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. Discover how to pair Excel's charting, sparklines, and formula-driven conditional formatting with clean, executive-ready layouts that make trends and risks pop instantly. Then see Gen AI in action – suggesting optimal chart types, drafting concise commentary, and even providing follow-up questions -- so you deliver clear, compelling insights quickly and accurately.

Prerequisites

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

Objectives

• 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.

Highlights

• 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.