Build Models That Actually Work in Practice
I spent 12 years fixing broken financial models before realizing most professionals never got proper training. The spreadsheets I'd see had good intentions but questionable execution—formulas that broke when you changed inputs, assumptions buried six tabs deep, scenarios that didn't quite connect.
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What Makes a Model Actually Reliable
You can't just throw numbers into Excel and call it analysis. Real financial models need structure, transparency, and enough flexibility to survive contact with actual business decisions. Here's what separates working models from wishful thinking.
Architecture That Holds Up
Most models collapse when you start stress-testing assumptions. We build structures that can handle multiple scenarios without breaking—proper input segregation, clear calculation flows, outputs that actually answer the questions being asked.
Valuation Methods That Connect
DCF, comparable company analysis, precedent transactions—knowing when each approach matters and how to triangulate between them. Plus understanding which metrics actually drive decisions in different industries and market conditions.
Financial Statement Integration
The three statements need to balance automatically—not through circular references or plug formulas. Working capital movements should flow correctly, depreciation should hit both P&L and cash flow properly, and debt schedules should update without manual adjustments.
How We Actually Teach This Stuff
Forget watching someone click through Excel for six hours. Our approach focuses on building real models for actual business situations—then tearing them apart to understand why they work or where they'd fail.
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Start With Broken Examples
We give you models that look fine but have subtle problems. Finding and fixing them teaches more than building from scratch ever could. You learn what goes wrong in real situations.
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Build Industry-Specific Cases
SaaS businesses need different modeling approaches than manufacturing operations or property developments. We cover frameworks that actually apply to specific business models and capital structures.
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Stress Test Everything
Models are only useful if they help with decisions under uncertainty. We push scenarios to extremes, break assumptions deliberately, and see what insights emerge when things go sideways.
The Development Path
Financial modeling skill builds in stages. You can't jump straight to complex LBO models without understanding how operational drivers flow through to enterprise value. Here's how the progression actually works.
Foundation Mechanics (Weeks 1-4)
Building clean three-statement models that balance automatically. Understanding working capital cycles, depreciation schedules, and debt servicing. Getting comfortable with Excel functions that matter and avoiding ones that create problems.
Valuation Frameworks (Weeks 5-8)
DCF construction from operating assumptions through to terminal value. Understanding when WACC calculations matter and when they're just noise. Building comparable company analyses that account for actual differences between businesses.
Transaction Modeling (Weeks 9-14)
M&A accretion analysis, LBO models with proper capital structures, refinancing scenarios. Understanding how deal structures affect returns and what levers actually matter in negotiations.
Industry Applications (Weeks 15-20)
Sector-specific modeling approaches for technology, real estate, infrastructure, and resources. Understanding which metrics matter in different industries and how to structure analysis appropriately.
What You'll Actually Be Able To Do
This isn't about certificates or credentials—it's about building models that hold up under scrutiny and support real decisions. By the end of the program, you should be able to analyze businesses confidently and communicate financial implications clearly.
- Construct integrated financial models that balance properly and handle complex scenarios without breaking
- Value companies using appropriate methodologies and understand when different approaches matter
- Analyze transaction structures and understand how deal terms affect returns under different scenarios
- Present financial analysis clearly to stakeholders who need to make decisions based on your work
