & II
Understand options, futures, forwards, swaps, and hedging strategies.
- Portfolio Management—I & II
Study strategic asset allocation and diversification methods.
- Performance Evaluation
Study portfolio performance with Sharpe, Treynor, and Jensen indices.
- Hands-on Workshop IV: Portfolio Performance Evaluation
Use evaluation structures to analyze live portfolios and enhance results.
Module 7 – Corporate Valuation
- Introduction to Valuation
Study valuation as a strategic corporate finance tool.
- Corporate Valuation—DCF Methods
Do discounted cash flow valuations with FCFF and FCFE methodologies.
- Corporate Valuation—Relative Valuation
Apply EV/EBITDA, P/E, and P/BV ratios for relative valuation.
- Valuation of Early-stage Firms and Startups
Investigate startup valuation models under uncertainty and limited information.
- Real Option Valuation
Understand how to value managerial flexibility in capital budgeting.
- Hands-on Workshop V: Corporate Valuation
Construct end-to-end valuation models combining DCF and multiples.
Module 8 – Risk Management and Fintech
- Market & Currency Risk Management
Tools to hedge interest rate, FX, and market volatility.
- Credit Risk Management
Analyze default probability and exposure at default through AI models.
- Enterprise Risk & Financial Institutions
Comprehend integrated risk frameworks in banks and corporations.
- Fintech I & II
Discover how blockchain, robo-advisors, digital payments, and Agentic AI are transforming finance.
- Hands-on Workshop VI: Risk Measurement
Model VaR, stress testing, and scenario analysis using Excel.
Module 9 – Introduction to Power BI
In the first module of this Course, you will learn the basics of Power BI
- Introduction to Business Intelligence (BI)
- Stages of the BI Lifecycle
- Real-world Use Cases of BI
- Comparison of Popular BI Tools
- Understanding Data Warehousing Concepts
- What is Power BI?
- Why Choose Power BI for BI Projects?
- Exploring Key Power BI Components
- Power BI Licensing & Pricing Structure
- Fundamental Building Blocks of Power BI
- Architecture Overview of Power BI
- Power BI vs Tableau vs QlikView
- Getting Started with Power BI Desktop
- Installing Power BI Desktop
- Key Features of the Power BI Workflow
- Step-by-Step Process to Build Reports in Power BI
Hands-on Exercise –
- Build a basic Power BI Dashboard
- Source data from a public web source
- Publish the report to Power BI Cloud
- Create Pivot Tables (Power Tables) for data insights
Module 10 – Data Extraction
In the second module of this Certification, you will learn the basics of data extraction
- Introduction to Power BI Desktop
- Understanding Various Data Sources in Power BI
- Using File-Based Sources (Excel, PDF, CSV, etc.)
- Working with SaaS Connectors (e.g., Salesforce, Google Analytics)
- Extracting Data from Folders & Relational Databases
- Integrating Azure SQL Database & Other SQL Sources
- Connecting to Analysis Services
- Utilizing Additional Sources (OData, Web, SharePoint, etc.)
- Using Python and R Scripts in Power BI
- Getting Started with Power Query Editor
- Exploring the Advanced Editor
Hands-on Exercise –
- Connect to a database and retrieve structured data
- Import data from Excel files for quick visualizations
- Establish a connection to SQL Server
- Integrate with SQL Azure
- Connect to Analysis Services for multidimensional insights
- Work with Power Query Editor for data transformation
- Connect to Hadoop and perform exploratory analysis
Module 11 – Data Transformation – Shaping and Combining Data
- Shaping Data Using Power Query Editor
- Formatting and Structuring Imported Data
- Applying Data Transformations
- Understanding Power BI Data Types
- Data Profiling for Quality Checks
- Naming Conventions & Best Practices
- Creating Keys for Data Joins
- Using Parameters for Dynamic Queries
- Merge Queries for Consolidated Data
- Append Queries for Data Union
- Using Group By for Aggregation
- Managing Applied Steps in Query Settings
- Duplicate vs. Reference Tables
- Transposing Rows and Columns
- Using the Fill Operation (Down/Up)
- Pivot and Unpivot Transformations
- Creating Custom Columns
- Using Conditional Columns for Logic
- Replacing Values in Tables
- Splitting Column Values
- Moving, Renaming, and Sorting Columns
- Detect Data Type, Count & Reverse Rows
- Promoting Rows as Column Headers
- Creating Hierarchies for Drill-Down Reports
- Introduction to M Query Language
Hands-on Exercise –
- Install Power BI Desktop and configure the environment
- Use Power Query Editor to perform basic shaping
- Write and apply M Query transformations
- Transpose a table and manipulate structure
Module 12 – Data Modelling and DAX
- Introduction to Data Relationships
- Creating and Managing Relationships Between Tables
- Understanding Cardinality in Power BI Models
- Cross-Filter Direction: Single vs. Both
- Working with Inactive Relationships
- Introduction to DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)
- Why DAX is Essential for Power BI Modelling
- DAX Syntax and Expression Structure
- Commonly Used DAX Functions
- Understanding Row and Filter Context in DAX
- Creating Calculated Columns with DAX
- Building Measures Using DAX
- Using DAX to Create Calculated Tables
- Exploring Table, Logical, Text, and Iterator Functions
- Time Intelligence Functions (YTD, QTD, MTD)
- Cumulative Totals, Rankings, and Group Calculations
- Date and Time-Based DAX Functions
- Diagnosing Poorly Performing Measures and Relationships
- Exploring Advanced DAX Techniques and Patterns
Hands-on Exercise –
- Create a Power Pivot model with multiple related tables
- Apply filters to control visual and data-level interactions
- Use advanced DAX functions, including date and time intelligence
- Embed Power Pivot models directly into Power BI Desktop
- Write DAX queries to build calculated columns, measures, and tables.
