Best Finance Classes in Atlanta
Finance is a field that involves managing money at a personal, corporate, or public level. Even though finance is one of the oldest occupations in the world, it continues to be popular because of its continued widespread use. Although the face of finance is rapidly changing due to technological innovations in fields like fintech, finance is an essential component of daily life for people around the globe. For most individuals, not a single day passes without making either a small or large monetary decision. Those with a background in finance have the skills and training to make informed decisions. Studying finance can open doors to many professional opportunities, such as high-paying careers in law firms, insurance companies, large corporations, and investment banks. Additionally, the skills acquired to perform financial tasks professionally are transferable and can help individuals make better financial decisions. Not only is a career in finance a good option now but this industry is expected to continue to grow for years. The field of financial analytics is projected to experience an 8% job growth during the next decade, which is well above the national average.
Best Finance Classes & Schools in Atlanta
If you live in the Atlanta area and are interested in studying finance, a range of course options are available. You can search for finance classes in Atlanta to find the study options most suited to your learning needs, scheduling requirements, and professional goals.
NYC Career Centers - Advanced Excel for Financial Modeling
Advanced Excel for Financial Modeling teaches a range of the most-used techniques and skills in financial analytics for creating and auditing financial models. Students work with Excel for cash flow modeling. They explore this app’s shortcuts, financial modeling capabilities, and how to write formulas. Learners are taught how to audit financial models and create flexible, efficient formulas. Those enrolled also work with advanced analytical tools and study their applications for sensitivity analysis. Students work with NPV, financial functions for bond yields, and mortgage payments. By the end of this hands-on program, those enrolled will have a working knowledge of nested functions, VLOOKUP-MATCH, INDEX-MATCH, and other advanced financial Excel functions.
It costs $350 to attend this one-day course. Six hours of instructor-led coursework are provided. Students can complete this class in person in NYC or live online. Those interested in enrolling should have Excel knowledge equivalent to what is taught in Intermediate Excel for Business, such as how to work with PivotTables, IF statements, and VLOOKUP. Prior financial experience is also helpful, though not required. All students can retake this class for free for one full year.
American Management Association - Finance Workshop for Non-Financial Executives
Learners who are interested in attaining a complete financial education in only four days can do so in Finance Workshop for Non-Financial Executives. This class covers all aspects of corporate finance. Participants work with the annual reports from large US public companies and real-life case studies to learn how to speak the language of finance and make more informed business decisions. They explore core accounting principles and skills, like working with capital, assets, and liabilities, as well as booking transactions. Those enrolled read annual reports and learn how to unpack SEC requirements. Instruction is provided on the relevance of footnotes in financial statements. Class participants compute financial ratios to evaluate liquidity and profitability. They also compute time value for money with a focus on present value and compound interest. By course completion, all learners will be well-versed in cost analysis and profit planning. This class is intended for professionals like Directors, General Managers, Vice Presidents, and top executives in fields like manufacturing, sales, and marketing.
Tuition is $2,995 for this program. Four full days of live online instruction are provided. Students should arrive at class 15 minutes early to ensure they are able to connect. All participants should ensure JavaScript and cookies are enabled on their computers and that pop-up blockers are turned off for this class. Students should also should bring a calculator.
Training the Street - Financial Modeling & Corporate Valuation
Financial Modeling & Corporate Valuation is available from Training the Street for those who are seeking intermediate-level instruction on commonly used financial modeling techniques. Students with Microsoft Excel to perform a range of core financial tasks. They work with this tool alongside others to perform financial modeling. During this program, those enrolled create three models: a DCF model, an M&A model, and an LBO model.
This course is taught in person in Atlanta and is also available live online. It costs $6,250 to attend. The program takes five full days to complete.
General Assembly - Excel Bootcamp
Those who live in the Atlanta area and are interested in learning the most commonly used tool in finance can enroll in General Assembly’s Excel Bootcamp. This hands-on program provides students with an overview of the Excel interface and many of this app’s most useful functions. Participants receive instruction on techniques for formatting, PivotTables, mathematical formulas, and charts. Students also explore time-saving keyboard shortcuts and formulas that can be used to improve efficiency and navigation. By the end of this class, participants will know how to format and print spreadsheets and incorporate a range of data visualizations into them. Because this class covers a large number of topics in a relatively short time frame, participants are expected to be able to learn and apply skills quickly.
This class costs $250 and is available online or in person in Atlanta. All participants should have a laptop loaded with Microsoft Excel to complete coursework. In addition, it’s helpful to have general Excel familiarity prior to enrolling. Students should also set up a Gmail account before class because Google spreadsheets will sometimes be used during lectures.
Noble Desktop - Financial Modeling Bootcamp
Aspiring Financial Analysts can receive the training they need in Noble Desktop’s Financial Modeling Bootcamp. This program provides instruction on many essential financial modeling concepts and skills, such as working with corporate finance and advanced Excel. Those enrolled explore how to use Excel’s cash flow projection tools and modeling shortcuts, financial functions, and tools for sensitivity analysis. Instruction is also provided on working with data tables and advanced formulas. Learners work with corporate valuation, financial statements, enterprise value, and investments. Students are taught how to analyze companies and create discount cash flows. Participants have the opportunity to prepare to interview for investment banking positions by reviewing the most commonly covered topics and the most popular interview questions. By course completion, learners in this hands-on bootcamp create a financial model to value a public company and acquire training from Hedge Fund Analysts and Investment Bankers in the best practices for finance.
This bootcamp costs $995. It takes 18 hours to complete this program over three days. Those interested in enrolling should have Excel knowledge equivalent to that which is taught in Intermediate Excel for Business, like how to work with VLOOKUP, IF statements, and PivotTables. It’s also helpful, but not required, for participants to have prior finance knowledge. Those who don’t come from a finance or accounting background can learn the terminology used in this class by reviewing a short guide they can request upon registration. This bootcamp can be retaken for free for one full year after graduation.
