Dissent Advisory course
Financial Modellingin the AI Era
Build a three-statement model and valuation for an Indian company, direct an AI tool to build one, and prove that either is right before anyone relies on it.
120 minutes core
You will be able to
- 01
Specify a model by the decision it serves, and design it so every number can be traced and checked.
- 02
Forecast an Indian consumer brand from operating drivers, including the MSMED Act payment ceiling, the income-tax deferral for late payment to micro and small suppliers, GST credit timing, marketplace TCS and TDS, and the accounting framework question.
- 03
Integrate the three statements, the cash, equity and fixed asset schedules and the interest on cash without a balancing plug, and know which check catches which defect.
- 04
Value the business in rupees and test whether the growth you forecast earns more than its cost of capital.
- 05
Delegate construction to AI tools, and run the verification protocol that makes their output fit to sign.
Five chapters.
One company throughout.
I
A model is a decision, not a spreadsheet
Why models fail before the first formula, what AI changed about building them, and why every model needs a plan for finding its errors.
II
Forecast the drivers, not the line items
Revenue as orders times realisation, the cost of the customers who place them, working capital with the Indian mechanics templates miss, capex and leases, and tax as a rate and a timing.
III
Balanced is not the same as right
Linking the three statements, cash, equity and the interest circularity, why plugs are confessions, and the five checks every model should carry.
IV
Value comes from returns, not from growth
Free cash flow from the integrated model, the equation that ties growth to reinvestment, cost of capital in rupees, terminal value discipline, and the statutes that price the round.
V
Delegate the build, keep the judgment
What the 2026 evidence says about AI modelling tools, how to allocate the work, the specification that prevents most failures, the verification protocol, and where accountability sits.
Build alongside the course
The base data behind every example: the audited FY26 statements with the 31 March 2025 balance sheet, the approved FY27 drivers and a board base case to FY31, and an FY27 build with four live checks. Build alongside the chapters, or give it to an AI tool with the specification on sheet 06_Spec, then compare your FY27 figures on 07_Answer_Check.
Download Excel workbook, 8 sheets →Straight answers.
What is Financial Modelling in the AI Era?
A free ~120-minute applied course from Dissent Advisory. You build a three-statement model and valuation for an Indian operating company, direct an AI tool to build one, and verify either before anyone relies on it. A certificate is issued when you pass.
Who should take this financial modelling course?
Finance-literate operators: founders who own their numbers, finance managers, and analysts. It assumes you read all three statements fluently. EBITDA, DSO, and WACC are not defined in the course.
How long does the course take?
About 120 minutes of core learning across five chapters, a midpoint check, and a final assessment. Optional workbook and prompt-lab exercises sit outside that core time.
How do I earn the certificate?
Pass the midpoint check (50% opens later chapters; retakes allowed), then pass the final assessment of 16 applied questions. You get three attempts; the best score grades Pass from 60%, Merit from 75%, and Distinction from 90%. Share your details after a pass to receive a verifiable certificate from Dissent Advisory.
Does the course cover Indian company specifics?
Yes. Worked examples use Kalasu Home Appliances, a fictional Bengaluru D2C brand, and cover MSMED Act payment ceilings, income-tax deferral for late payment to micro and small suppliers, GST credit timing, working capital, and valuation in rupees.
Is this part of a larger pathway?
Yes. It is A1 of Pathway A, Founder’s Office, Finance Operator. Completing all four courses on Kalasu unlocks a pathway certificate (DA-PATH) at dissent.one/courses/pathways/founders-office-finance.
How does AI fit into the curriculum?
AI can draft linked models quickly. The course teaches you to specify the decision a model must serve, delegate construction carefully, and run a verification protocol so AI output is fit to sign before a board, lender, or investor relies on it.
Is this the same as Dissent Advisory's financial modelling client work?
No. This is an educational course. Client modelling engagements are separate advisory mandates. For engagement work, see the financial modelling case study at dissent.one/case/financial-modelling or contact Dissent Advisory.
Educational content only. Not a substitute for engagement-specific financial or legal advice.
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