Hosted by
Carl Seidman CPA | Microsoft MVP
The person Fortune 500s use for their financial leadership development programs
Delivering Effective Live and Virtual Financial Presentations
5.0 (11 Ratings) · 2-Day · Cohort-based Course
- Delivering effective financial presentations is notoriously difficult. Learn how to master the art of communication in finance.
Partial List of Current & Former Clients
Course Overview
Elevate your confidence, executive presence, and strategy in finance.
Financial professionals are responsible for getting the numbers right. They’re tasked with understanding what they mean and the implications on the business. Many people working in finance and accounting are masters of the analysis, but they fail at the delivery.
It’s a wasted opportunity. And some of the most qualified technical specialists get passed over for projects and promotions.
Effective communication is consistently rated the #1 most desirable skill, not just in finance but in all business.
Many finance and accounting professionals aren’t effective communicators. They overwhelm their audiences with complex content, leaving them confused. The ability to connect with an audience is vital to the success of both the practitioner and the organization.
There are three (3) core elements for delivering effective financial presentations.
- Technical competence
- Mastering the medium
- Managing the message
In this program, audiences will learn from an FP&A practitioner, Second City- and Improv Olympic trained performer and award-winning speaker, blending professional delivery with cognitive science, data-rich content, and executive presence.
Seidman Financial is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.NASBARegistry.org.
Seidman Financial is a division of Seidman Global LLC.
Who Is This Course For
What You’ll Get Out of This Course
-
Mastering the Art of Financial Storytelling
» Learn how to weave data into compelling narratives that resonate with both financial and non-financial audiences.
» Acquire techniques for using visuals like charts and graphs to enhance your story.
» Understand the psychology behind effective storytelling to better engage audiences. -
Effective Data Visualization Techniques
» Gain insights into the best practices for presenting financial data visually.
» Discover how to select the right chart types and design elements to make data more impactful.
» Learn the do's and don'ts of color schemes and typography for better readability. -
Navigating Difficult Conversations in Finance
» Equip yourself with strategies to handle sensitive topics like budget cuts, layoffs, or missed forecasts.
» Learn how to maintain composure and effectively communicate during high-stakes discussions.
» Gain skills in conflict resolution to navigate challenging financial dialogues. -
Translating Financial Jargon for Non-Financial Teams
» Understand how to simplify complex financial terms and concepts for broader understanding.
» Develop a toolkit of analogies and metaphors to make financial data more relatable.
» Learn how to gauge your audience's financial literacy level and adjust your language accordingly. -
Enhancing Presentation Skills for Client Pitches
» Learn how to tailor your financial presentations to meet the specific needs and concerns of clients or investors.
» Master the art of persuasive speaking to gain buy-in more effectively.
» Understand how to structure your presentation for maximum impact.
» Gain tips for handling Q&A -
Building Credibility through Financial Communication
» Discover how to establish yourself as a trusted financial advisor within your organization.
» Learn techniques for effectively validating data and recommendations.
» Master the art of delivering bad news. -
Leveraging Emotional Intelligence (EI) in Finance
» Understand the role of EI in effective financial communication.
» Gain practical tips for reading your audience and adapting your communication style accordingly.
» Learn how to manage your own emotions to remain composed and focused.
» Master techniques for building rapport.
