Financial Analysis Certification Program
A comprehensive 18-week program designed for investment professionals seeking advanced analytical skills. We focus on real portfolio scenarios, not theoretical exercises.
What You'll Actually Learn
We built this curriculum around questions that kept coming up during client consultations. The modules address actual analytical challenges investment professionals encounter — things like interpreting contradictory indicators or adjusting models when market conditions shift.
Fundamental Analysis
Learn to dissect financial statements beyond the obvious ratios. We examine how companies manipulate EBITDA, when working capital trends signal trouble, and what footnotes reveal.
- Reading cash flow statements for red flags
- Adjusting earnings for one-time items
- Competitive positioning analysis
- Management quality assessment techniques
Valuation Methods
Move beyond plug-and-chug DCF models. We explore when different valuation approaches work, how to handle negative earnings, and building defensible assumptions.
- Multi-stage DCF construction and sensitivity
- Comparable company analysis frameworks
- Terminal value calculation approaches
- Sector-specific valuation adjustments
Market Analysis
Technical and behavioral patterns that actually show up in professional portfolios. We study momentum indicators, volume analysis, and how institutional flows impact pricing.
- Trend identification and confirmation
- Support and resistance level analysis
- Volume pattern interpretation
- Market sentiment indicators
Risk Assessment
Quantifying risk beyond standard deviation. We analyze tail risks, correlation breakdowns during stress, liquidity constraints, and portfolio concentration effects.
- VaR and CVaR calculation methods
- Stress testing portfolio scenarios
- Factor exposure analysis
- Drawdown management strategies
Economic Context
How macro conditions filter down to individual securities. We examine yield curves, inflation expectations, central bank policy impacts, and sector rotation patterns.
- Economic indicator interpretation
- Interest rate impact modeling
- Currency effects on valuations
- Sector cycle positioning
Portfolio Construction
Translating analysis into actual position sizing. We work through optimization constraints, rebalancing triggers, transaction cost considerations, and client mandate alignment.
- Mean-variance optimization applications
- Position sizing methodologies
- Rebalancing frequency decisions
- Tax-efficient portfolio management
Program Instructors
Both instructors currently manage institutional portfolios. They teach one semester per year, bringing recent market experiences directly into the classroom.
Nadira Voss
Lead Instructor — Equity Analysis
Nadira spent 14 years as a sell-side analyst covering Australian industrials before moving to a Sydney-based fund. She's known for detailed forensic accounting work and has testified in two shareholder litigation cases.
Coraline Perth
Portfolio Management Instructor
Coraline manages a concentrated value portfolio for institutional clients. She previously worked in risk management at a major Australian bank, which shapes her emphasis on downside protection and position sizing discipline.
Program Timeline & Structure
The program runs over 18 weeks with a blended format. Tuesday evenings are live sessions (either in-person at our Wollongong location or via video). Weekends include recorded lectures and case study work you complete at your own pace.
Foundation Phase
Financial statement analysis and basic valuation frameworks. We establish common analytical vocabulary and work through four company case studies together.
4 live sessions + 16 hours self-paced workAdvanced Analysis
Deep dives into sector-specific analysis, risk modeling, and technical patterns. You'll present one stock thesis to the class for feedback during this phase.
6 live sessions + 30 hours self-paced workPortfolio Integration
Building full portfolio models with multiple positions, rebalancing rules, and risk constraints. Guest portfolio managers review your work during weeks 13 and 14.
5 live sessions + 25 hours self-paced workCapstone Project
Present a complete investment thesis with portfolio fit analysis to a panel. The panel includes working portfolio managers who evaluate based on professional standards.
3 sessions + presentation preparationSeptember 2025 Intake
Starts September 9, 2025