Comparative Analysis Projects
You'll compare competitors in the same industry, learning to adjust for different accounting policies and identify which company's numbers are more reliable.
Master Financial Analysis Through Real-World Practice
Learning to read financial statements isn't about memorizing formulas. It's about developing the judgment to spot what matters and the confidence to explain what you've found. Our September 2025 cohort starts with real company data from day one.
Built on Fundamentals That Last
14
Weeks of structured learning with live analysis sessions twice weekly throughout autumn 2025
18
Maximum cohort size to ensure everyone gets individual feedback on their analysis work
40+
Real company statements you'll examine, including some that looked healthy before they weren't
What You'll Actually Learn
We don't rush through topics. Each phase builds on what came before, and you won't move forward until the current concepts make sense. Some students finish in 14 weeks. Others take 18. What matters is developing solid analytical judgment.
01
Statement Structure & Context
Before analyzing anything, you need to understand what you're looking at. We start with how balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements connect to each other. You'll learn why the same number can mean different things depending on industry and business model.
Balance Sheet Logic
Revenue Recognition
Cash vs Accrual
Industry Norms
02
Ratio Analysis Without The Noise
Ratios are tools, not answers. This phase focuses on which ratios matter for specific questions and how to interpret them in context. You'll practice spotting when impressive-looking numbers hide problems and when concerning ratios might actually be fine.
Liquidity Assessment
Profitability Trends
Leverage Analysis
Operational Efficiency
03
Pattern Recognition & Red Flags
Financial manipulation often leaves traces. This section teaches you what normal variation looks like versus what suggests creative accounting. We examine real cases where warning signs appeared in statements months before problems became public.
Quality of Earnings
Working Capital Changes
Off-Balance Sheet Items
Footnote Analysis
04
Communication & Presentation
Understanding financial data means nothing if you can't explain what you found. The final phase focuses on translating technical analysis into clear explanations for different audiences. You'll practice presenting findings to people who don't want to hear about EBITDA margins.
Executive Summaries
Visual Data
Presentation Assumption
Documentation Recommendation Frameworks
Learning That Connects to Real Work
This program exists because employers keep telling us they need people who can actually read financial statements, not just run formulas in Excel. Every assignment mirrors something you'd encounter in a finance role.
Historical Pattern Studies
Working with five years of data from real companies, you'll track how financial health changed over time and practice identifying turning points.
Presentation Workshops
Regular practice explaining your analysis to peers helps develop the communication skills that separate competent analysts from valuable ones.
What Past Participants Say
I came in thinking financial analysis was all about calculations. Three weeks in, I realized the math part is actually the easy bit. Learning to ask the right questions and spot inconsistencies between different statement sections — that's what the program really taught me. Now when I review financials at work, I notice things my colleagues miss.