This Course Includes
- Interactive live sessions
- 37 In-depth lessons
- 1 Projects to apply learnings
- Private community of peers
- Lifetime access to course materials
- Direct access to instructor
- Guided feedback & reflection
- Course certificate upon completion
5.0 (11 Ratings)
Next cohort
Coming Soon
Course Syllabus
Week 1: Dec 13—Dec 14
- Introduction to the program
- Survey responses to how FP&As spend their time
- Why many financial and data-rich presentations fail
📄 The misguided focus of finance professionals
📄 Human intelligence versus artificial intelligence
📄 What does effective communication in finance look like
📄 Effective vs. ineffective business communication
📄 Why financial presentations fall flat
- Tailoring approaches to financial topics
- Balancing technical jargon for clarity and impact
- Identifying the needs and knowledge level of the audience
- Incorporating audience objectives and feedback to refine the approach
📄 The flow of business communication
📄 Identifying the mandate and needs of the audience
📄 Gap analysis and bridging the gap
📄 Financial presentations begin before the presention
✍️ Business Case – Evaluating Communication Styles (Submit by Jan 25)
📄 Managing the message and the presentation
- Simplifying financial terms for broader understanding
- Incorporating strategies to maintain audience interest and attention
- Pre-planning to address audience concerns and viewpoints
- Using different discussion formats to connect with the audience
📄 Building rapport and credibility with financial and non-financial audiences
📄 Leveraging information flow and delivery methods to establish credibility
📄 Flow and intentional engagement of limited cognitive attention
📄 Simplicity, clarity and assessing what’s in it for them
- Choosing the most relevant and impactful data and insights for your narrative
- Building a coherent information flow from introduction to conclusion
- Emphasizing main points through clear data presentation
- Helping your audience understand implications of the data
📄 Managing the message and the presentation
📄 Visual overload, lack of clarity and purpose
📄 Managing time, conflicting agendas, and focal points
- Establishing yourself as the credible authority in the room
- Maintaining control and respect in all interactions
- Addressing limitations and uncertainties in data
- Ensuring all information and statements are accurate and up-to-date
📄 Credibility versus relevance
📄 Connecting with financial and non-financial audiences through relevance
📄 6 elements of trust and rapport
- Connecting content with contemporary financial issues
- Simplifying complex financial topics for expert audiences
- Utilizing real-world scenarios to illustrate points
- Encouraging audience participation and buy-in
📄 Characteristics of a strong PowerPoint presentation
📄 Visual consumption and cognitive synthesis
📄 Balancing visual with verbal deliveries
📄 Multitasking and audience distraction
📄 Memory retention
- Tailoring presentations for in-person vs. virtual settings
- Utilizing online platforms and the room effectively
- Managing technical aspects like audio-visuals and connectivity
- Timing the delivery for maximum impact and retention
📄 Differences between in-person and virtual presentations
📄 Effective room management for in-person and virtual settings
📄 Common mistakes in virtual meetings and presentations
- Crafting a compelling story around financial data
- Making complex financial data relatable through intentional dialogue
- Breaking down intricate financial concepts
- Using business storytelling techniques to evoke interest and connection
📄 Data, statistics and storytelling
📄 Providing insights and providing the message
📄 Determining how much or little information to provide
- Selecting the right visuals for data
- Ensuring clarity and readability in data visualization
- Techniques for impactful data presentation
- Balancing visuals with narrative
📄 Informative versus emotive visuals
📄 What makes visual displays confusing
📄 Dishonest and deceptive presentations
📄 Preparing support schedules and backup
- Strategies for maintaining composure and authority
- Adapting to unexpected questions or changes
- Quick problem-solving during presentation disruptions
- Techniques for managing disruptive behavior tactfully
📄 Managing audience personalities and politics
- Principles for clear and impactful slide decks
- How to seamlessly incorporate financial reports into presentations
- Providing enough information without overwhelming the audience
- Tailoring decks and reports for specific audience needs
📄 Presenting reports versus delivering presentations
What Students Are Saying
The two-day course was very informative and helped illuminate areas of improvement in our reporting, communication, and FP&A story telling with a focus on insights and recommendations above the what happened and why it happened.
Michael
Awesome course and outstanding presentation! I left with some takeaways for current business needs.
Theresa
Business Manager, Durham Bulls - Capitol Broadcasting Co
The instructor took a thoughtful approach to the course by providing insightful material and facilitating engaging discussions. We left with many great ideas and strategies to improve the presentation of financial data. I would recommend!
