1 CPE This course prepares participants to begin business intelligence projects at their own firm. The focus of the course is a hands-on approach to structuring data including generating new variables based on comparative and relative metrics. The structuring of these variables will be done in Excel, SAS, and Stata to give viewers a sense of familiarity with a variety of different software package structures.
The focus in this course is on financial data though the techniques are also applicable to more general forms of data like that used in marketing or management analyses.
***Please download and open all supporting materials before starting the course videos.***
Learning Objectives
- Discover how to evaluate data for accuracy using Benford’s Law
- Explore how to develop ratios and relative metrics to better evaluate data
- Explore how to develop moving average and other tools to smooth data over time
- Discover how to create binary variables and decile rankings to evaluate data structure
***Each of the objectives above will be covered in Excel, SAS, and Stata
Last updated/reviewed: March 17, 2024
Included In Certifications
This course is included in the following Certification Programs:
15 CoursesData Analytics Professional (DAP) Certification
- The Fundamentals of Business Intelligence (BI): What it Does and Why it's so Essential
- How is Industry Using Big Data? – A Case Study Reading
- Business Intelligence - Data Collection and Cleaning
- Business Intelligence - Structuring Data for Analysis
- Business Intelligence - Fundamentals of Data Analysis
- Business Intelligence - Using Big Data Analytics
- Doing Data Analytics In Excel (Hands-on module)
- Regressions in Excel (Hands-on module)
- Financial Forecasting
- Advanced Analytics – Omitted Variables
- Advanced Analytics – Fixed Effects
- Case Study in Data Analytics
- Using Regressions for Forecasting
- Financial Forecasting in Excel (Hands-on module)
- Blockchain for Business
94 Reviews (528 ratings)
Reviews
Brian Leip
(Asst. Controller at Kranz & Associates)
Great overview of the steps and potential hurdles that come while structuring data for Analysis and Business Intelligence. The only negative was that there was a bit too much discussion on financial metrics and ratios, which are interesting in themselves, but a bit off topic from the focus of the video. All in all great info and would recommend.
Anonymous
(CFO)
This was a great study to understand what to look for to ensure we have a good data set that will give us some answers we are looking for. Some of the data I need to follow up for instance the decile calculations. Also the illustrations were great just one small feedback note meant Benford but it read Bedford to an otherwise great study.
Anonymous
()
I incorrectly expected this course content to be more about generalized data analysis. The emphasis on business financial performance and predictive data was outside my domain knowledge, but that's on me since the course overview identified the use of financial data as an illustration.
Anonymous
(Not Provided)
These kinds of lectures are better in visual form. E.g. outliers and quintiles are easier to understand on graphs. Also, there are traditional financial ratios as an example for new variables, but what about other areas (e.g. customer behavior), are there useful variables to check?
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
Structuring data is very important, especially in the accounting field. With the amount of reports that we create we have to be careful about garbage in leading to garbage out. The ratios section of this course was a review for me but I found everything else to be helpful.
Wayne Burns
(CFO at Lone Tree Inc)
The presentation was clear, concise, straightforward and well organized. Some aspects were cluttered while other areas were just lightly covered. a more even distribution of information would have been better. this however, is a great course.
Anonymous
(Senior Business Consultant)
As I intend to apply the concepts learned in this and Michael's other Data Analytics courses to non-accounting data, I found the focus on accounting ratios to be very specific to financial data analysis and not as applicable for my purpose.
Kate Eberle
(Senior Associate at Grant Thornton Public Sector)
This course provides a good general overview of how to structure data appropriately. The emphasis on financial ratios and metrics seems overly specific to one domain, but makes sense given the instructor's background.
Anonymous
(CEO/Founder)
I'd really like to know which question I missed on the exam, that would be helpful. In general, I am really enjoying the class and finding the material helpful. However, I do not like having to write a review.
Alejandra Chacon
(Snr.Assistant Controller at Oracle + NetSuite)
Excellent professor, i learn new ratios and techniques, very good course, it give me much more interest on predicting ans evaluating data. It is absolutelly good and very usefull information.
Anonymous
(Executive Director, Corporate Controller)
This course is easy to follow and is a good refresher for financial ratios. I am also glad to learn about the use of Altman Z score and Binary variables for data analysis purpose.
Anonymous
(senior tax associate)
I like the discussion of all the ratios you can use to determine possible ways to separate out an analysis. The use of binary variables will help this out tremendously as well.
Anonymous
(Director, Research)
Overall, it's a pretty good course that builds off the last and prepares you for the next. Gets a bit too detailed on certain aspects, but still manages to cover plenty.
