Power BI for Cash and Working Capital: From Transactions to Decisions

Cash and working capital reports are useful only when their definitions, data and calculations support the decisions being made. This webinar demonstrates how Power BI can transform transaction extracts into a clear and consistent view of liquidity, receivables, payables and inventory, with traceable links to the underlying accounting records.

Using an illustrative business dataset, participants will explore the reporting process, from data preparation in Power Query to building a structured data model, reusable measures and focused report pages. The session explains how transaction dates, reporting cutoffs and data relationships affect financial results, and why balance snapshots must be treated differently from transaction movements.

Participants will examine overdue receivables, collection patterns, supplier payment timing and inventory days, alongside cash movement analysis. The webinar also explores the assumptions behind key working capital metrics, including days sales outstanding (DSO), days payable outstanding (DPO) and the cash conversion cycle, highlighting the importance of appropriate denominators and consistent comparisons.

Throughout the session, the emphasis is on data validation and practical decision-making. Participants will learn how to reconcile balances, test report filters, distinguish actual results from forecasts and identify issues requiring further investigation. The webinar concludes with practical considerations for data access, refresh responsibilities and maintaining consistent reporting definitions, helping finance professionals develop reliable reporting that supports informed operational and financial decisions.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Transforming financial transaction data into meaningful cash and working capital reports using Power BI

• Preparing and cleaning financial data using Power Query

• Building structured data models, reusable measures and interactive financial reports

• Understanding transaction dates, reporting cutoffs and data relationships

• Distinguishing balance snapshots from transaction movements

• Analysing overdue receivables, collection patterns and supplier payment timing

• Monitoring inventory days and cash movement

• Calculating and interpreting key working capital metrics, including DSO, DPO and the cash conversion cycle

• Applying appropriate assumptions, denominators and consistent reporting comparisons

• Reconciling financial balances and validating report outputs

• Testing report filters and distinguishing actual results from forecasts

• Managing data access, refresh responsibilities and consistent reporting definitions