Budget Planning That Makes Sense for Your Team
Most department heads tell us they feel stuck between what finance wants and what their team actually needs. We've spent years working with Australian businesses to bridge that gap. Our programs focus on practical budgeting skills that translate directly to your workplace.
View Programs Starting July 2026
What You'll Actually Learn Here
No theory-heavy lectures. Just the budgeting skills that department managers use every week.
Forecasting Without Guesswork
You know that moment when finance asks for next quarter's numbers and you're not sure where to start? We break down how to build forecasts using your historical data, seasonal patterns, and realistic growth assumptions.
- Reading trend patterns in your past spending
- Adjusting for known changes ahead
- Building buffer zones that actually make sense
- Presenting numbers finance will accept
Variance Analysis That Helps
When actual spending doesn't match your budget, you need to explain why. And more importantly, what you're doing about it. We show you how to track variances in ways that help you manage better, not just report better.
- Spotting problems before month-end
- Explaining overruns without defensiveness
- Course-correcting mid-quarter
- Building credibility with stakeholders
Resource Allocation Decisions
Every department wants more resources. How do you decide what's actually necessary versus what's nice to have? This is where most managers struggle, and where clear frameworks really help.
- Prioritizing competing needs objectively
- Making trade-off decisions you can defend
- Aligning spending with business goals
- Communicating choices to your team
Kieran Ashworth
Spent 12 years as a finance business partner before moving into education. His sessions focus on what actually works in mid-sized Australian companies.
Niamh Devereux
Former operations manager who built budgets for five departments simultaneously. She gets the challenges of balancing team needs with financial constraints.
Who We Work With
Most of our participants are department heads, team leaders, or project managers who've been handed budget responsibility without much financial training. Maybe you've been managing people for years but the money side still feels uncomfortable.
You're probably fine with day-to-day decisions. But when it comes to annual planning, explaining variances to executives, or justifying new headcount, you wish you had more confidence. That's exactly what we help with.
One marketing director told us she'd been "winging it" with budgets for three years before joining our program. Afterwards, she said the biggest change wasn't the techniques but finally understanding the logic behind finance's requests.
Our programs run over several months because this stuff takes time to absorb. You'll apply what you learn to your actual budget, get feedback, adjust, and try again. That's how skills stick.
How Our Programs Actually Work
We've tried many formats over the years. Here's what we've settled on because it gets results.
Foundation Workshop
Two full days where we cover budgeting fundamentals. Not accounting theory, but the practical framework you need. You'll leave with templates and a basic budget draft for your department.
Monthly Practice Sessions
Once a month for six months, we meet to work through real scenarios. You bring your current challenges, we problem-solve together. This is where most of the learning happens because you're working with actual numbers from your business.
Individual Coaching
Three one-on-one sessions where we review your specific budget situation. Maybe you're dealing with a tricky variance explanation or planning a difficult resource request. We help you prepare.
Ongoing Support
After the formal program ends, you can still reach out when you hit budget challenges. Most participants check in a few times a year when they're doing annual planning or facing unusual situations.