Making Financial Statements Less Intimidating

We started surialexvia in 2019 because too many bright people were struggling with financial analysis. Not because they couldn't understand it—they just hadn't found someone who'd explain it properly.

Five years later, we're still in the same Sydney office, still teaching the same foundational principles, just to more students across Australia.

How We Got Here

Clare started teaching financial statement analysis at a community college in 2018. The classes were packed—accountants wanting to upskill, small business owners trying to understand their own numbers, career changers hoping to break into finance.

What struck her most was how many students said the same thing: "I wish someone had explained it like this years ago."

So in early 2019, she teamed up with Vincent, who'd spent a decade working in financial planning. They rented a small space in Sydney's CBD and started running weekend workshops. The first one had eleven people. By the end of that year, they were running three sessions a month and had a waiting list.

We're not trying to turn everyone into financial analysts. We just want people to read a balance sheet without their eyes glazing over.

The approach hasn't changed much since then. We focus on practical analysis skills—the kind that help you make better decisions, whether you're reviewing your business finances or evaluating investment opportunities. Classes are small. Questions are encouraged. And we use real financial statements, not sanitized textbook examples.

By 2023, we'd moved to a larger location on Harbour Street and brought on additional instructors. Our autumn 2025 program is already at capacity, with the next intake scheduled for early 2026.

What Guides Our Teaching

These aren't corporate values dreamed up in a boardroom. They're the practical principles that shape how we run every class and interact with every student.

Clear instruction and learning materials

Clear Over Clever

Financial jargon exists, but we don't hide behind it. If something can be explained in plain language, that's how we do it. Students shouldn't need a glossary to understand the lecture.

Real Numbers, Real Context

We use actual published financial statements from Australian companies. You'll work with the same messy, complex documents that exist in the real world—because that's what you'll encounter after the course ends.

Progress at Your Pace

Some students grasp ratio analysis immediately. Others need three examples and a coffee break. Both are fine. We structure classes so you can move forward when you're ready, not when the syllabus says so.

Who You'll Learn From

Our instructors have worked in financial analysis, accounting, and business consulting. More importantly, they remember what it was like to learn this stuff for the first time.

Clare Thornton

Lead Instructor

Clare taught business accounting for six years before starting surialexvia. She's worked with everyone from nervous first-timers to experienced bookkeepers looking to expand their skills. Her weekend workshops on cash flow analysis consistently fill up months in advance. Outside of teaching, she consults with small businesses on financial planning and still gets excited about a well-organized spreadsheet.

Vincent Kellerman

Program Director

Vincent spent eleven years in financial planning before co-founding surialexvia. He's the one who insists on using real company statements in class—even when it makes lesson planning more complicated. He teaches the intermediate analysis courses and handles curriculum development. Students appreciate his ability to break down complex financial structures into digestible pieces. He's also known for bringing excellent coffee to morning sessions.

Want to Join Our Next Program?

Our autumn 2025 intake is full, but we're taking expressions of interest for our early 2026 courses. Classes are kept small intentionally, so spots fill quickly.

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