ERICA CARPER
(Controller at MWP)
I had never even heard of Benford's law so that was interesting. Overall, a good explanation of building data to be analyzed without getting bogged down in the details.
Aaron Walters
(Associate at Grant Thornton)
Course is beginning to repeat information addressed in other courses. The review can be helpful to a point, but it felt like it shot past the point of usefulness.
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
The ratios were explained well. There were a lot of equations, but the instructor was able to articulate the purpose and the expectations for them well.
Anonymous
(VP, WFM and BusTech)
This course serves a great refresher, particularly for anyone that is looking to increase their general understanding of structuring and analyzing data.
Anonymous
(International Tax Sr. Associate)
Solid review of data selection. A bit duplicative with some of the information, but over a good into to different formulas and ways to analyze data.
Anonymous
(Senior Auditor)
Course content was clearly delivered with ample examples that makes it easier to grasp the main ideas. Listing of ratios was required more focus.
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
Overall, good course. I thought it was a bit duplicative with some of the information discussed in previous courses, but still a good overview.
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
Michael did an excellent job detailing the importance of structuring data for analysis is a way that was easy to understand and very relatable.
Nick Zuzula
(Senior Associate at Grant Thornton)
Very insightful for how to look at data. Discussion on the limitation of data is very helpful for looking at data in ways that can be useful.
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
this course was very boring and could have been more useful to have had some test questions in between lectures to retain my attention
Anonymous
(Tax Senior Associate)
For someone that doesn't have a finance degree, I think I needed the ability to walk through some of the formulas using examples.
Keith Baker
(Data Analyst at Charter Communications)
Lots of good information with useful ratios. The ratio section was the biggest draw for me. A good outline of tools available
Anonymous
(Finance and IT Consultant)
The course covered well on structuring data for analysis, but seemed a little overloaded in content within the allotted time.
Anonymous
(Senior Associate)
The majority of this seemed highly repetitive of the previous business intelligence courses, with much less new information.
Tal Crook
(RAS Associate at RSM)
Great review of data selection or organizing. Really appreciated the talk about Benford Law, interesting to learn about that
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
I leaned data structure, assessing data, ratios and key metrics from my college and this course provided me a fresh review.
Christian Main
(Tax Associate at Grant Thornton LLP)
I thought this course did a good job and was informative. It was nice to get a refresher on financial ratios and metrics.
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
I appreciated the instructor's crossover from one lesson to another. This cohesiveness blends the lessons together well.
Jane Rogers
(Senior Associate at Grant Thornton LLP)
Great refresher for terms and ideas I learned in college. Also helped me find more practical applications of each topic
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
Great session. Learned a lot on statistics and how to organize and analyze large sets of data and why it is useful.
Anonymous
(Senior Tax Associate)
Nothing surprised me about this course. Everything went as expected. Nothing new here, but helpful review for me.
Anonymous
(Senior Associate)
One of the questions was wrong. It asked about the Z score but referenced marketing rather than bancruptcy.
Mark Eastman
(Accountant at Self)
This is an effective and clear introduction to the structuring of data obtained from a variety of sources.
Chris Grimes
(Rules Master at Cisco)
Good overview of data analysis. Not a lot of detail. But taken with the other courses, it makes sense.
Anonymous
(Tax Intern)
This was a good course to begin understanding the initial steps required before data analysis can occur.
Anonymous
(Assistant Internal Audit Manager)
This course provides overview of how to structure data appropriately. Easy for beginners to understand.
Anonymous
(Internal Audit)
Thank you for another course on data analytics. I appreciate the time you put into creating this course.
Christina Lanthier
(Tax Senior Associate at Grant Thornton)
The course had a lot technical information that was difficult to follow as I have never seen it before.
Andrew Colaizzi
(Tax Associate at Grant Thornton)
This one was illustrative of some helpful categories. I enjoyed the description of the z statistic.
Diego Parra
(CFO at North Tarrant Infrastructure LLC)
I miss a little more practice. I think it is difficult to understand this subject with just the theory
Anonymous
(State Report)
This course was litter hard but very interesting, I would like the instructor to add more examples
Anonymous
(Associate)
Good presentation. Especially the discussion on imputing variables and total asset turnover ratio.
Anonymous
(Lumen Audit Associate)
This is pretty high level and covers many basic ratios learned in introductory accounting courses.
Paul Whatley
(Lead IT Auditor at Gulfport Energy)
There is a problem with the quiz. It gives Bedford's Law as an answer rather than Benford's Law.
Anonymous
(Senior Tax Associate)
Basic intro into different formulas and ways to analyze both qualitative and quantitative data.
Nicole Goodwin
(Director of Chemistry, Stress & Repa.. at GSK)
Great overview of ratios and key metrics. Helpful to understand structuring data for business.