Atlanta Industries That Use Finance
The following sections will take a look at several of Atlanta’s largest industries, as well as the role that finance plays for those who work in these industries.
Healthcare
Atlanta’s healthcare industry draws from its high-tech community and educated workforce. The city is home to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is adjacent to Emory University. The CDC employs almost 15,000 people in a range of roles, such as Epidemiologists, Biologists, Veterinarians, Nurses, Medical Technologists, Engineers, Physicians, and Behavioral Scientists. Additionally, major companies like Boston Scientific, UCB, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Alcon are located in Atlanta and contribute significantly to the city’s economy. The greater Atlanta region has four top research universities that received more than $2.2 billion in federal funding for research. The city also has some of the country’s top clinical training and medical programs, such as Mercer University School of Pharmacy and Emory University School of Medicine. Many of the region’s top Researchers and Clinicians were trained at these institutions and then employed by Atlanta hospitals.
Within the healthcare industry, finance plays an important role in healthcare systems, hospitals, and private practices. Healthcare finance includes raising revenue, pooling funds, and budgeting to purchase equipment or services. It’s essential for those who work in healthcare systems to have comprehensive and implementable financial policies to ensure that the best quality of care can be provided to patients and that barriers like high costs and spending don’t deter them from offering this care. One of the most commonly used finance tools is Microsoft Excel. Healthcare organizations rely on Excel to visualize data so they can improve patient care and offer more effective treatment options. Additionally, Excel assists with data analytics and project management tasks. It helps healthcare professionals collect and manage medical data. They can use this app to sync data, automate repetitive tasks with macros, and apply mathematical formulas to data.
Supply Chain & Advanced Manufacturing
For nearly 200 years, Atlanta has been one of the country’s leading transportation hubs. The city has come a long way since it was a railroad hub in 1837. Now, it’s one of the leading locations in the world for supply chain management. The city’s robust infrastructure and central location make it a place many corporations choose to be headquartered. Currently, Atlanta ranks third in the US for market chain growth. More than three-quarters of major US metropolitan areas are within a two-hour plane ride from Atlanta, which is why huge supply chain companies like Delta Airlines, The Home Depot, UPS, and Amazon have headquarters or offices in Atlanta.
Accountants play an integral role in product procurement as well as supply chain management. They are hired by manufacturing organizations to create and maintain accurate financial records. This ensures their employer has a record of every transaction and can track their expenses accurately. They also monitor any discrepancies or errors throughout the procurement process. In supply chain management, Accountants provide strategizing options that are designed to reduce waste and improve productivity. They create reports that analyze the entire supply chain management process and share their findings with management so more informed, data-driven decisions can be made to increase profits.
Technology
Atlanta isn’t only known for its top-tier healthcare or its manufacturing, it’s also a world leader in technology innovation, design, and implementation. The city is one of the country’s fastest-growing tech centers. Atlanta is sixth in the US for the number of tech-related degrees earned by college students. Since 2021, 46 businesses in the Atlanta metro area have expanded, which has translated into a 15% increase in tech-related jobs. Major companies like Microsoft, Visa, Google, and Cisco have seen the potential in Atlanta and have chosen this location to open headquarters or permanent offices. Local colleges and universities contribute to Atlanta’s reputation as a tech powerhouse. Georgia Tech is one of the country’s engineering and computer science leaders, and Augusta University’s School of Computer and Cyber Sciences is co-located at Ft. Gordon with Army Cyber Command and NSA-Georgia.
Those who work in Atlanta’s tech sector require funding to perform research, create new products, and provide cutting-edge innovations for clients. They often turn to finance professionals to help with investments, manage budgets, and ensure that they are making financially sound decisions within their organization.
Finance Jobs & Salaries in Atlanta
If you live in the Atlanta area and are interested in a career that uses finance alongside other skills, there are many high-paying career options available. The following sections will take a closer look at three potential career paths, as well as the pay rate and job requirements for these roles.
Supply Chain Manager
Supply Chain Managers play an essential role in all stages of the product lifecycle, from gathering raw materials to ensuring the finished product is in the hands of consumers. These professionals must be skilled planners with the ability to make accurate forecasts so that the necessary amount of materials are available at all times to keep production running smoothly. On a daily basis, Supply Chain Managers wear many hats. They are involved with the procurement team to source supplies and materials. They negotiate with suppliers to obtain the best prices, establish payment terms, and schedule deliveries. Their job involves inventory control, warehousing process optimization, and attention to cost, schedules, and logistics. In Atlanta, Supply Chain Managers earn $113,000 a year.
Accountant
Accountants examine and prepare financial documents, such as financial records or statements, to ensure they are accurate. These professionals draw from organizational skills and Excel spreadsheet knowledge to ensure financial records are clearly organized and accessible. They also pinpoint areas for investment opportunity as well as corresponding risk and provide a range of finance-related solutions for an individual or a business. On a daily basis, Accountants also perform tasks like making sure taxes are paid, conducting required audits, reviewing financial operations, creating tax returns, and offering forecasting insights. Atlanta-based Accountants earn a yearly salary of $67,000.
Research Analyst
Atlanta is home to several of the country’s top research universities, such as Emory. Research Analysts assist with research by examining it to ensure the data it’s based on is accurate. Their job, therefore, involves extensive data analysis and requires a background in mathematics and creating statistical and analytical models to locate patterns within the data. On a daily basis, Research Analysts perform tasks like gathering data, performing research, analyzing information, and providing recommendations based on the information they collect to those in leadership. Atlanta-based Research Analysts make approximately $69,000 a year.