Our Financial Analysis Methodology

We've spent years refining how we teach professionals to dissect markets and evaluate opportunities. It's not about shortcuts or magic formulas—it's about building a solid foundation that actually works when you're sitting at your desk analyzing real investments.

Financial analysis framework demonstration with real market data

What Makes Our Approach Different

Back in 2018, we realized most programs were teaching theory without context. Students would memorize ratios but couldn't explain what they meant for an actual business. So we restructured everything around practical application.

Our framework starts with questions, not answers. Why is this company trading at this multiple? What's happening in their cash flow that the market might be missing? And here's the thing—we don't pretend there's always a clear answer.

  • Case studies built from actual ASX-listed companies and regional markets
  • Weekly analysis sessions where you present findings and get real feedback
  • Focus on understanding market cycles through Australian economic context
  • Tools and templates we actually use in professional settings
Petra Kostelnik, lead instructor and financial analysis specialist Lead Instructor

Learning From Experience, Not Just Theory

Petra Kostelnik has been teaching financial analysis since 2016, but her background goes back further—twelve years in equity research and portfolio management across Melbourne and Sydney.

What Students Actually Get

Petra doesn't just walk through spreadsheets. She shares the mistakes she made early in her career, the patterns she learned to spot, and the questions that separate surface-level analysis from deep understanding.

Her sessions often start with a simple prompt: "Here's a company. Tell me if it's interesting." Then you work through it together, building your analytical instincts rather than just following a checklist.

She's worked with over 200 professionals transitioning into investment roles, and what they mention most isn't the technical content—it's how she teaches you to think through problems when the textbook answer doesn't quite fit.

How We Structure the Learning

Six months of progressive skill development, starting September 2025

1

Foundation Phase

First eight weeks cover financial statement analysis and valuation basics. You'll work through real company reports, identifying what matters and what's just noise. Expect to spend about 6-8 hours weekly on this.

2

Application Phase

Weeks 9-16 focus on building complete investment theses. You pick sectors that interest you and dig into competitive dynamics, management quality, and risk factors. This is where things get challenging but interesting.

3

Refinement Phase

Final eight weeks emphasize presenting your analysis clearly and defending your conclusions. You'll give several presentations and learn to communicate complex ideas to different audiences—technical and non-technical.

Real Market Context

Every month, we analyze a current market situation together. Maybe it's a recent IPO, a company facing activist pressure, or a sector going through disruption. You learn to apply your skills while market dynamics are actually unfolding.

We also bring in occasional guest speakers—portfolio managers, research analysts, CFOs—who share what they look for in analysis and where they see gaps in typical reports. These sessions are informal but incredibly valuable.

Interactive session showing market analysis techniques with real-time data

What Happens After the Program

March 2024 Graduate

Career Transition Over 18 Months

Ingrid Valkenburg finished the program in September 2024 and spent the next several months applying for analyst positions. She landed a role at a mid-sized fund in January 2025. By May, she was covering her own sector and recently told us the program's emphasis on written communication made a bigger difference than she expected.

August 2023 Graduate

Building Internal Credibility

Elwin Bjornstad was already working in corporate finance but wanted to move into investment analysis. He completed the program in February 2024 and gradually started producing internal research notes for his firm. A year later, he's now leading their analysis on potential acquisition targets and says the valuation skills transformed how his colleagues view his contributions.

November 2023 Graduate

Long-Term Skill Application

Freja Lindhout finished in May 2024 and took a different path—she started publishing independent research on emerging Australian tech companies. It took about eight months to build an audience, but by early 2025 several institutional investors were subscribing to her work. She still refers back to program materials when tackling new analytical challenges.

Next Program Starts September 2025

Applications open in June. We keep cohorts small to maintain the quality of feedback and interaction. If you're serious about developing analytical skills that'll serve you for years, let's talk about whether this is the right fit.

View Program Details