Full course description
Location: Online
Instructors: Fiscal Training Team
Contact: fiscaltraining@vt.edu
Program Sponsor: Financial Management
Modules Include:
Strategy – Web Reporting: Quick Guide
Strategy – Research Financials (Coming Soon)
Strategy – Beyond the Basics (Coming Soon)
Excel for Finance – Elevate your Skills (Coming Soon)
Course Overview
This course series equips participants with the foundational knowledge and technical skills needed to access, analyze, and interpret financial information using Virginia Tech's reporting tools and Microsoft Excel Online. Designed for employees who work with university financial data, the curriculum emphasizes practical techniques for transforming data into meaningful information that supports sound financial management and informed decision-making.
Participants will develop proficiency in Microsoft Excel Online by learning essential spreadsheet concepts, navigation, and data analysis tools commonly used in financial operations. The series also provides comprehensive instruction on Strategy, introducing participants to the reporting environment, report navigation, filtering techniques, custom reporting, and data analysis capabilities used across the university.
In addition to foundational Strategy skills, participants will explore reporting solutions tailored to both university finance and research administration. The curriculum covers financial and research reporting, budget monitoring, transaction analysis, payroll and expenditure review, award management, and stewardship of sponsored project funds. Throughout the series, participants will learn best practices for interpreting financial information, conducting transaction research, and using reporting tools to support compliance, accountability, and effective financial oversight.
Upon completion of this learning path, participants will be prepared to confidently use Excel Online and Strategy to access financial information, analyze data, monitor financial activity, and support informed decision-making across a variety of university business functions.
Certificate Guidance
Each module is self-paced, takes approximately one hour to complete, and concludes with a quiz. Participants must achieve a score of 80% or higher on each quiz to successfully complete a module. This course consists of four modules, each worth one certificate credit toward the Fiscal Training and Development Program. Participants who complete all modules will earn a total of four certificate credits.