How We Actually Teach Financial Analysis
Most courses throw spreadsheets at you and hope something sticks. We built our method around how real analysts think—starting with messy company data and working through it until the story becomes clear. Takes longer, but you'll remember it when it matters.
Statement First, Theory Second
Here's something we learned after watching about seventy students struggle: teaching ratio formulas before context is backwards. When Philippa joined our September 2024 cohort, she'd memorized every ratio from another program but couldn't explain what they meant for an actual business.
So we flipped it. You start with a real company's financials—maybe Woolworths, maybe Qantas—and we ask: what's happening here? Revenue growing but margins shrinking? Inventory piling up? Then we introduce the tools that help answer those questions.
It's messier this way. Students get frustrated because there's not always one right answer. But when you're six months into a finance role and your boss asks about a supplier's stability, you won't be searching for formulas. You'll know what to look for.
Three Things We Won't Compromise On
These aren't marketing points. They're decisions we made after running programs that didn't work and figuring out why.
Real Company Data Only
We don't use simplified examples or fake numbers. Every case study comes from actual ASX-listed companies or public financials. Sometimes the data's incomplete or contradictory—which is exactly what you'll face outside a classroom. Learning to work with imperfect information matters more than perfect calculations.
Questions Before Answers
Our instructors won't give you the solution path upfront. Instead, we ask what you notice, what seems odd, what you'd want to investigate. This drives some people mad initially. But Darnell, who went through our autumn 2024 program, told us he finally understood balance sheets when he had to explain one to someone else—not when he was told how it worked.
Industry Context Matters
A retail company's financials look nothing like a mining company's. We don't teach universal approaches because they don't exist. You'll work through cases across different sectors and learn why a healthy current ratio for BHP would signal trouble for JB Hi-Fi. Context changes everything in financial analysis.
Who's Actually Teaching This
We don't hire academic experts who've never worked with real company financials. Our instructors spent years doing the work before they started teaching it—and most still consult on the side to stay current. They remember being confused by cash flow statements, so they know where you'll get stuck.
Reed Holloway
Senior Instructor, Credit Analysis
Spent eight years assessing mid-market companies for lending decisions at two major banks. Reed built our credit analysis module after getting tired of seeing graduates who could calculate ratios but couldn't judge whether a business was actually creditworthy. He's particular about teaching the judgment part.
Ingrid Bergstrom
Lead Instructor, Equity Analysis
Former equity analyst covering retail and consumer sectors. Ingrid joined us in early 2024 because she was frustrated watching junior analysts struggle with the same gaps she had. She's known for making students defend their conclusions—not to be difficult, but because that's what the job requires.
Common Questions About Our Approach
Things people usually want to know before committing to this method
How long before this method starts making sense?
Usually around week four or five. The first month can feel disorienting because we're not giving you formulas to memorize. But most students report a shift where the statements start telling stories instead of just showing numbers. For our autumn 2025 program starting September, expect it to click by mid-October. Read about our full program structure for more details on the learning progression.
Do I need accounting background for this?
Not really. We cover the accounting basics you need, but the focus is on interpretation rather than preparation. If you know what revenue and expenses are, you're fine. We've had successful students from marketing, operations, even hospitality backgrounds. The key is curiosity about why businesses succeed or fail financially.
What if I learn better from structured lectures?
Then our approach might frustrate you initially. We do have structured content, but it's organized around cases rather than topic sequences. Some students find this harder—they want clean, linear progression. The tradeoff is that case-based learning tends to stick better long-term. Worth considering whether you're optimizing for comfort during learning or capability after. Talk to our team if you want to discuss whether this fits your learning preference.
How much time should I expect to commit weekly?
Plan for 8-12 hours per week including sessions. The case work takes longer than traditional homework because you're analyzing rather than calculating. Some weeks are lighter, others more intensive depending on case complexity. Most students find the time investment front-loaded—it eases up as pattern recognition develops around week six.
Ready to Try This Approach?
Our next program begins September 2025. We keep cohorts small because the case method doesn't scale well—maximum twenty students per instructor. If you want to understand financial statements rather than just calculate ratios, this might work for you.