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There are 2 modules in this course
This intermediate course is designed for finance and business professionals who want to master the critical skill of project finance modeling in Excel. You will learn to construct and analyze a complete cash flow waterfall—an essential tool for assessing the financial viability of large-scale projects. The course moves beyond theory, guiding you through the distinct financial lifecycle of a project, from the initial capital-intensive construction phase to the revenue-generating operating period and subsequent debt repayment.
Through hands-on learning and instruction grounded in real-world case studies, such as the Channel Tunnel and the Dogger Bank Wind Farm, you will build a robust model from the ground up. You will learn to project cash inflows, prioritize payments to cover operating expenses and debt service, and determine the cash flow available for equity distributions. By the end of this course, you will have the practical Excel toolkit needed to forecast cash balances, prove a project's solvency, and make confident, data-driven investment decisions, preparing you for demanding financial analysis roles.
This module lays the essential groundwork for project finance modeling. Learners will explore why structured modeling is critical by examining real-world projects like the Channel Tunnel. Learners will also define the key phases of a project's financial life and deconstruct the anatomy of a cash flow waterfall. You will then move into Excel for a hands-on learning activity to build the foundational structure of a professional-grade financial model, setting you up for the detailed calculations in the next module.
What's included
2 videos2 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 10 minutes
Channel Tunnel: When Forecasts Fail•6 minutes
Anatomy of a Cash Flow Waterfall•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 13 minutes
The Three Acts of a Project's Financial Life•7 minutes
Blueprint for a Bulletproof Model: Structuring Your Excel File•6 minutes
2 assignments•Total 25 minutes
Hands-On Learning: Setting Up Your Project Model in Excel•20 minutes
In this module, you will dive deep into the practical application of building and analyzing a cash flow waterfall in Excel. Through a series of screencasts and hands-on activities, you will model cash flows from revenue down to equity distributions. You will then learn to analyze the model's output to determine project solvency and practice defending your model's assumptions in a simulated scenario. The module culminates in a graded assignment where you will build a complete model for a mini solar project.
What's included
2 videos2 readings2 assignments
Show info about module content
2 videos•Total 9 minutes
Modeling the Numbers: From Revenue to CFADS•5 minutes
Completing the Waterfall: Modeling Debt and Equity•4 minutes
2 readings•Total 10 minutes
Interpreting the Results: What the Numbers Tell You•5 minutes
Formulas for Forecasting: Key Excel Functions•5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 50 minutes
Model a Mini Solar Project•30 minutes
Hands-On Learning: Analyzing Solvency: The Final Check•20 minutes
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.