We teach analysts to build better models

Started in 2018 because spreadsheets kept breaking. We found that most courses taught theory but skipped the messy parts where real work happens. So we built something different.

Financial analysts collaborating on complex modeling projects
Spreadsheet analysis and financial data review
Professional financial modeling workspace
Our Journey

From frustration to focused learning

The idea came from watching junior analysts struggle with models that looked fine but fell apart when assumptions changed. They knew the formulas but hadn't learned to think about structure. Or how to catch errors before they multiplied through 40 linked sheets.

We started small with weekend workshops in Sydney. Ten people, real datasets, lots of coffee. The approach worked because we focused on common mistakes instead of perfect solutions. People learned faster when they saw what breaks and why.

Now we run programs across Australia. Same practical focus, just more refined. We've taught over 400 analysts since 2020, and the feedback keeps shaping how we teach. Because financial modeling isn't about being clever—it's about being reliable when decisions matter.

What guides our teaching

These aren't mission statements from a strategy meeting. Just principles that keep showing up in how we work.

Real scenarios first

We use actual datasets from Australian companies. Sometimes they're messy. That's the point. You learn more from fixing broken logic than copying clean examples.

Error awareness

Every analyst makes mistakes. The good ones catch them early. We spend time on what goes wrong and how to spot it before your manager does.

Peer learning matters

You'll spend half your time reviewing other people's work. That's how you see different approaches and learn what makes models clear versus confusing.

Meet the instructors

Both came from investment banking. Both got tired of fixing models that shouldn't have broken. Now they teach people to build things that last past the first audit.

Sienna Rutherford, Lead Instructor

Sienna Rutherford

Lead Instructor

Spent eight years at Macquarie before starting melquarion. Built valuation models for mining and infrastructure deals. Now teaches analysts to think about structure before they touch a keyboard.

Ffion Blackwood, Technical Director

Ffion Blackwood

Technical Director

Background in equity research at UBS. Specialized in scenario analysis and sensitivity testing. Designs our curriculum around the questions analysts actually ask when models don't make sense.

Next cohort starts September 2025

Ready to improve your modeling skills?

Our autumn program runs for twelve weeks. Evening sessions, real projects, feedback from people who've built thousands of models. Check what we cover and see if it fits your needs.

View Learning Program
Financial modeling classroom environment with collaborative learning