Master Budget Deviation Analysis
Learn practical approaches to financial variance tracking and budgeting methods used across Australian businesses. Our eight-month program starts September 2025 and focuses on real-world application rather than theory alone.
Request InformationProgram Structure
We've designed this course around feedback from finance managers who wanted something between basic bookkeeping courses and MBA-level theory. Eight months gives you time to practice concepts while working.
Foundation Phase
Months 1-2 cover budget fundamentals and variance identification. You'll work with sample data sets from retail, hospitality, and service industries to understand pattern recognition.
Analysis Techniques
Months 3-4 dig into root cause analysis and reporting methods. We use case studies from actual budget failures and successes to show what works in practice versus what looks good on paper.
Tools & Systems
Months 5-6 introduce software tools commonly used in Australian SMEs. You'll practice with spreadsheets, accounting platforms, and reporting dashboards through guided projects.
Applied Project
Months 7-8 involve a capstone project analyzing real anonymized business data. Previous students have tackled everything from construction budget tracking to seasonal retail variance analysis.
What You'll Actually Learn
Different programs focus on different aspects of financial analysis. We've mapped out where our curriculum spends time compared to typical university courses or self-study approaches. This helps you decide if the focus matches what you're looking for.
Who Teaches This Course
Our instructors work in finance roles during the day and teach evenings or weekends. That means course content stays current with what's actually happening in businesses right now.
Hamish spent twelve years as a financial controller before switching to teaching part-time. Felicity manages budgets for a retail chain with seventeen locations. Brennan consults with small manufacturers on cost control.
They've all dealt with budget variances that needed explaining to nervous board members. And they've all seen the difference between analysis that helps versus analysis that just fills reports.
Hamish Drysdale
Teaches foundation concepts and variance calculation. Previously worked with hospitality groups tracking multi-site budget performance.
Felicity Trentham
Focuses on root cause frameworks and reporting. Current experience includes managing seasonal variance patterns in retail environments.
Brennan Ulvaeus
Guides capstone projects and tool implementation. Works with manufacturers on cost variance tracking and production budget analysis.