Student
This course is thought provoking. I left thinking about my approach to presentations in a different way and considering how I could be more comprehensive in my planning and approach going forward.
Student
Course was very helpful.
Student
Carl provided relevant information that we can put into action to meaningfully improve not only our financial presentations but also the information we provide in meetings and reports.
Student
"This was a very interesting course. The information obtain in the course can be applied to all areas of my job which include but not limited to financials, and Operations reporting. "
-- Student
Meet Carl, Your Instructor and Guide
Carl Seidman CPA | Microsoft MVP
Principal, Seidman Financial | Microsoft MVP
Carl serves as a Fractional CFO, FP&A advisor, and management consultant to entrepreneurial businesses throughout North America and Europe and assists them with strategic financial planning, value enhancement, and revitalization.
He is a Microsoft MVP and one of the preeminent trainers and facilitators in strategic finance and FP&A, with more than 13,000 participants attending his financial training programs, seminars, workshops, and masterminds. Notable clients include:
ABM Industries, Accordion, AlixPartners, Allscripts, Broadridge, CHEP, Choice Hotels, CIBC, Cigna, Cox Enterprises, Crawford & Company, Deloitte, Dexcom, Discover, Dominium, Express Scripts, EY, FS Investments, EVRAZ, Genentech, Healthpeak, Heartland Financial, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Hostess, IGT, KPMG, Marsh & McLennan, Michelin, NerdWallet, Radisson, Rapid7, Sol Petroleum, Spotify, Triple-S, Telus, Santander, United Technologies (RTX), UBT, Verizon, Walmart, and Workday.
Carl is masterful at making the complex amazingly simple, engaging his audiences, building confidence, and facilitating a welcoming and transformative group experience. His content is rich and relatable, used in financial leadership development programs (FLDPs) at Fortune 500 companies, and is utilized or licensed by 7 of the top global financial training companies.
Carl serves as an Adjunct Professor in data analytics at the Jones School of Business at Rice University. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) has earned other professional credentials including the CIRA, CFF, CFE, CGMA, AM (Accredited Member in Business Valuation), CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), Certified Anaplan Model Builder, and was a National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) 40 Under Forty honoree. He holds a BA in finance and economics and an MS in managerial accounting.
He’s been where you want to be and does the work you want to do.
Be the first to know about upcoming cohorts
Delivering Effective Live and Virtual Financial Presentations
Frequently Asked Questions
You are strongly encouraged not to miss live sessions, as a great part of the experience is both the live-reveals and the participant interaction.
In other words, you get to:
- learn in real-time
- apply in real-time, and
- reflect in real time
Yes, sessions are recorded and you can go through them on your own, but learning may be more limited.
We meet for 5 weeks, 4 hours each session. It is intentionally spaced out over a number of days and weeks so you can work your schedule around it.
That’s 20 hours all in: content, discussion, reflection, cases, and Q&A.
There is occasional pre-work and post-session work but it is minimal.
It is not customary for me to offer refunds. Across hundreds of training, seminars, workshops, and conferences — in person and virtual — to thousands of people, I have never been asked once for a refund.
For one in-person training program, there was a blizzard and my flight was canceled. I offered a rescheduling option for a future date.
I offer more than a dozen training programs and immersive development experiences across a wide range of finance and accounting topics.
This program is intentionally designed for professionals who want to improve their executive presence in delivering live and virtual financial presentations.
We meet live on Zoom for 4 hours each session.
Each session consists of 1-2 modules. Each module ties into prior and future modules, so it is vital to try to avoid missing classes.
The structure of the session begins with an intro, a tie-in to real examples, exercises, discussion, and reflections.
Prerequisites for the course include the following:
- You should have at least an intermediate understanding of accounting and finance concepts.
Yes.
Seidman Financial is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.
You will be expected to have a working computer with a webcam, microphone, and reliable internet connection.
You will benefit from having general business knowledge.
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
Technical acumen is not required for participation in this program which means a deep understanding of financial and accounting times does not apply.