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Budget Analysis and Variance Interpretation

This short course focuses on reading budgets critically and interpreting the variances that arise during the year. Participants learn to explain why results differ from plan and what action they suggest.

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What you will be able to do

  • Read a budget and understand its key assumptions
  • Compare actual results against budgeted figures
  • Calculate and classify meaningful variances
  • Distinguish price, volume and efficiency effects
  • Judge which variances need management attention
  • Recommend responses to significant deviations

Course outline

  1. 01The structure and logic of a budget
  2. 02Reading assumptions behind the numbers
  3. 03Actual versus budget comparison methods
  4. 04Calculating favourable and adverse variances
  5. 05Breaking variances into price and volume
  6. 06Setting materiality thresholds for review
  7. 07Interpreting what variances reveal
  8. 08Deciding on corrective action
  9. 09Presenting variance findings simply

Who should attend

Line managers, budget holders, finance officers and administrators who review budgets and interpret variance reports.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendarRegister
4 to 5 Nov 2026Johannesburg2R10,000Register
5 to 6 Nov 2026Cape Town2R10,000Register
9 to 10 Nov 2026Durban2R10,000Register
10 to 11 Nov 2026Pretoria2R10,000Register
11 to 12 Nov 2026Windhoek2US$1,100Register
12 to 13 Nov 2026Gaborone2US$1,100Register
16 to 17 Nov 2026Maseru2US$1,100Register
17 to 18 Nov 2026Mbabane2US$1,100Register
18 to 19 Nov 2026Lusaka2US$1,100Register
19 to 20 Nov 2026Harare2US$1,100Register
23 to 24 Nov 2026Lilongwe2US$1,100Register
24 to 25 Nov 2026Blantyre2US$1,100Register
25 to 26 Nov 2026Mozambique2US$1,100Register
26 to 27 Nov 2026Nairobi2US$1,100Register
30 Nov to 1 Dec 2026Dar es Salaam2US$1,100Register
1 to 2 Dec 2026Kigali2US$1,100Register
2 to 3 Dec 2026Kampala2US$1,100Register
3 to 4 Dec 2026Accra2US$1,100Register
7 to 8 Dec 2026Lagos2US$1,100Register
8 to 9 Dec 2026Cairo2US$1,100Register
9 to 10 Dec 2026Mauritius2US$1,100Register
10 to 11 Dec 2026Dubai2US$1,100Register
14 to 15 Dec 2026Online2US$900Register

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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