Financial modelling that mirrors real market conditions
Most corporate finance courses teach theory. We teach you how analysts actually work – building models under pressure, presenting findings to skeptical CFOs, and making calls when the data tells three different stories.
View September 2025 Intake
Built from sixteen years of arguing with Excel
I spent most of my twenties hunched over LBO models at 2am, trying to explain variance analysis to private equity partners who'd rather be anywhere else. The uncomfortable truth? University didn't prepare me for any of it.
So when I started teaching corporate finance in 2019, I threw out the textbook approach. Our curriculum follows how you'll actually spend your days – dissecting earnings calls, building acquisition models that hold up under scrutiny, and learning which metrics matter when you're advising on a M transaction.
You won't find fluff here. Just the frameworks and analysis techniques that separate analysts who get promoted from those who stay stuck formatting PowerPoint decks.
What sets our approach apart from typical finance training
We don't run through hypothetical case studies. Every model you build comes from actual company data – sometimes from businesses that went bankrupt, sometimes from surprising success stories. You'll figure out what warning signs the market missed.
The feedback is specific. When your DCF valuation is off, we don't just mark it wrong. We'll show you exactly where your WACC calculation derailed and why your terminal value assumptions need rethinking. Because that's what you'll face in a real analyst role.
And we're honest about the limitations. Some weeks you'll struggle with EBITDA adjustments. Other times, you'll nail a comparable company analysis on your first attempt. Both outcomes teach you something valuable about how your mind processes financial data.
Core competencies we develop over nine months
Financial statement deconstruction
You'll learn to spot red flags in 10-Ks faster than most analysts. We focus on cash flow patterns, working capital movements, and the notes that companies hope you'll skip over.
Valuation model architecture
Build DCF models that stand up to partner scrutiny. Learn when precedent transactions matter more than trading multiples, and how to defend your assumptions under questioning.
Industry analysis frameworks
Different sectors need different analytical lenses. Mining companies aren't valued like SaaS businesses. We'll teach you which metrics actually matter for each industry you'll analyze.
Merger model mechanics
Accretion dilution analysis, purchase price allocation, and pro forma adjustments. You'll understand why some acquisitions destroy value before they're even announced.
Presentation structure
Your analysis means nothing if you can't communicate it. Learn how to structure investment memos and board presentations that busy executives will actually read.
Credit risk evaluation
Debt capacity analysis, covenant structures, and leverage ratios that matter. You'll learn to think like both the equity holder and the credit committee.
How the program unfolds from October 2025
We start with fundamentals and build toward complex transactions. Each phase prepares you for the next level of analytical work.
Months 1-3: Financial statement fluency
You'll rebuild balance sheets from scratch, normalize EBITDA, and learn why operating lease adjustments matter more than most analysts realize. We use real company filings from ASX-listed firms.
Months 4-6: Valuation methodology
DCF models that actually work, trading comps that reflect market reality, and precedent transaction analysis. You'll value three companies across different sectors and defend your work to practicing analysts.
Months 7-9: Transaction modeling
LBO models, merger models, and scenario analysis. We'll walk through actual Australian M&A deals from the past three years, showing you what the advisors got right and where they miscalculated.
Classes run Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6:30-9pm AWST. The workload demands 12-15 hours weekly. Applications for October 2025 open in June.
Ready to move beyond spreadsheet basics?
Our next cohort begins October 2025. We accept thirty students per intake. Priority consideration for applications submitted before July 15th.
The program suits analysts with 1-3 years of experience who want to accelerate their technical skills, career changers from accounting or audit backgrounds, and finance professionals preparing for senior analyst roles.