Master Financial Analysis Beyond the Spreadsheet
Learn how senior analysts actually work—reading between the lines of financial statements, spotting patterns that signal trouble or opportunity, and building models that answer real questions instead of just producing numbers.
Explore Our CurriculumHow vionift Evolved
We started teaching spreadsheet formulas. Then we noticed something—students knew the functions but couldn't explain what the numbers meant. That changed everything.
The Beginning
vionift started as a weekend workshop series in Sydney. Three of us—former equity researchers who'd moved into different roles—kept hearing the same thing from junior analysts: they could build complex models but struggled to explain what drove the numbers. We figured we could help with that.
Rethinking the Approach
By 2021, we'd taught over 400 people. But something wasn't clicking. Students loved the technical content, yet many still felt unprepared for real analytical work. So we tore up our curriculum and rebuilt it around actual company cases—messy financials, incomplete data, ambiguous situations. The kind of work analysts actually do.
Where We Are Now
Today, vionift runs structured programs that blend technical skills with analytical judgment. We teach people to read financial statements the way experienced analysts do—looking for consistency, questioning assumptions, and understanding what management isn't saying. Our next intake starts September 2025.
What makes this different from online courses?
Most online courses teach formulas and functions. We focus on judgment—how to decide which analysis matters, what assumptions to test, and how to communicate findings to people who make decisions. You'll work through real company situations where the right answer isn't obvious.
See the curriculumDo I need an accounting background?
No, but you should be comfortable reading financial statements. We assume you know what revenue and EBITDA mean, but we don't assume you've built complex models or done equity research. Most of our students come from corporate finance, consulting, or operational roles.
Learn more about prerequisitesHow much time does this require?
Plan on 6-8 hours per week over eight months. That includes live sessions, case work, and independent analysis. We've designed it for people with full-time jobs—sessions run evenings and some weekends, and everything is recorded if you can't attend live.
Will this help me get a job?
That's up to you and the job market. What we can say: you'll develop skills that employers value—the ability to analyze complex situations, build defensible models, and communicate financial insights clearly. Several past students have moved into equity research or FP&A roles, but we don't track placement rates or promise outcomes.
What's Changing in Financial Analysis
The tools keep getting better, but the core skill hasn't changed—understanding what drives business performance and translating that into financial projections people can use.
- AI tools now extract data from documents in seconds. But someone still needs to know which data matters and how to interpret it.
- More companies share alternative metrics. Analysts need to assess whether these tell a better story than GAAP numbers—or just a more convenient one.
- Remote work means more written analysis. Being able to explain your thinking clearly has become as important as the analysis itself.
- Stakeholders want scenario analysis, not single-point forecasts. Building flexible models that answer "what if" questions is now standard work.
What You'll Actually Learn
We've organized the curriculum around skills that took us years to develop in professional roles. You won't master everything in eight months, but you'll have a solid foundation to build on.
Statement Analysis
Reading financial statements for what they reveal about business quality—spotting accounting choices, understanding cash flow patterns, and identifying potential problems before they become obvious.
Due Diligence Methods
How to investigate a company beyond its filings—understanding competitive position, verifying management claims, and assessing risks that don't show up in financial statements.
Valuation Frameworks
Building valuation models that reflect business reality—choosing appropriate methodologies, testing key assumptions, and understanding how different approaches can lead to different conclusions.
Industry Context
Learning to analyze companies within their competitive context—understanding industry economics, regulatory factors, and how business models differ across sectors.
Communication Skills
Presenting analysis clearly to different audiences—writing concise memos, building effective presentations, and explaining complex findings to stakeholders who need to make decisions.
Model Construction
Building financial models that are transparent, flexible, and useful—proper structure, clear assumptions, and documentation that others can follow and audit.