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Budget & Forecast

Overview Take control of business numbers with the Budget & Forecast course from Thames College. Financial and related professional services …

4.8 4.8 Rating ( 13 Reviews )
231 Students
Bestseller
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Highly Rated
i Last Updated: 21st August 2026
◎ English
Flexible Schedule
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Overview

Take control of business numbers with the Budget & Forecast course from Thames College. Financial and related professional services contributed £275 billion to UK GVA in 2022, showing the value of finance skills in a strong employment market. This online budgeting and forecasting course helps you learn budget planning, financial forecasting, cost control and business finance basics.

Poor budgeting can lead to overspending, missed targets and weak planning. This course helps you read numbers with confidence, plan resources and support better workplace decisions. You will see how budgets guide spending and forecasts shape future action. After completing the training, you may explore roles such as Finance Assistant, Accounts Assistant, Budget Analyst, Finance Officer, Business Administrator or Junior Management Accountant. Enrol today to start learning online.

Key Benefits Included

► Accredited by CPD
► Endorsed by QLS (Quality Licence Scheme)
► Instant Access
► 24/7 Learning Assistance
► Self-paced learning and laptop, tablet, smartphone-friendly
► Fully online, interactive course with audio voiceover
► Developed by qualified professionals in the field

Sneak Peek

Learning Outcomes

This Budget & Forecast course builds clear knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, cost planning and financial control for business and workplace use.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

► Explain the purpose of budgeting in business planning.
► Identify how forecasts support future financial decisions.
► Recognise budget control methods used in workplaces.
► Review income and spending through budget information.
► Support business planning with clearer finance knowledge.
► Describe forecasting’s role in managing future risks.
► Build confidence for finance and admin roles.

Who is This Course For?

This Budget & Forecast course is for learners who want simple finance knowledge for office, accounts, business, management or small business planning.

► Beginners wanting to learn Budget & Forecast online.
► Office staff involved in spending or reporting tasks.
► Accounts assistants building stronger budgeting and forecasting knowledge.
► Managers wanting better cost control and planning awareness.
► Entrepreneurs planning income, costs and business growth.
► Career changers exploring finance and accounting roles.

Certification

CPD Certification

After successfully completing the assessment of this Budget & Forecast course, you can apply for the CPD accredited certificates.
PDF certificate: £9.99
Hardcopy certificate: £15.99

Endorsed Certificate of Achievement from the Quality Licence Scheme

Upon successful completion of the Budget & Forecast course, you can order an original hardcopy certificate of achievement endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme. The certificate will be home-delivered, with a pricing scheme of —
► 125 GBP within UK
► 135 GBP for International Delivery — Postal Fees Included

Please Note: Thames College is a One Education approved resale partner for Quality Licence Scheme Endorsed courses

Career Opportunities

This Budget & Forecast course can support UK finance, accounts, business administration and management routes where budgeting and forecasting knowledge is valued.

► Finance Assistant — Average UK salary: £22,000–£30,000 per year
► Accounts Assistant — Average UK salary: £22,000–£32,000 per year
► Budget Analyst — Average UK salary: £32,000–£50,000 per year
► Finance Officer — Average UK salary: £26,000–£38,000 per year
► Business Administrator — Average UK salary: £22,000–£32,000 per year
► Junior Management Accountant — Average UK salary: £28,000–£42,000 per year

Course Curriculum

The course covers a wide range of essential topics, including:

► Lecture 1: Why Budget and Forecasts
► Lecture 2: Is Budget Planning a Paper Exercise
► Lecture 3: Operational and Financial Budget

► Lecture 4: Components – Revenue Budgets
► Lecture 5: Components – Cost Budget
► Lecture 6: Qualitative Aspects

► Lecture 7: Process of Budgeting – Logical Steps
► Lecture 8: Revenue Budget – What Information We Need to Make Revenue Budgets
► Lecture 9: Example Used in Class to Demonstrate a Broad Process in Budget and Planning
► Lecture 10: Cost Budget Process – Link from Revenue and Operational Plan
► Lecture 11: Cost Budget Process – Other Aspects

Excellent

4.8 Average - 13 Reviews

★ Reviews
George Wilkinson
The course explained budgeting and forecasts in a simple way. I found the revenue budget and cost budget sections very helpful for workplace finance planning.
Isla Thompson
A clear and useful course for finance basics. The budgeting process, operational budget and assignment helped me understand budget management better.

Course Curriculum

Unit-1. Introduction
Lecture-1 – Why Budget and Forecasts 00:11:00
Lecture-2- Is budget planning a paper exercise 00:05:00
Lecture-3- Operational and Financial Budget 00:07:00
Unit-2. Detail Budget Requirement
Lecture-4 – Components – Revenue Budgets 00:05:00
Lecture-5 – Components – Cost Budget 00:11:00
Lecture-6 – Qualitative Aspects 00:05:00
Unit-3. Process of Making Budget
Lecture-7- Process of Budgeting – Logical Steps 00:09:00
Lecture-8 – Revenue Budget – What Information we need to make revenue budgets 00:08:00
Lecture-9- Example we used in Class to demonstrate a broad process in budget and planning 00:17:00
Lecture-10 – Cost Budget Process – Link from revenue and operational plan 00:05:00
Lecture-11-Cost Budget Process – Other aspects 00:10:00
Assignment
Assignment – Budget & Forecast 2 days, 10 hours

Certificate of Achievement

Upon completion, you will receive a CPD-accredited certificate recognised globally. Choose from:

Pdf Certificate & Transcript  £7.99
Hardcopy Certificate & Transcript  £17.99

This certification validates your knowledge and skills, boosting your employability in healthcare.

1. What is a Budget & Forecast course? +

A Budget & Forecast course teaches the basics of business budgeting, financial forecasting and cost planning. It helps learners see how organisations estimate income, manage expenses and prepare for future financial decisions with more clarity.

2. Is budgeting and forecasting suitable for beginners? +

Yes, budgeting and forecasting is suitable for beginners who want to learn finance in a simple way. The course starts with basic ideas, including why budgets matter, how forecasts work and how planning supports business decisions.

3. What will I learn in a budgeting and forecasting course? +

You will learn why budgets and forecasts are used, how operational and financial budgets differ, what revenue and cost budgets include, and how logical budgeting steps support planning, control and better financial organisation.

4. Why is budgeting and forecasting important in business? +

Budgeting helps a business control spending, allocate resources and set financial targets. Forecasting helps estimate future income, costs and risks, allowing teams to plan ahead and make more informed decisions.

5. What is the difference between a budget and a forecast? +

A budget is a financial plan that sets expected income and spending for a set period. A forecast updates future expectations based on changing business results, market conditions, costs and operational activity.

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