These aren't hypothetical case studies. Every project here represents actual budgeting solutions built by people who came through our program. Some started with spreadsheet basics. Others had accounting backgrounds but wanted to level up their strategic thinking.
Built a quarterly forecasting system for a manufacturing client struggling with seasonal cash flow gaps. The dashboard flags potential shortfalls eight weeks ahead, giving management actual time to adjust.
Cost Analysis • Forecasting Models
Created a zero-based budgeting framework for a retail chain expanding into three new regions. Each location manager can now track variance against targets without constantly emailing finance.
Zero-Based Budgeting • Regional Analysis
Developed a scenario planning tool for a tech startup burning through seed funding. Three different growth models with breakeven calculations that actually helped them secure Series A.
Scenario Planning • Startup FinanceMost students start in September 2025 or February 2026. The first month is usually uncomfortable. You're learning budget terminology while simultaneously building your first forecasting model.
Around week six, something clicks. People stop asking "what formula do I use" and start asking "which approach makes sense for this business." That shift matters more than any technical skill.
By month four, students are working with actual small businesses in the Reading and Wokingham area. Real budgets with real consequences. Some projects succeed beautifully. Others reveal gaps in planning that need fixing. Both teach you more than any textbook exercise.
Learning the vocabulary and basic structures. Fixed versus variable costs. Operating budgets versus capital budgets. Most people find this stage tedious but necessary.
Paired with a local business to build an actual budget. You'll spend hours understanding their revenue patterns before touching a spreadsheet. Some students describe this as the hardest part of the program.
Rolling forecasts, variance analysis, scenario modeling. The technical side gets more complex, but you've got enough context now to understand why each tool matters.
Documenting your work in ways that make sense to potential employers. Explaining not just what you built, but why you made specific decisions along the way.
We run two intakes each year. Autumn session begins September 15th. Spring intake starts February 3rd, 2026. Limited to eighteen students per group because that's what works for the hands-on approach.
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