Master Financial Control Through Budget Analysis

Running a business means making hundreds of financial decisions every week. Most people struggle because they don't actually understand where their money goes versus where they planned for it to go.

Our upcoming courses teach you how to spot budget deviations before they become problems. We focus on practical analysis techniques that work for Australian businesses of all sizes.

Financial analysis workspace with budget reports and planning documents
Bronwyn Callaghan, Lead Financial Instructor

Bronwyn Callaghan

15 years analysing business budgets. Previously worked with mid-size manufacturers in Melbourne dealing with variance issues.

What You'll Actually Learn

  • Budget Variance Analysis: How to identify meaningful deviations from planned spending. We show you which variances matter and which ones don't need immediate attention.
  • Forecasting Adjustments: When your actual spending differs from predictions, you need to adjust future forecasts. We teach the maths and the thinking behind it.
  • Cost Category Tracking: Different expense categories behave differently. Labour costs deviate differently than material costs. You'll learn to track each properly.
  • Reporting Systems: Build reports that show deviation patterns over time. Your reports should tell a story, not just list numbers.
  • Decision Frameworks: What do you do when you spot a deviation? We teach structured approaches to investigating and responding to budget variances.
Saskia Lindgren, Budget Systems Specialist

Saskia Lindgren

Built deviation tracking systems for retail chains across NSW. Specialises in turning spreadsheet chaos into clear insights.

Course Schedule for 2025-2026

We run three comprehensive programmes each year. Each course builds on real business scenarios from Australian companies.

September 2025 - November 2025

Budget Deviation Fundamentals

Perfect if you're new to formal budget analysis or want to strengthen your foundation. We start with basic variance calculations and build up to pattern recognition.

You'll work with sample budgets from retail, services, and manufacturing businesses. By week six, you'll be analysing real deviations and suggesting corrections.

  • 12 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday evenings
  • Hybrid format: attend in Darlinghurst or join online
  • Includes workbook with 40+ practice scenarios
Students reviewing budget variance reports during course session

February 2026 - April 2026

Advanced Variance Analysis

For people who already do budget analysis but want to handle complex situations better. We cover multi-department budgets, seasonal adjustments, and variance forecasting.

The second half focuses on communication—how to present deviation analysis to managers who aren't finance people. You'll learn to translate numbers into business language.

  • 10 weeks intensive format, full Saturdays
  • Small groups (max 12 participants)
  • Guest speakers from CFO roles sharing real examples

June 2026 - August 2026

Budget Systems Implementation

This one's about building the infrastructure. You'll learn to design deviation tracking systems that actually get used, not ignored.

We cover software selection, process design, and team training. The final project involves creating a complete budget monitoring system for a business type of your choice.

  • 8 weeks, flexible schedule with online modules
  • Includes software tutorials for common platforms
  • Final project reviewed by practising financial managers
Financial dashboard showing budget tracking system interface

Registration Opens July 2025

We limit class sizes to maintain quality. Early registration gets priority for time slot selection and format preference. If you want to strengthen your budget analysis skills with practical training, get in touch.

Contact Us About Courses