Practical Finance Learning Materials
We've spent years building resources that actually work for Australian business owners. Not theoretical textbooks, but real tools you can apply tomorrow morning.
Our collection started small—just a few worksheets for clients who kept asking the same questions. Now it's grown into something comprehensive. Templates we use ourselves. Case studies from actual businesses we've worked with. Analysis frameworks that saved companies real money.
Everything here comes from practice, not theory. And it's designed for people who'd rather understand their numbers than memorize formulas.
Core Learning Modules
Eight focused areas that cover what most businesses actually need. Each one builds on real problems we've helped solve over the past decade.
Cash Flow Fundamentals
Understanding where money actually goes in your business. This module cuts through accounting jargon.
- Reading cash flow statements
- Identifying problem patterns
- Forecasting next quarter
- Buffer calculations
Ratio Analysis Basics
The numbers that tell you if things are actually working. Simple ratios that matter.
- Profitability indicators
- Efficiency measurements
- Liquidity checks
- Industry comparisons
Cost Structure Review
Breaking down where your money goes and why. Most businesses are surprised by what they find here.
- Fixed vs variable costs
- Hidden expense tracking
- Breakeven analysis
- Cost reduction strategies
Revenue Patterns
How to spot trends before they become problems. Seasonal business owners especially need this.
- Trend identification
- Seasonal adjustments
- Customer segment analysis
- Growth tracking methods
Investment Assessment
Deciding what's worth spending money on. Equipment, staff, expansion—the framework works for all of it.
- ROI calculations
- Payback period analysis
- Risk evaluation
- Timing considerations
Working Capital Management
The stuff that keeps your business running day to day. Inventory, receivables, payables—all connected.
- Inventory optimization
- Collection strategies
- Payment timing
- Cash conversion cycle
Performance Dashboards
Building your own tracking system. What to watch weekly, monthly, quarterly.
- Key metric selection
- Dashboard design
- Alert thresholds
- Reporting templates
Scenario Planning
Preparing for what might happen. Best case, worst case, and the realistic middle ground.
- Stress testing finances
- Contingency planning
- Growth scenario modeling
- Risk mitigation tactics
Tools You Can Use Right Away
Excel Templates Collection
We've built dozens of spreadsheets over the years. Each one solves a specific problem—cash flow forecasting, break-even calculations, pricing models. They're pre-formatted with formulas that work. You just plug in your numbers. No macros, no fancy stuff. Just useful tools that save you hours of setup time.
Real Case Study Library
Fifteen actual businesses we've worked with. Names changed, obviously. But the numbers are real, the problems were real, and the solutions worked. Each case walks through the analysis process step by step. You can see how we identified issues and what we recommended. Some clients used our advice, some didn't—we show you both outcomes.
Quick Reference Guides
One-page summaries for when you need answers fast. How to calculate working capital. What different ratios mean. When to worry about debt levels. These aren't comprehensive—they're deliberately simplified. Think of them as financial first aid guides. Good enough to help in the moment, detailed enough to point you in the right direction.
Video Walkthroughs
Screen recordings showing how to use the templates. No fancy production, just clear explanations. We recorded these after clients kept asking the same questions. Each video is under ten minutes. Watch them once, you'll probably remember. The goal isn't entertainment—it's getting you working independently as quickly as possible.
Who Creates These Materials
Not a team of academics. Just someone who's been doing this work for Australian businesses since 2012.
Jasper Lindström
Lead Analyst & Developer
I started this because clients kept asking for homework. They'd leave our meetings wanting to understand the analysis themselves, not just trust my conclusions.
So I began writing things down. First just for my own clients. Then other advisors started asking if they could use the materials. By 2018, I'd accumulated enough content to structure it properly.
Most of my background is in retail and hospitality analysis—industries where cash flow problems show up fast and dramatically. That experience taught me to focus on practical warning signs rather than theoretical perfection. The materials reflect that bias toward usefulness over comprehensiveness.
I update everything at least annually. Australian tax rules change, software improves, and I learn better ways to explain things. Nothing here is set in stone. If something doesn't work for students, I revise it. That's happened dozens of times since we started offering these materials publicly in 2020.
- CPA Australia Member
- 12 Years Practice Experience
- SME Specialist
- Newcastle Based