The Excel Community’s popular lunch and learn series returns, this time focused on helping finance professionals build and improve their 3‑statement financial models.
Delivered by Ben Ducker, John Yeldham and Ruth Butler-Lee, through a collaborative, hands on format, the series will explore the key building blocks of a robust financial model. Starting with structure and principles, sessions will also cover how to build in core finance modules, before bringing everything together through dashboards, scenarios, and the importance of review.
The focus will be on practical application by helping attendees understand what a good model looks like and how to build one that is consistent, easy to use and auditable.
By the end of the series, attendees will have developed a clear framework for constructing 3-way financial models and a deeper understanding of how the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow interact in practice.
Building the foundations | Part 1
This opening webinar set the scene by introducing the fundamentals of financial modelling and how to set up the structure of a 3 statement model.
The webinar discusses:
- What a financial model is, how it is structured, and how it is used
- The importance of formula consistency and avoiding hardcoding
- Applying double entry principles within models
- Designing a timeline and consistent column structure
- Introducing flags, checks, and control mechanisms
First broadcast on 3 September 2026
Webinar resources
- Webinar recording
- PDF of webinar slides
- Workbook - Template
- Workbook - Error Check Network
- Workbook - Timeline
- Workbook - Setting up financial statements
- Workbook - Revenue as example
Please be aware that this webinar recording has closed captions enabled. In order to enable this feature, please click on the “CC” icon at the bottom of your screen. Please note that the transcript is automatically generated and errors may occur.
Building core drivers | Part 2
In the second webinar in the series, the speakers will demonstrate how to populate the model with key financial components, focusing on operational drivers and balance sheet items
The webinar discusses:
- Revenue and operating costs
- Fixed assets modules
- Trade debtors using debtor days
Date of webinar: 8 October 2026
Adding complexity | Part 3
The third webinar in the series will explore more advanced elements and demonstrate how supporting workings integrate into the model.
The webinar discusses:
- Supporting calculation sheets.
- Debt structures and flows.
- Tax modules and linking it across the P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
Date of webinar: 12 November 2026
Outputs, scenarios & review | Part 4
The final webinar of this lunch and learn series will focus on how to effectively use and present the model for decision making.
The speakers will cover:
- Using dashboards to present key outcomes
- A basic scenario manager
- Understanding the importance of model review and validation
Date of webinar: 10 December 2026
CPD
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