Wow! eBook
Practical Business Finance with AI: Use financial statements, budgets, forecasts, KPIs, and AI to make better business decisions
Author(s): Valentine Ifenna Okolo (Author)
- Publisher: Packt Publishing
- Publication Date: October 29, 2026
- Edition: 1st
- Language: English
- Print length: 160 pages
- ISBN-10: 1808814614
- ISBN-13: 9781808814617
Book Description
Turn financial information into actionable business insights using statement analysis, budgeting, forecasting, KPIs, and AI-supported decision-making.
Key Features
- Interpret financial statements and assess business performance with confidence
- Build budgets, forecasts, and cost analyses to support informed decisions
- Apply KPIs, financial analytics, and AI to generate business insights
- Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Book Description
Build the financial intelligence to understand what business numbers mean and use them to make informed decisions. This book takes you from essential accounting concepts to practical financial analysis, planning, performance evaluation, and AI-supported decision-making.
You’ll learn to interpret income statements and balance sheets, assess cash flow and financial health, and evaluate costs, profitability, and break-even points. You’ll then develop budgeting and forecasting skills for financial planning and use financial analytics and KPIs to turn performance data into useful business insights.
The book also shows you how AI can support financial analysis and decision-making. Rather than treating finance concepts in isolation, it connects them through practical business applications so you can relate financial information to planning and performance decisions.
Written by Valentine Ifenna Okolo, a multidisciplinary business professional with nearly two decades of experience across banking, accounting, financial analysis, audit, control, compliance, and business systems, the book concludes with a capstone financial analysis and business review that brings the core concepts together.
What you will learn
- Interpret income statements and balance sheets
- Assess cash flow and overall financial health
- Build budgets and forecasts for financial planning
- Analyze costs, break-even points, and profitability
- Use financial analytics and KPIs to assess performance
- Apply AI to financial analysis and decision support
- Turn financial findings into business recommendations
Who this book is for
Managers, team leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, project managers, financial analysts, aspiring FP&A professionals, and consultants who want to interpret financial information and make better business decisions will benefit from this book. It is particularly suited to non-finance professionals seeking stronger financial and business acumen. No formal finance or accounting background is required.
Table of Contents
- Financial Intelligence for Better Business Decisions
- Accounting Principles, Conventions, and Financial Statements
- Analyzing Financial Statements
- Analyzing Cash Flow Statements
- Budgeting and Forecasting for Financial Planning
- Cost Analysis, Break-Even, and Profitability
- Financial Analytics, KPIs, and Business Insights
- AI-Powered Financial Analysis and Decision Support
- Capstone: Complete Financial Analysis and Business Review
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Valentine Ifenna Okolo, CBAP®, MBA, CILT, is a Corporate Trainer, Business Systems Coach, and multidisciplinary business professional with nearly two decades of experience spanning banking operations, accounting, financial analysis, audit, control and compliance, logistics, business analysis, and organizational systems. He began his professional career in 2007 and has worked across financial institutions, public-sector, and operational environments.
As an author and professional trainer, Valentine helps managers and business professionals understand complex concepts and apply them to real-world decisions. His expertise includes business analysis, financial and operational systems, process improvement, and professional training.
