Business fields · Controlling

AI training for Controllers

Controlling depends on reliable figures, fast analysis and clear communication with management. Generative AI supports controllers at exactly these points: AI assistants explain variances in the monthly report, suggest formulas and pivot structures, sanity-check planning assumptions and turn findings into plain-language management commentary. AI agents and automation pull data from the ERP, BI tools and spreadsheets, prepare forecasts and generate standard reports. This accelerates the shift from number cruncher to business partner who explains root causes and prepares decisions. A clean data foundation, clearly defined KPIs and expert review of every AI result remain essential before anything reaches a report or a board paper.

Who is this course for?

  • Controllers and finance business partners
  • Heads of controlling
  • FP&A analysts
  • Cost centre and project controllers
  • Sales and manufacturing controllers

Typical challenges we address

  • Commenting on monthly reports and explaining variances under time pressure
  • Consolidating plans and forecasts from many spreadsheets and departments
  • Defining KPIs consistently and presenting them for different audiences
  • Answering ad-hoc management questions quickly and reliably

Practical scenarios from your field

Variance commentary

An AI assistant analyses budget-to-actual and prior-year comparisons, identifies the biggest drivers by cost type, product or region and drafts commentary for the monthly report for controllers to review.

Formulas and queries

Describe the analysis you need in plain words and receive suggested spreadsheet formulas, pivot logic, Power Query steps or SQL queries with explanations that you can test straight away.

Challenging forecast assumptions

AI questions planning assumptions on volumes, prices and costs, highlights inconsistencies between departmental plans and builds best, base and worst-case scenarios as a basis for discussion.

Management reporting

KPIs and raw data are turned into concise executive summaries, slide outlines and traffic-light commentary tailored to executives, divisional heads or cost centre owners.

Reporting automation

A workflow pulls ERP and BI exports, checks completeness, refreshes standard reports and sends drafts to cost centre owners, who add their comments before the pack is finalised.

KPI glossary

An AI assistant helps document KPI definitions, calculation logic and data sources consistently, so that business units and management speak the same language and discussions about figures become more objective.

Possible hands-on projects

Variance explorer

A web app that imports plan and actual data from CSV, breaks variances down by dimension and generates a draft AI commentary at the click of a button.

Cost centre briefing

An internal tool that automatically produces a one-page monthly summary per cost centre with budget usage, anomalies and open questions.

Scenario simulator

A calculator with sliders for volume, prices and costs that shows the impact on contribution margin and EBIT in real time and lets users save scenarios.

All 15 courses for Controllers

AI for business (12)

Vibe & agentic coding (3)

Data protection & compliance

Controlling data contains trade secrets and often personal data such as payroll costs per employee; only use approved AI environments and pseudonymise data in line with GDPR principles. Listed companies must also protect inside information under MAR.

Prerequisites

You work in controlling or FP&A and are comfortable with spreadsheets and core cost accounting metrics.

Frequently asked questions

Will AI replace our BI system?

No. BI systems and data warehouses remain the reliable data foundation. AI adds a layer for interpretation, commentary and fast ad-hoc analysis. In the course we show how to pass exports to AI assistants sensibly, check results against the source and automate recurring steps without creating shadow IT.

How reliable are figures calculated by AI?

Language models can miscalculate or mismatch data. Prefer having calculations run through generated, reviewable code or formulas, and reconcile totals with the source. We practise checking routines that let you confirm plausibility quickly before any number makes it into a report.

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Total €949 plus VAT