
Analytics Applications in Finance and Risk
Development Academy of the Philippines

Course Overview
Every business in the industry is generating loads of financial data. It is important to derive insights out of them to inform and optimize decision making. This course combines statistical tools with machine learning tools and algorithms, to equip the participants with the requisite skill set in analyzing data to achieve better financial results. Practical use-cases, such as financial performance analysis, forecasting, anomaly detection, loss and default modeling, will be discussed.
What You Will Learn
Upon completion of this course, the learners are expected to:
- recommend initiatives that would increase profitability, reduce cost, or optimize capital based on analytics and modeling done on finance and risk data; and
- perform financial and risk analysis using statistical, modeling, optimization, and simulation techniques in Excel.
Requirements
You will need a computer or laptop with Microsoft Excel installed. Computer or laptop requirements are:
- For Windows: Core i3 or better, 4GB RAM or better, MS Excel 2007 or better
- For MacBook: ideally MS Excel 2013 or newer should be installed (some functions require this version on the Mac). If the version of MS Excel is 2011, download and install StatPlus.
Note to SPARTA scholars: Upon enrollment, you will have 6 months to finish a SPARTA course. Failure to complete the course in 6 months and/or inactivity for 3 months will result in course access revocation.
Course Instructor

Macrina Lazo
Subject Matter Expert
Course Content
Week 1: Relevance and Application of Analytics in Finance and Risk Management
5 Videos | 3 Activities
5 Videos
- Welcome to the course!
- Relevance of Analytics in Finance
- Relevance of Analytics in Risk Management
- Use-Cases of Analytics in Finance
- Use-Cases of Analytics in Management
3 Activities
- Exercise: Cloze Text and Matching Type
- Exercise: Use-Cases of Analytics
- Exit Assessment: Analytics in Finance and Risk Management
Week 2: Analyzing Drivers and Influencers of Financial Performance Using Correlation Analysis
5 Videos | 3 Activities
5 Videos
- What is Correlation Analysis?
- What are the assumptions and limitations of Correlation Analysis?
- Installing “Data Analysis” in Excel
- Calculating Correlation Coefficient in Excel
- Interpreting the Correlation Coefficient
3 Activities
- Decoding Correlation Analysis: Whack-a-Mole
- Exercise: True or False
- Exit Assessment: Correlation Analysis
Week 3: Forecasting Financial Performance using Regression Analysis
1 Video | 3 Activities
1 Video
- Application of Regression Analysis in Forecasting Business Metrics
3 Activities
- Mind Check: Anagram
- Exercise: Match-Up
- Exit Assessment: Regression Analysis
Week 4: Forecasting Financial Performance Use Time Series Analysis
4 Videos | 4 Activities
4 Videos
- What is Time Series Analysis?
- Time Series Analysis using Excel
- Understanding the Forecast Output
- Using Time Series Forecast Results
4 Activities
- Exercise: Word Completion
- Mind Check: Missing Word and Match-Up
- Exit Assessment: Time Series Analysis
Week 5: Detecting Anomalous Transactions
4 Videos | 4 Activities
4 Videos
- What are Anomalous Transactions?
- How Anomalous Transactions Impact the Business
- Detecting Anomalous Transactions
- Anomaly Detection Using Interquartile Range
4 Activities
- Decoding Anomalous Transaction: Flowing Grid
- Mind Check: Whack-a-Mole
- Exit Assessment: Anomalous Transaction
- Final Exam:Analytics Application in Finance and Risk Management