Building sensitive
forecast models and
common forecast
assumptions
F IN AN CIAL F ORECAS TIN G IN P YTH ON
Victoria Clark
CGMA Financial Analyst
Considerations when forecasting
Correctly interpret data
Account for changes in data
Account for interlinked variables
Dependencies
Sensitivities
Set assumptions
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Assumptions
"Best guess" based on data available
Set at the beginning of a forecast process
Used to drive forecasting
Can be directly controlled
Can be indirectly controlled
Outside control of company
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Different types of Assumptions
Probability
Weighted
Market sentiment
Demand and supply
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Working with pairs in Python
Using Combined Lists
Outcome Probability (%)
1 30
2 20
3 50
outcome_probability = ['1|0.3', '2|0.2', '3|0.5']
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
De ne a Python Function
De ne a dependency or sensitivity formula
Prevent duplication of work and errors
def assumption1()
if marketsentiment = 0.3:
sales + sales*0.1
else
sales
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Let's practice!
F IN AN CIAL F ORECAS TIN G IN P YTH ON
Dependencies and
sensitivity in
nancial forecasting
F IN AN CIAL F ORECAS TIN G IN P YTH ON
Victoria Clark
CGMA Financial Analyst
Explaining forecasting dependencies and
sensitivities
Interlinked variables
Changing one variable has a knock-on effect on
other variables
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Working with dependencies and sensitivities in
Python
if x = 0:
x_costs + y_costs
else
x_costs
Expect rush orders
Increases delivery costs by 10%
if month = December:
delivery_costs + delivery_costs*0.1
else
delivery_costs
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Let's practice!
F IN AN CIAL F ORECAS TIN G IN P YTH ON
Working with
variances in the
forecast
F IN AN CIAL F ORECAS TIN G IN P YTH ON
Victoria Clark
CGMA Financial Analyst
What are variances?
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
A gap analysis
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Gap analysis and alternative forecasts
rollingforecast1 = 1200
# First 6 months
sales = 300
# The first dependency has 120 units
dependency1 = 120
units = 30
expected_units = 45
# The adjusted dependency
dependency2 = units + expected_units
dependency
75
FINANCIAL FORECASTING IN PYTHON
Congratulations!
F IN AN CIAL F ORECAS TIN G IN P YTH ON