CFO Reporting Re-Imagined — Visual Storytelling, From Data to Action (Module 3)

Overview

In Module 3 of CFO Reporting Re-Imagined — Visual Storytelling, From Data to Action, you'll move beyond spreadsheets full of numbers and examine visuals that drive decisions.

Highlights

Key Topics

• Chart Selection for Trends & Comparatives — lines for rolling-LTM, clustered columns for YoY, waterfalls for bridge analysis, sparklines for quick context.
• Conditional Formatting for Storytelling — heat maps, icon sets, and formula-driven highlights that flag KPIs needing immediate action.
• Storyboarding with the "What-Why-How" Model — craft a three-sentence narrative that moves leaders from awareness to action.
• AI-Assisted Narratives & Chart Suggestions — see live prompts that turn variance tables into first-draft commentary and recommend the most persuasive visual.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with core financial statements, common Excel formulas, and awareness of Excel’s Power Tools (Power Query, Power Pivot). Completion of Modules 1-2 is recommended.

Designed For

Who Will Benefit

This course is designed for accounting and finance professionals who create management or board-level insights and want to sharpen their storytelling skills while leveraging Gen AI for faster and more effec

Objectives

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

• Select chart types that best reveal trend and comparative insights for stakeholders.
• Apply conditional-formatting rules and clean layouts to spotlight risk by indicating outliers and reducing cognitive load.
• Use Gen AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT or Copilot) to propose chart options, generate audience-focused narratives, and determine follow-up questions for decision-makers.