Training > Course Information

This course has been designed for professionals who are responsible for the appraisal, development, management or analysis of mining projects.

This hands-on course covers all key aspects of financial modelling for mining analysis. It focuses on developing a mine evaluation model suitable for senior management, external parties and financiers. With our structured approach, you will learn how to develop more effective and robust models, in less time and with greater accuracy and transparency. You will build your skills with practical exercises and example files, and will take away a comprehensive course book.

Who should attend?

• Project, transaction and investment analysts
• Finance managers and financial controllers
• Commercial managers
• Strategic and business planners and forecasters
• Investment bankers
• Transaction advisers

Why would I choose this course?

• Learn to develop financial models in a controlled, structured and transparent manner
• Learn and apply best practice modelling principles and techniques
• Learn about developing models specifically for mining projects
• Learn more about what Excel can do for you, as well as useful keyboard shortcuts
• Flexibly model mine development expenditure
• Learn how to robustly model debt and understand debt coverage ratios
• Learn how to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of models whilst reducing errors
• Use a scenario manager and sensitivity analysis to understand risk

What skills do I need to do the course?

• Intermediate Excel skills
• An understanding of basic financial terminology (depreciation, capital expenditure, interest)
• At least one–five years of relevant work experience

 “I enjoyed and believe I benefited from this training; the scope of the software functions available in Excel is well above my current usage level, but showed the possibilities.”

What will I learn from this course?

Planning 
Learn how to apply a managed model development process:

• Define the aims of a financial model
• Incorporate stakeholders’ requirements into financial models
• Learn why it’s essential to follow a defined model development process
• Understand the six stages of model development
• Define model outputs and design a summary dashboard

Best practice 
Use best-practice standards in your financial models:

• Find out what 'best practice' is and why it is important
• Learn the 10 golden rules for best-practice modelling

Model construction 
Professional and efficient set-up for model construction:

• Learn file management and naming conventions
• Learn custom number and date formats, conditional formatting and how to save styles
• Modify the colour palette and integrate corporate colours
• Develop a template sheet and timeline
• Schedule events using timing flags
• Integrate financial statements
• Implement model checks

Operations calculations 
Develop operations calculations:

• Develop operations calculations, considerations and logic structure
• Model ROM volumes, waste and saleable product
• Incorporate processing and transportation volume constraints and stockpiling
• Include multiple commodities price paths and hedging arrangements
• Apply indexations and escalations
• Develop flexible cost driver expenditure calculations and unit cost analysis
• Model working capital and the cash flow implications
• Use control accounts for accurate and efficient model construction

Mine development / capital expenditure and depreciation 
Create flexible CAPEX profiles:

• Create flexible development profiles
• Analyse the impacts of delays, overspends and phasing changes
• Apply various depreciation methodologies
• Understand how to model depreciation efficiently

Capital structure and financing 
Efficient modelling of debt facilities and ratios:

• Model refinancing a construction debt facility
• Model debt facilities – interest and multiple principal payment mechanisms
• Model flexible timings, interest only periods, commitment fees
• Understand the theory and modelling of debt coverage ratios (DCRs)

Royalties and tax
Incorporating royalties and simplistic tax:

• Model royalties mechanisms
• Understand and model simplistic tax

Scenarios and sensitivities 
Scenario and sensitivity development and management:

• Learn how to develop a scenario manager
• Define and run sensitivity tests
• Use data tables to assist with multi-scenario and sensitivity presentation

Testing and handover
Ensure quality, reduce errors and manage risk:

• Learn quality control techniques, including final testing and peer review
• Manage handover and issuing models to third parties
• Learn about including disclaimers in models

Project valuation and investment appraisal measures
Options for investment appraisal analysis and their application:

• Calculate project value and internal rate of return
• Learn the Excel functions for investment analysis and the functions’ potential pitfalls
• Determine discount rates and WACC
• Find out other options for investment appraisal analysis and their application

“Presentation was excellent and help was given when needed.”
 

Course fees

Course fee per person

GST of 10% will be charged to Australian-based entities

Early booking discounts

Receive a 15% discount for booking and paying more than eight weeks in advance.

Group discounts

For group bookings each additional delegate after the first receives a 20% discount.

Maximum combined discount of 25% per person

Click here for our cancellations and refunds policy