Variance Formula Template
Variance Formula Template
This variance formula template helps you find out the variance between actual and forecast financial figures.
This is what the variance formula template looks like:
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The variance formula is used to calculate the difference between a forecast and the actual result. The variance can be expressed as a percentage or an integer (dollar value or the number of units). Variance analysis and the variance formula play an important role in corporate financial planning and analysis (FP&A) to help evaluate results and make informed decisions for the business going forward.
There are two formulas to calculate variance:
Variance % = Actual / Forecast – 1 or Variance $ = Actual – Forecast
Variance in budgeting and forecasting
The variance formula is useful in budgeting and forecasting when analyzing results. The job of a financial analyst is to measure results, compare them to the budget/forecast, and explain what caused any difference.
In the Financial Planning & Analysis department of a company, the role of FP&A is to present management with accurate, timely, and insightful information so they can make effective decisions about the business going forward.
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Additional Resources
CFI is a global provider of financial modeling courses and of the FMVA Certification. CFI’s mission is to help all professionals improve their technical skills. If you are a student or looking for a career change, the CFI website has many free resources to help you jumpstart your Career in Finance. If you are seeking to improve your technical skills, check out some of our most popular courses. Below are some additional resources for you to further explore:
The Financial Modeling Certification
Analyst Certification FMVA® Program
CFI is a global provider of financial modeling courses and of the FMVA Certification. CFI’s mission is to help all professionals improve their technical skills. If you are a student or looking for a career change, the CFI website has many free resources to help you jumpstart your Career in Finance. If you are seeking to improve your technical skills, check out some of our most popular courses. Below are some additional resources for you to further explore:
The Financial Modeling Certification
Below is a break down of subject weightings in the FMVA® financial analyst program. As you can see there is a heavy focus on financial modeling, finance, Excel, business valuation, budgeting/forecasting, PowerPoint presentations, accounting and business strategy.
A well rounded financial analyst possesses all of the above skills!
Additional Questions & Answers
CFI is the global institution behind the financial modeling and valuation analyst FMVA® Designation. CFI is on a mission to enable anyone to be a great financial analyst and have a great career path. In order to help you advance your career, CFI has compiled many resources to assist you along the path.
In order to become a great financial analyst, here are some more questions and answers for you to discover:
- What is Financial Modeling?
- How Do You Build a DCF Model?
- What is Sensitivity Analysis?
- How Do You Value a Business?
Excel Tutorial
CFI is a global provider of financial modeling courses and of the FMVA Certification. CFI’s mission is to help all professionals improve their technical skills. If you are a student or looking for a career change, the CFI website has many free resources to help you jumpstart your Career in Finance. If you are seeking to improve your technical skills, check out some of our most popular courses. Below are some additional resources for you to further explore:
The Financial Modeling Certification
Launch CFI’s Excel Crash Course now to take your career to the next level and move up the ladder!
