Digital Decoded - harnessing data insight: an introduction to Power BI

Every finance professional can benefit from Power BI's powerful data manipulation. During this session, you'll learn how to harness this crucial tool to provide more engaging insights for your colleagues and customers. You'll also get an end-to-end overview of how to set up a reporting journey with Power BI, including:

• connecting to your data; looking at types of data sources and how to connect
• transforming, preparing and modeling the data; cleanse subset and qualify your data, then link tables through relationships
• modelling the data; link your tables by creating relationships
• building interactive visuals and reports
• publishing to the Power BI service to share your reports.

Digital Decoded - take your reporting to the next level

Check out the digital tools you need to take your reporting to another level. Technology is constantly changing, and if you’re not on board with the latest technology, you’ll find yourself unable to keep up with the marketplace – client expectations, competitors’ pace, and the latest legislation.

This session will not only enable you to identify these tools but also help you understand the digital landscape, a mindset of adaptability, an eagerness to learn and a willingness to be flexible to help you reach that next level. 

In this session, Jamie will help you to:

• review some of the AI visuals and how they can help you find impactful insight
• gain an understanding of DAX data analysis expressions and get practical knowledge of creating simple columns and measures
• look at some of the more 'analytical' capabilities in Power BI and DAX.

Digital Decoded - managing cybersecurity, blockchain and cryptocurrency

As an accountant and finance professional you need to be fully aware about cybersecurity within your organisation and understand the impact of blockchain on transactions. This highly targeted session requires no prior knowledge in this area, and it’ll help you identify the risks and opportunities involved and equip you with the practical skills to address them.

This session will enable you to:

• understand the difficulties of creating a digital currency and how blockchain addresses that challenge
• identify practical applications of blockchain and cryptocurrency technology
• consider cybersecurity risks and their impact on organisations
• explore a range of controls to manage cybersecurity risks within an organisation.

Cybersecurity: 

• the objectives – what are we trying to do when setting a cybersecurity agenda? 
• the risks – what are the cybersecurity risks I need to consider for my organisation (and it’s not just hackers) 
• the impact of risks – what happens if a cybersecurity risk materialises? 
• they controls – what practical controls can be implemented to protect you and your organisation? 
• cybersecurity today – practical examples of the latest cybersecurity events.

 Blockchain: 

• the challenge of creating a digital currency – what are the issues with the current banking system that digital currencies are trying to address? 
• other uses of blockchain – blockchain technology is used for everything from tracking cattle to establishing ownership of priceless works of art.

 Cryptocurrency: 

• blockchain as an enabler of cryptocurrency – what exactly is blockchain and how does it enable cryptocurrencies?
• the practical side of cryptocurrencies – exploring bitcoins and other cryptocurrencies, including some practical red flags to be aware of.

By attending this session, you’ll achieve:

• a better understanding of blockchain – what it is and why it’s so important for accountants
• and learn through practical examples of the risks associated with blockchain and how those risks can be managed 
• an increased awareness of the latest cybersecurity threats facing organisations and individuals 
• and learn from examples of practical steps that can be taken to improve your organisation’s (and your own) cybersecurity.

Digital Decoded - unleashing automation and efficiencies in the finance world

In an era where efficiency and accuracy are paramount, power automation can offer a game-changing toolkit. By learning how to leverage this, accountants and bookkeepers can streamline repetitive tasks, eliminate manual data entry errors and significantly increase productivity.

Your role as an accountant and finance professional is to understand the technology and evolve with it. This session will enable you to:

• get to grips with Power Automate 
• review the triggers and actions of Power Automate
• build out some sample flows, to make your life simpler
• review the Power of Robotic Process Automation (RPA) in Power Automate.

Once purchased you'll be able to access the AAT Learning Portal where you'll have 12 months from the date to access the learning materials. AAT Learning Portal allows you to view all the courses you've purchased in one place, monitor your latest training activity and create goals to help you achieve your training aims.

Xero makes invoicing and accounting quick and easy. Join this digital showcase to find out how Xero software can help provide a digital solution to your accounting needs. Xero is a cloud-based accounting software platform for small businesses has 3.5 million subscribers globally. Through Xero, small business owners and their advisors have access to real-time financial data anytime, anywhere and on any device. Xero offers an ecosystem of over 1,000 third-party apps and 300 plus connections to banks and other financial partners.  In 2020 Xero was recognised by IDC MarketScape as a leader in its worldwide SaaS and cloud-enabled small business finance and accounting applications vendor assessment.

Join over 200,000 accountants and bookkeepers using Xero in their practice