Stage IV - Integrated Planning & Performance Management

The Stage IV controlling training is designed for controllers who want to actively shape the planning process and serve as key drivers of modern corporate management. The focus is on developing integrated planning models that combine strategy, profit, balance sheet, and financial planning into a consistent overall picture. You will learn to develop driver logic, systematically incorporate risks (opportunities and threats) into planning, and create well-founded forecasts as a basis for better decisions.

In addition, you will explore modern approaches to corporate planning – from working capital metrics and business cases to predictive planning and AI-driven forecasts. A practical case study, including a planning conference, will equip you with the necessary tools to design efficient planning processes, create transparency, and effectively support management decisions. The goal is to view planning not as a mere formality, but as a central instrument of successful corporate management.

After the seminar you will be able to

• develop and link integrated profit, balance sheet, and financial plans
• reconcile management accounting with external financial reporting
• develop driver models and use them to improve planning and forecasting
• structure, facilitate, and efficiently manage planning processes
• integrate working capital and liquidity into corporate management in a targeted manner
• systematically identify and assess risks and incorporate them into planning and forecasting processes
• evaluate business cases thoroughly and prepare them in a decision-oriented manner
• apply modern planning approaches such as predictive planning and AI-powered forecasts
• analyze planning variances and derive effective control measures
• serve as a competent point of contact for management and functional departments on planning and control issues
• sustainably improve the quality of decisions through robust planning and forecasting models

Seminar Content

Developing Integrated Corporate Planning

• Classify modern planning approaches
• Planning as a management tool within the company
• Aligning strategy, actions, and planning
• Establishing an integrated profit, balance sheet, and financial planning framework
• Practical case study on developing an integrated planning model

Driver-Based Planning and Predictive Analytics

• Identifying value and performance drivers
• Developing and applying driver models
• Simplifying planning while increasing its precision
• Utilizing scenario analyses and simulations

Financial Planning and Working Capital Management

• Prepare liquidity plans and cash flow forecasts
• Use working capital as a key performance indicator
• Assess the impact of operational decisions on liquidity
• Analyze financial stability and financing options

Business Cases and Investment Decisions

• Develop business cases in a structured manner
• Evaluate the economic impact of decisions
• Thoroughly analyze and prioritize investments
• Derive recommendations for management decisions

Risk Management in Corporate Planning

• Systematically identify and assess risks
• Integrate opportunities and risks into planning processes
• Develop risk-based forecasts
• Analyze the impact of uncertainties on corporate management

Planning Conference and Management Dialogue

• Professionally prepare for planning meetings
• Facilitate the resolution of conflicting objectives between departments
• Critically examine planning assumptions
• Recognize and reduce cognitive biases
• Presenting planning results convincingly
• Performance management for the controller function

Key Arguments for Decision-Makers Regarding This Stage

After Stage IV, your controllers will have the expertise to design planning and forecasting processes holistically and actively contribute to corporate management. They will be able to develop integrated profit, balance sheet, and financial plans, systematically account for risks, and produce reliable forecasts.

By combining driver-based planning, financial management, and risk management, they create significantly greater transparency regarding future developments. Management and functional departments receive a sound basis for decision-making, planning processes become more efficient, and the company’s ability to respond to changes increases sustainably. In this way, controllers make a significant contribution to the company’s strategic and operational management capabilities.

Target groups

Stage IV – Integrated Planning & Performance Management is adressed to managers and employees in controlling, financial accounting as well as in cost accounting, corporate planning, management information systems, business administration and development who want to expand their controlling knowledge in a practical way.