Learn Finance Communication From People Who've Actually Done It
Our program isn't built on theory pulled from textbooks. It's designed by financial managers who spent years figuring out how to talk about money in ways that actually work. We'll show you what we learned the hard way so you don't have to.
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Who's Teaching You
Meet the people who'll guide you through this. Both have managed real financial teams and dealt with actual stakeholder conversations that went wrong before they went right.
Briony Keswick
Lead Instructor
Briony ran finance operations for mid-sized companies across Sydney and Melbourne for twelve years. She's seen budget presentations bomb and recovery plans fall flat because the numbers weren't communicated properly. Now she teaches managers how to present financial information without losing their audience in the first five minutes.
Saskia Thorne
Senior Mentor
Saskia spent fifteen years managing finance teams and training new managers on stakeholder engagement. She's particularly good at breaking down complex reporting structures into conversations that non-finance people can follow. Her sessions focus heavily on real scenarios she encountered while working across retail and manufacturing sectors.
What You'll Actually Learn
Foundation Phase
Weeks 1-4
We start with how to structure financial conversations for different audiences. You'll work on turning budget reports into briefings that executives can digest quickly, and practice explaining variances without making people defensive. This phase focuses on audience analysis and message framing.
Presentation Building
Weeks 5-8
Here's where we tackle the actual delivery. You'll create presentations based on real financial scenarios and practice delivering them to mock stakeholder groups. We cover everything from board-level forecasts to team budget briefings. Expect detailed feedback on what's working and what's confusing your audience.
Conflict Navigation
Weeks 9-12
This is probably the toughest section. We simulate difficult conversations around budget cuts, project funding rejections, and cost overrun discussions. You'll learn how to hold your ground on financial constraints while maintaining working relationships. It's uncomfortable at times, but that's kind of the point.
Integration Practice
Weeks 13-16
Final phase brings it all together with complex case studies. You'll handle multi-stakeholder scenarios that require you to adjust your communication approach on the fly. We also cover written communication at this stage, including how to write financial memos and reports that people will actually read.
How We Actually Teach This
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Small Group Work
Classes max out at twelve people. We tried larger groups early on and the quality dropped noticeably. You need space to practice and get individual feedback when you're working on communication skills.
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Real Scenario Practice
Every exercise uses actual financial situations we've encountered or our students have brought to us. Generic role-plays don't prepare you for the specific pressures of financial conversations. We use cases that reflect the messiness of real work environments.
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Video Review Sessions
You'll record your presentations and we'll review them together. It's awkward watching yourself present, but it's the fastest way to spot habits that undermine your message. We focus on specific moments where communication breaks down and work on alternatives.
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Ongoing Support
After the program ends, you get six months of access to monthly review sessions. Bring real situations you're dealing with and we'll workshop them together. Most students find this followup support particularly valuable as they apply what they learned.
Step-by-Step Communication Tools
Beyond the classroom work, you'll get practical frameworks you can use immediately. These aren't complicated models, just straightforward approaches that help structure your thinking before important conversations.
Pre-Meeting Prep Template
A simple checklist that walks you through audience analysis, key message identification, and potential objection planning. Takes about fifteen minutes but significantly improves meeting outcomes.
Variance Explanation Framework
Step-by-step guide for explaining budget variances without getting defensive. Covers how to present context, acknowledge concerns, and propose adjustments in a logical sequence.
Stakeholder Mapping Guide
Tool for identifying who needs what information and when. Helps you tailor communication approach based on stakeholder priorities and communication preferences.
Financial Report Builder
Templates for common financial communications including monthly reports, forecast updates, and project cost summaries. Designed to highlight information executives actually need.
Difficult Conversation Scripts
Language examples for common challenging situations like budget rejections, resource constraints, and project delays. These give you a starting point rather than freezing up in the moment.
Presentation Review Checklist
Self-assessment tool for reviewing your financial presentations before delivery. Catches common issues like information overload, unclear recommendations, and missing context.