Anonymous
(Tax Senior Associate)
Very informational course. The mid-section can be a bit bland, but it's very useful knowledge.
Ricardo De Alba
(Controller at Harvest Church)
Interesting course in this series. Excited to check out the remaining courses in this series.
Mark Romanelli
(Senior Associate at Grant Thornton Advisory)
The course had a large amount of overlap between the Data Collection and Cleaning course
Anonymous
(Associate)
This course gave a high level overview of tools to structure and begin analyzing data.
Anonymous
(CFO)
Test question on Altman Z refers to marketing efforts and should refer to bankruptcy.
Anonymous
(Sr. Associate)
Course was good & helped me learn how to structure and review the data for accuracy.
Anonymous
(Tax Associate)
Great course that provides plenty of examples of how to use the ratios for analysis.
Mitchell Trenz
(Associate at Grant Thornton Public Sector)
this was good. it seemed similar to the last course i took, but it was good to learn.
Anonymous
(Internal Audit Manager)
Not a bad course, good summary overview. Overall objectives were clear and concise.
Anonymous
(Finance Manager)
I wish Mr. McDonald had used more mathematical examples to illustrate his points.
Ryan Richardson
(Associate at Grant Thornton)
Course was informative and easy to navigate. I would recommend it to a colleague.
Grant Brannum
(Agent at Treasury)
Good course with valuable information. The presentation was very easy to follow.
Nicholas Ross
(Tax Associate at Grant Thornton)
The course was put together well and the material was relatively easy to follow.
Anonymous
(Staff Accountant)
This course was very informative. The Ratios and Key Metrics portion was great.
Tim Thomas
( at Tim Thomas CPA LLC)
a good course with a good amount of coverage in the financial ratios area.
Alex Bonn
(Student at Fairfield University)
Great instructor and I would suggest this course to a college finance student
HOWELL GWIN III
(Controller at H2G3 operating LLC)
Great overview of how to process data to be able to ask "The Right Question."
Anonymous
(Deputy IG)
Outstanding course. The level was advanced and provided significant detail.
Anonymous
(Senior Associate)
.This course was helpful in determining different ways to structure data.
Anonymous
(Sr. Accounting Analyst)
The class was a good introduction to thinking about how to structure data.
Dave Rogers
(Senior Associate at Grant Thornton)
The mechanics of completing the course appear to be subject to user error
Anonymous
(Data Scientist)
It was good to learn about market scoring ratios as well as imputing data
Very good course, easy to understand topic and PDF correlated perfectly
Margaret Winn
(Accounting Professional at .)
Continuing to learn a lot as I work my way through these courses.
Anonymous
()
Great course. Helped clear up confusing on some of these topics.
Anonymous
(Not Provided)
Very interesting and insightful course. Very nicely put together.
Anonymous
(Associate)
This training did a good job of explaining ways to analyze data.
Great review of the financial ratios, as well as data inputs.
Andrea Gawkins
(Tax associate at Grant Thornton LLP)
My video was freezing a lot so I had to use the slides for it
Anonymous
(SALT Manager)
This exam was more challenging than the others! Good to see.
Anonymous
(Senior Director Internal Audit)
very helpful course on data structuring to be more efficient
Anonymous
(Senior Associate)
Good course. Would recommend. Will be taking more courses.
Anonymous
(Audit Services Manager)
Very good class, informative materials and well presented
Anonymous
()
More great info on Business Intelligence, useful course.
Anonymous
(Associate I)
Had very useful information and review of data analysis.
Paul Gallagher
(Tax Associate at Grant Thornton)
Everything about this course was absolutely fantastic.
David Skipper
(Senior Associate at Grant Thornton Public Sector)
neat class on learning structure of data analysis!
Matt Osmundsen
(Category Finance Director at Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
Great course! Very informative.
Scott Berlinguet
(student at Fairfield U)
Great course! Very informative
Henry Guo
(Analyst at Fairfield University)
Interesting and informative!
Anonymous
()
Very good course!
Anonymous
()
Very informative
Brendan Lynch
(Research Intern at InSite Search A Division of Chaves &..)
Useful course
Anonymous
()
Geat Course!
Anonymous
()
excellent
Prerequisites
Course Complexity: Intermediate
No Advanced Preparation or Prerequisites are needed for this course. However, it is recommended to take the other courses in the series prior to completing this one.
Education Provider Information
Company:
Illumeo, Inc., 75 East Santa Clara St., Suite 1215, San Jose, CA
95113
Contact:
For more information regarding this course, including complaint and
cancellation policies, please contact our offices at (408) 400- 3993 or send an e-mail to
.
Michael McDonaldPresident
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