Digital Finance Transformation

The finance function is undergoing rapid transformation. New expectations around ESG, AI-driven insights, and real-time decision-making are changing how finance adds value. This course provides the practical tools and strategic thinking needed to thrive in the evolving digital finance landscape – with a strong emphasis on UAE and Gulf regional priorities such as sustainability, efficiency, and innovation.

Who Should Attend?

Finance Leaders – CFOs, Finance Managers, and Controllers seeking to modernise reporting and integrate sustainability.
BI & Data Professionals – Power BI users, Analysts, and Reporting Leads ready to elevate their dashboards with AI and ESG.
Strategic Finance Roles – FP&A, Risk, and Compliance professionals aiming to drive data-driven decision-making.
Public Sector & Government Finance Teams – Those responsible for reporting, planning, or ESG metrics in line with Vision 2030/2031.

Course Format or Delivery Style

This is a highly practical, hands-on training designed to maximise learning and real-world application. Each concept is introduced with clear explanation, followed by demos, case studies, and guided exercises. Participants will:

Build Power BI reports and dashboards in real time
Use sample datasets to practise forecasting, ESG, and AI applications
Engage in group discussions and activities to reinforce learning
Receive full course materials, completed solutions, templates and examples

Morning Session – Why Finance is Changing – and What You Must Do to Stay Ahead

Welcome & Course Objectives
What is Digital Finance Transformation?
Global Trends vs. Regional Realities (UAE & Gulf Focus)
Finance Function of the Future – Key Shifts
Introduction to Power BI: The Platform that Powers Modern Reporting
Key Power BI Components: Desktop, Service, Mobile
The Interface, Navigation & Layout Essentials
First Look at Power Query: The Engine Behind Data Prep

Activities:

Icebreaker: What’s shifting in your finance role?
Interactive Activity: Map your organisation’s digital maturity
Hands-On Exercise: Build your first query and simple dashboard
Q&A Session: Common myths about Power BI

Afternoon Session – Transform Your Data. Model Your Insights.

Power Query Essentials
Data Modelling

Activities:

Hands-on Power Query lab
Group exercise: Relationship mapping
Mini challenge: Create your own first interactive Power BI report – working with the data model to analyse actual vs budget over time, cost centres and locations

Morning Session – Build Strategic Insight with DAX

The role of DAX in finance modelling and reporting
Filter context: what it is and how it shapes your results
Best practices in creating calculated columns vs measures
Essential DAX formulas:
- Aggregation & counts
- Time intelligence (e.g. YTD, MTD)
- Conditional logic
- Error handling
- Measures based on other measures

Activities:

Practice: Write a Series of DAX Measures to Analyse Actual vs Budget Across Time
Interactive Lab: Explore Impact of Filters and Slicers on Calculated Results
Group Feedback Session: Optimising Complex DAX Calculations

Afternoon Session – Scale and Secure Your Reports with PowerBI.com and Interactivity

PowerBI.com deep dive
Row-level security
Data modelling and enhancements

Activities:

Implement Row-Level Security (RLS) on a Multi-Region Dataset
Combine Data Using Folder Import and Merge/Append Logic
Create a Fully Interactive Report Page with Drill-Through and Tooltips

Morning Session – AI in Finance – From Insight to Foresight

The Evolving Role of AI in the Finance Function
Key Concepts: AI vs. BI vs. ML — What Finance Leaders Need to Know
Forecasting Techniques and Predictive Insights
Tools for Anomaly Detection and Trend Analysis
Integrating Modern Analytics Platforms with Reporting Tools
Smart Visuals: Decomposition Tree, Smart Narrative, and More
Local and Regional Applications of AI in Finance

Activities:

Guided Exercise: Forecasting with Confidence Intervals and Seasonality
Interactive Activity: What-If Scenario Modelling
Group Discussion: Real-World AI Use Cases in Regional Finance

Afternoon Session – ESG and Integrated Reporting in the Gulf Context

Why ESG Now Matters in Finance: Strategic and Regulatory Context in the Gulf
Overview of Major Frameworks: ISSB, GRI, SASB, and Alignment with UAE Vision 2031
ESG Metrics: What to Track and How to Design KPIs
Data Sourcing Challenges and Solutions
Case Study: ACWA Power and ESG Integration
Roadmap to Building an ESG Dashboard

Activities:

Case Discussion: Lessons from ACWA Power’s ESG Transformation
Interactive Exercise: Design ESG KPIs for Your Organisation
Hands-On Activity: Create an ESG Dashboard Using Sample Data

Digital Finance Transformation

Who Should Attend?

Course Format or Delivery Style

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