How We Actually Teach Financial Analysis
Most people think spreadsheets and formulas are the hard part. They're not. The real challenge is learning to see patterns in numbers, ask better questions, and explain findings to someone who just wants straight answers.
We've spent years figuring out how to teach these skills without boring people to death or overwhelming them with theory they'll never use. Our approach mixes hands-on work with real datasets, group discussions that actually matter, and feedback that helps you improve instead of just pointing out mistakes.
Three Core Methods That Drive Everything
We built our teaching around what actually works when you're trying to analyse financial data under pressure. These aren't teaching theories—they're approaches we've tested with hundreds of students over the past four years.
Case-Based Learning
You'll work with actual company financials from Australian businesses. Not simplified textbook examples. Real reports with inconsistencies, missing data, and the kind of complexity you'll face in any finance role.
Iterative Practice
We don't expect perfect work on the first try. You'll do multiple versions of each analysis, getting specific feedback between rounds. Most students find their third attempt is ten times better than their first.
Peer Review Sessions
Learning to critique someone else's work teaches you more than you'd think. You'll spend time each week reviewing classmates' analyses, which sharpens your eye for detail and helps you understand different approaches to the same problem.
Context-First Teaching
Before we teach any formula or technique, we show you why it matters. You'll understand the business question first, then learn the analytical tool to answer it. Makes everything stick better.
Written Communication Focus
Half of financial analysis is explaining what you found. You'll write summaries, create presentations, and practice turning complex findings into clear recommendations. This part surprises people—but it's critical.
Timed Analysis Work
Once you've got the basics down, we add time pressure. Not to stress you out, but because real analysis often happens on deadlines. You'll learn to prioritize what matters and deliver useful insights quickly.
How Skills Build Over Eight Months
Our program runs from August through March each year. Here's roughly how capabilities develop—though everyone moves at their own pace and that's completely fine.
Months 1-2: Foundation Work
You'll start with core financial statements and basic ratio analysis. We spend extra time on reading annual reports because most people have never actually done it. Lots of practice with small datasets before moving to anything complex.
Months 3-4: Pattern Recognition
This is where things click for most students. You'll work with multiple companies in the same industry, learning to spot trends and outliers. We introduce comparative analysis and start working on your ability to ask probing questions about data.
Months 5-6: Advanced Techniques
Now we layer in forecasting, valuation methods, and more sophisticated analytical frameworks. You'll take on longer projects that require multiple analytical approaches. The work gets challenging here, but you'll have the foundation to handle it.
Months 7-8: Integration Phase
Final months focus on bringing everything together. You'll complete a comprehensive analysis project from start to finish, working with minimal guidance. This is where you prove to yourself that you can actually do this work independently.
What Students Actually Achieve
We track progress carefully because we want to know what's working. By the end of the program, most students can complete a basic company analysis in under two hours—something that took them all day at the start.
More importantly, they're confident in their conclusions. They can defend their analysis, explain their reasoning, and adjust their approach when new information appears. That confidence matters more than any specific skill.
Our August 2024 cohort showed some interesting patterns. About 60% of students completed their first independent analysis project ahead of schedule. Nearly all of them reported feeling capable of handling real financial analysis work within six months of starting.
What Recent Students Say
Feedback from our 2024 cohorts—the good bits and the constructive criticism we're working on.
Declan Thornbury
Completed August 2024
The peer review sessions were uncomfortable at first, but they taught me more than the lectures. Seeing how other people approached the same problem completely changed how I think about analysis.
Isla Pemberton
Completed December 2024
I appreciated that they used real company data with all its messiness. My previous course used clean examples that didn't prepare me for actual work. This felt like proper training.
Jasper Lochlan
Completed November 2024
The iterative practice method saved me. My first analyses were terrible, but the specific feedback and chance to redo work helped me improve fast. By month five, I actually knew what I was doing.