Online Budgeting and Forecasting Certificate Course Australia

This online budgeting and forecasting course is essential professional development, whether you are in the finance industry or are from a non-financial background. A clear understanding of budgeting and forecasting governs the successful planning and decision-making tasks required of managers and is critical to business strategy.

The Certificate of Budgeting and Forecasting is an online professional development course that will provide you with the skills and knowledge required to prepare, document and manage budgets and forecasts to meet organisational objectives.

This online budgeting and forecasting course will teach you how to prepare operational budgets and introduce you to cash flow budgets and financial analysis and reporting. You will also learn how to forecast estimates and monitor budgeted outcomes and use a range of tools and techniques to successfully manage budgets and forecasting.

On completion of this course, you will be equipped with the skills and knowledge to confidently fulfil professional goals and meet the expectation of organisations.

Printed learning materials are available for purchase for this course and can be ordered during enrolment.

Course Structure

Unit - Certificate of Budgeting and Forecasting

Unit 1 – Prepare operational budgets

Budget objectives
Annual planning
Consultation and involvement
Forecasting
Cost reduction and measures
Waste minimisation
Operations analysis
Cash expenditure and revenue items
Responsibility accounting
Budgets as controls
Cash flow budgets
Capital budgets
Cost analysis and reporting
Break even analysis
Preparation of a revenue budget
Profit and loss reports
Financial cost analysis
Internal and external budget factors
Accrual versus cash accounting
Rules of accounting
Five basic bookkeeping principles
The principle of recording
The principal of control
Clarifying budget information
The consultation processes
Budget objectives and strategies
Budget discussion format
Negotiations

Unit 2 – Manage budgets and forecasts

Prepare budget
Budget objectives
Types of budget
Sales and expenditure budgets
Master budget
Cash budgets
Production budgets
Materials budgets
Labour budgets
Overhead budgets
Statement of performance
Financial budgets
Capital budgets
The cash flow budget
Budgeted statement of financial position
Reporting expenditure
Items relevant to a budget
Performance indicators
Variable and fixed expenditure
Contribution margin
Breakeven point analysis
Highlighting milestones
Milestones and performance indicators
Forecasting data
Qualitative forecasting
SWOT analysis
Assumptions and parameters
Estimates of cash flow, costs and revenues
Cash receipts forecast
Industry averages
Statistics and research
Financial risk and protection strategies
Revenue controls
Expense controls
Cash flow controls
Capital controls
Presenting data
Service budget format
Capital budgets
GST
The budgeted statement of cash flows
Statement of financial position
External reporting
Budget calendar
Market growth and development
Non for profit (NFP) projects
Budget variances
Variance reporting
Review budget processes
Rolling budgets
Budget audit

Estimated Duration

30 hours

Course Delivery and Start

Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online

Assessment

Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.

Career Outcomes

Budget Analyst
Forecasting Analyst
Cost Administrator
Commercial Analyst
Financial Controller
Assistant Accountant

My experience studying with Australian Online Courses has been genuinely positive. I appreciated being able to learn at my own pace without feeling rushed, especially while balancing work and family commitments. The lessons were clear, practical, and easy to follow, and the assessments helped reinforce what I’d learned. Even though the study was self‑directed, I still felt supported whenever I needed help. Overall, it was a flexible and stress‑free way to build new skills.