Reading Between the Balance Sheets
Last month, I spent three hours staring at a client's quarterly reports before realizing the story wasn't in the numbers themselves. Sometimes the patterns matter more than individual figures.
Financial Data Insights & Learning
Real stories from people working with numbers every day. We share what works, what doesn't, and what we're still figuring out about making sense of financial information in 2025.
Recent Perspectives
When Cash Flow Doesn't Tell the Whole Story
Positive cash flow looks great on paper. But I've seen businesses with healthy cash positions struggle because timing was off by just two weeks.
The Data Points Nobody Talks About
Everyone focuses on revenue and profit margins. Fair enough. But some of the most useful information sits in footnotes and operating expense ratios that most people skip over.
Learning Path: Data Interpretation Fundamentals
We've broken down our autumn 2025 program into progressive modules. Each one builds on what came before, and honestly, you'll need to work through them in order for things to make sense.
Foundation Documents
Start with the basics. Income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports. We'll spend three weeks just getting comfortable reading these without feeling overwhelmed.
Comparative Analysis
Looking at one report tells you almost nothing. You need context. This module covers quarter-over-quarter analysis and how to spot trends that actually matter.
Real-World Applications
Theory only gets you so far. We work with actual financial documents from various industries to practice identifying issues, opportunities, and red flags that show up in practice.
Practitioner Insights
Lachlan Crawford
Financial Analyst
Why Most People Misread Financial Reports
After reviewing hundreds of financial documents, I've noticed the same mistake keeps coming up. People look at individual numbers without considering the relationships between them. A high revenue figure means nothing if you don't check the corresponding costs. And profit margins tell different stories depending on industry norms. The context is everything, but it takes time to build that intuition.
Roland Kemp
Data Educator
Teaching Financial Literacy Without the Jargon
The biggest challenge in financial education is cutting through the terminology. Students get intimidated by words like "EBITDA" and "working capital ratio" before they even understand what problems these concepts solve. I've found more success starting with real scenarios - like figuring out if a business can afford new equipment - and then introducing the formal terms once people understand why they need them.
Quick Reference Library
Short explanations and links to deeper dives when you need them
Financial Ratios Guide
Liquidity, profitability, and efficiency ratios explained with examples from Australian businesses
Read MoreReport Analysis Checklist
What to look for first when reviewing financial statements for the first time
View ChecklistTrend Spotting Techniques
How to identify meaningful patterns across multiple reporting periods
Learn HowCommon Interpretation Errors
Mistakes we see frequently and how to avoid making them yourself
See ExamplesUpcoming Learning Sessions
Foundation Workshop: Reading Financial Statements
Six-week introductory program covering the fundamental documents and what they tell you about business health. We'll work through real examples and build practical skills for everyday analysis.
Five Dock Learning Centre
Tuesday evenings, 6:30-8:30pm
Limited to 12 participants
Advanced Session: Comparative Analysis Methods
For those who've completed foundation work. Focus on multi-period analysis, industry benchmarking, and developing your own frameworks for evaluation. Requires prerequisite knowledge.
Online via video conference
Four consecutive Saturdays, 10am-1pm
Maximum 8 participants
Industry-Specific Financial Interpretation
Different sectors have different financial characteristics. This three-week program examines how to adjust your analysis approach for retail, manufacturing, and service businesses.
Hybrid format available
Monday and Wednesday, 7-9pm
Rolling admissions