Module 13 – Data Visualization with Analytics
- Deep Dive into Power BI Data Visualization
- Exploring Power View and Power Map
- Key Data Visualization Techniques
- Optimizing Page Layout and Formatting
- Power BI Desktop Visualization Overview
- Formatting and Customizing Visuals
- Visualization Interactivity and Customization
- Creating Custom Visuals in Power BI
- Top-Down and Bottom-Up Analytics
- Drill-Down Functionality
- Drill-Through for Detailed Insights
- Page Navigation in Power BI
- Using Bookmarks for Navigation and Reports
- Selection Pane for Visual Management
- Comparing Volume and Value-Based Analytics
- Combination Charts (Dual-Axis Charts)
- Using the Filter Pane for Data Segmentation
- Creating and Using Slicers
- Leveraging Hierarchies in Drill-Down Analysis
- Setting Corporate Themes for Consistency
- Creating Reusable Power BI Templates
- Mastering Power BI Visualization Best Practices
- Using the Performance Analyzer to Optimize Reports
- Power BI Q&A (Natural Language Query Visual)
- Syncing Slicers Across Multiple Visuals
- Adding Tooltips and Custom Tooltips
- Tables and Matrix Visuals
- Conditional Formatting for Enhanced Visuals
- Creating Waterfall, KPI, Donut, and Scatter Charts
- Geographical Data Visualization Using Maps
Hands-on Exercise –
- Create Power View and Power Map for visual storytelling
- Format and customize visuals for polished reports
- Deploy Power View on SharePoint and Excel
- Implement top-down and bottom-up analytics strategies
- Build Power View reports, charts, and scorecards
- Add custom visuals to enhance reporting
- Authenticate and embed Power BI dashboards in web applications
- Categorize, filter, and sort data using Power View
- Create business and date hierarchies
- Resolve common hierarchy issues in Power BI models
Module 14 – Power BI Service (Cloud), Q & A, and Data Insights
- Introduction to Power BI Service
- Exploring Workspaces in Power BI
- Understanding Dashboards in Power BI
- Creating and Configuring Dashboards
- Customizing Dashboard Themes
- Reports vs. Dashboards: Key Differences
- Building Workspace Apps for Collaboration
- Sharing Reports and Dashboards
- Configuring Subscriptions and Data Alerts
- Creating Paginated Reports
- Introduction to Power Q&A
- Asking Questions Using Natural Language Queries
- Getting Insights in Charts, Graphs, and Data Discoveries
- Configuring Custom Questions for Q&A (e.g., FAQs)
- Building Ad-Hoc Analytics with Power BI
- Power Q&A Best Practices for Efficient Queries
- Using Quick Insights for Immediate Data Discovery
- Configuring Subscriptions, Alerts, and Usage Statistics
- Designing Reports in Power BI Service
- Collaborating with Power BI Service Features
- Implementing Row-Level Security (RLS)
- Introduction to Paginated Reports
- Exploring Power BI Report Server
Hands-on Exercise –
- Write queries using natural language to interact with your data
- Get answers in the form of charts and graphs from your queries
- Build ad-hoc analytics reports dynamically from your data
- Pin tiles and ranges to dashboards for quick access and visual tracking.
Module 15 – Power BI Settings, Administration, and Direct Connectivity
- Understanding Power BI Desktop Settings
- Aggregating Data from Multiple Data Sources
- Configuring Power BI Service Settings
- Exploring the Power BI Admin Portal
- Power BI Administration Activities
- Analysing Power BI Usage and Activity
- Introduction to Office 365 Admin Activities
- Overview of Data Gateway in Power BI
- Installing and Configuring Data Gateways
- Scheduling Auto Data Refresh for Reports
- Managing Groups, Row-Level Security, Datasets, Reports, and Dashboards
- Real-Time Data Analysis Using Direct Connectivity
- Direct Query vs. Import Mode in Power BI
Hands-on Exercise –
- Configure Power BI Desktop settings for optimal performance
- Aggregate data from various sources for integrated reporting
- Set up Power BI Service settings for cloud deployment
- Explore the Power BI Admin Portal and its functionality
- Monitor and manage Power BI usage analysis
- Install and configure a Data Gateway for hybrid solutions
- Schedule auto data refresh for real-time reporting
- Implement row-level security and manage report access
- Test Direct Query and Import Mode for data analysis
Module 16 – Generative AI & Power BI Copilot
- Introduction to GenAI and its integration with Power BI
- Using Power BI Copilot for report generation and data analysis
- Enhancing dashboards with AI-generated summaries and insights
- Automating data storytelling with natural language narratives
- Real-world use cases of GenAI in business intelligence
- Best practices for using GenAI features responsibly
Hands-on Exercise
- Use Power BI Copilot to generate a summary for a sales dashboard
- Add AI-generated insights to a marketing performance report
- Compare manual vs. AI-assisted dashboard development