HR Budgeting Mastery: Plan, Forecast & Justify HR Costs
What you'll learn
- Understand the fundamentals of HR budgeting and its role in business strategy
- Identify all major budget categories within HR: recruitment, payroll, benefits, training, and software
- Link HR budgeting to organizational goals and demonstrate ROI
- Use benchmarks and industry data to justify budget decisions
- Build a complete HR budget using ready-made templates
- Calculate cost-effectiveness of HR activities and investment returns
- Forecast HR costs and optimize resource allocation
- Present and defend HR budget proposals to executives and finance teams
- Design flexible budgeting models for changing business needs
- Avoid common budget planning mistakes and reduce unnecessary expenses
Requirements
- No prior budgeting experience is required
- A basic understanding of HR functions is helpful, but not necessary
- Ideal for HR professionals, team leads, or business partners involved in planning or reporting
- Access to Excel or Google Sheets (for working with templates)
- Willingness to apply real numbers and build practical budgets for HR
Description
Struggling to justify your HR expenses or secure buy-in from finance and leadership? You’re not alone — and this course will help you change that.
HR Budgeting Mastery is your complete guide to creating a powerful, data-driven HR budget that supports business goals, optimizes costs, and maximizes HR ROI. Whether you’re preparing your first HR budget or refining existing processes, this course delivers a proven framework to help you plan, forecast, and justify every line item with confidence.
You’ll get practical templates, benchmark data, and step-by-step instructions to build a budget that covers everything from recruitment and payroll to L&D, benefits, and HR software.
What You’ll Gain:
A complete HR budgeting system linked to business strategy
Planning for salaries, bonuses, recruitment, and benefits
Forecasting tools for L&D, HR tech, and employee programs
ROI models to justify HR investments
Templates and real company examples to fast-track implementation
Flexible budget structures to adapt to growth or crisis
The confidence to present and defend your budget like a pro
Course Program
Section 1: Foundations of HR Financial Planning
Class 1: What Is HR Budgeting and What Should Be Budgeted
– Understanding the purpose of HR budgets
– What can and should be budgeted in HR
– Linking HR budget to business operations
– Budget optimization strategies
Class 2: Linking Budget to Strategy and Calculating ROI
– Budget vs. strategy: which comes first
– Gathering relevant data and market benchmarks
– Evaluating budget effectiveness
– Calculating and presenting HR ROI
Section 2: Planning for Key HR Cost Categories
Class 3: Recruitment Budgeting
– Defining recruitment metrics and cost drivers
– Budgeting for employer branding and sourcing
– Managing variable costs in recruitment
Class 4: Budgeting for Compensation & Benefits
– Building salary and vacancy cost projections
– Structuring bonus and incentive planning
– Planning for perks, benefits, and overhead
Section 3: Training, Tools & Additional Expenses
Class 5: Budgeting for Learning & Development
– Internal vs. external training formats
– Creating a business case for L&D investment
– Evaluating training ROI
Class 6: Budgeting for HR Tech and Miscellaneous Costs
– Budgeting for HR automation and software
– Planning for wellness programs, merchandise, holidays, etc.
– Building a well-rounded, realistic HR budget
By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to create, present, and execute a professional HR budget that drives real business impact.
Enroll now and take control of your HR financial planning — before budget season hits.
Who this course is for:
- HR professionals who are responsible for budgeting, resource planning, or presenting HR costs to leadership
- HR business partners and generalists who need to align HR spending with strategic business goals
- People operations and finance professionals collaborating on HR investments and workforce planning
- Talent development and L&D leads budgeting for training, upskilling, and engagement programs
- Managers or team leads preparing departmental budget inputs or overseeing HR-related spend
- Entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to establish or improve structured HR financial planning
Instructor
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 4,618 Reviews
- 87,420 Students
- 132 Courses
Meet Mike Pritula: #1 Udemy HR Instructor, Investor and Mike Pritula Academy founder
★ Built HR for Wargaming | Preply | iDeals | PeopleForce and more
★ Brought HRCI and SHRM certification to more than 10 countries
★ Founded the World's first and biggest HR online Academy with 135 online courses in 5 languages and 175 countries
★ Worked with Randford, Deloitte, EY, HAY group, Korn-Ferry and other consultants on numerous HR projects
★ Udemy shareholder
Why Should You Learn From Me?
I am not just an instructor; I’m a proven leader who has transformed HR and operational strategies across industries. Over the past 20 years, I’ve guided more than 100,000 HR professionals worldwide to excel in their careers. Here’s what sets me apart:
• Founder of Mike Pritula Academy: A leading online HR academy offering 135+ courses and home to one of the largest HR communities with over 200,000 members.
• Creator of the most comprehensive HR Audit Checklist and the HR Competency Model used by professionals globally.
• Holder of globally recognized certifications including PHRi, SHRM-CP, and HCI sHRBP, ensuring that I bring industry-leading knowledge to every course.
• HR automation expert who has implemented tools like BambooHR, 15Five, PeopleForce, and many others to streamline operations in leading companies.
• A trusted advisor and keynote speaker, with over 5 million views on my articles and presentations.
• Youtube Silver Button holder for my Educational HR channel
What Have I Achieved?
• Recognized as one of the Top 10 HR Leaders in CIS.
• Named HR Person of the Year in Ukraine (2018) and Belarus (2017).
• Authored two career-defining books, “Resume for a Million” and “AI in HR”, helping professionals land dream jobs and prepare for the future of HR.
• First to launch HRCI Certification Prep Courses in over 10 countries, bringing global certifications to a wider audience.
• Designed and led 50+ high-impact HR projects across diverse industries.
My Career Journey: Proven Expertise in Transforming Businesses
From multinational corporations to innovative startups, I have played key HR leadership roles in companies like Wargaming, Preply, iDeals, and Alfa Bank. My accomplishments include:
• Building four high-performing HR teams from scratch to drive organizational success.
• Leading HR transformations, such as implementing OKR systems, enhancing recruitment strategies, and driving employee engagement.
• Scaling operations with innovative solutions, including automation of key HR processes.
What Will You Gain from My Courses?
1. Practical Skills in HR and Leadership: Learn actionable strategies that can be applied immediately in your role.
2. Mastery of Operational Excellence: Discover frameworks to optimize workflows and improve efficiency.
3. Advanced Tools and Technology: Harness AI and automation tools to revolutionize your HR practices.
4. Global Expertise: Access insights from my experience across diverse industries and cultures.
Why Am I the Right Instructor for You?
My courses are built on real-world experience. I’ve faced the challenges you’re encountering, solved them, and refined strategies that work. Whether you’re just starting your HR career or are a seasoned professional, my programs will empower you to achieve your goals.
I don’t just teach concepts; I equip you with practical tools, templates, and step-by-step frameworks to ensure you can take immediate action.
For Publishers and Advertisers:
If you are interested in Product Placement, Sponsorship, Collaboration, Direct Advertising, or Course Licensing, please contact me through my LinkedIn profile.
Are you ready to unlock your full potential and become a leader in HR and operations? Enroll today and join thousands of professionals who have transformed their careers with my guidance. Let’s get started! ⇣