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Industry insights

The missing links in your professional development

Ever have to Google something new before a big meeting, new project, or first shift in a new role? Wade through confusing and conflicting resources? And then pretend you actually know what you’re on about? There is a better way. Enhanced online-based short courses are your key to learning what you need to know as quickly and effectively as possible. And they work a heck of a lot better than experiential learning (learning by doing) alone.

Non-accredited courses have an important place in your professional development. Thanks to agile development, they’re incredibly up to date and reflective of contemporary conditions. Short courses directly address the learning outcomes and constraints of the individual student. In other words, they’re not too long, and not too short.

Reading financial statements – an essential skill for strategy professionals

There’s no two ways about it: understanding a company’s value means getting to know its financial statements. No media release, news story, statement from a director or cool website can tell you as much about where a company is headed. Getting in to the detail of a financial statement is a must-do if you’re:

  • Analysing a potential investment
  • Providing formal investment advice
  • Consulting with a new organisation
  • Conducting market research
  • Conducting holistic fundamental analysis
  • Trying to understand the nature of a business
  • Providing management advice

Financial statements are where you can cut past all the fluff and spin, and see what kind of results the company is really achieving. Whether you’re a consultant, a manager with strategy oversight, or a professional with investment advice responsibilities, you’ve got to know what you’re looking for.

Next steps

Looking for a way to get to grips with financial statements, without becoming a management accountant? Monarch Institute’s Navigating Financial Statements short course is the result of decades of development and refinement with finance industry stakeholders and clients including major banks. Because it’s 100% flexible and online, it’s the perfect just-in-time professional education solution.

 

 

 

Sources: psc.isr.umich.edu, lmip.gov.au

Meet your trainers

You'll be guided and supported by experts and thought leaders
Simon Slade-Betts
Trainer "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
– Chinese Proverb et al

I’m the Accounting/Bookkeeping Course Co-ordinator, and a trainer and assessor, here at Monarch Institute. I’ve got quite a few years’ experience as an accounting trainer and assessor with Australia’s largest RTO colleges.

As a Certified Practising Accountant (Fellow), I’ve got over 37 years’ accounting and business experience. I’ve worked both locally and overseas, across diverse industries, with some of the world’s largest multinational corporations. In these roles, I have held directorships, senior financial management and company secretarial positions. This means I’ve had responsibility for all aspects of accounting and finance.

My experience in accounting and finance is complemented by more than 18 years’ involvement in the IT industry. I’m still working in the industry, with Australia’s leading software provider, to deliver specialised business software training to business operators in the SME sector.

What makes me jump out of bed each morning?

The opportunity to help make the world a better place by helping educate and encourage learners and business operators to achieve their goals. But just before I do all of that, I’m a coffee lover, so the enticement of a great morning coffee also helps a lot!

Cynthia Shannon
Trainer "If you look at what you have in life, you’ll always have more. If you look at what you don’t have in
life, you’ll never have enough."
– Oprah Winfrey

I hold a Bachelor of Economics (Monash) and a Master of Commerce (Hons) (Uni Melbourne). I’ve lectured at the AGSM, University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Whittier College in California over a period of 35 years. I’ve taught accounting and finance in Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia, and financial planning in Australia and Singapore. I have worked for BBL Funds Management Ltd, a specialist index fund manager, providing training and education support to financial planners. To top that all off, I’ve also held a Certified Financial Planning (CFP) designation while practising as a financial planner.

I am currently the Head of Teaching and Learning at Monarch Institute. As a trainer, I hold a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. I have written a chapter for an Australian text book titled Personal Finance, first published by John Wiley and Sons in 2001. My other publications include written course materials for the RMIT Master of Finance and Monarch Institute.

Nick Chapman
Trainer "Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."
- Vince Lombardi

I joined Monarch Institute in December 2015. Prior to joining the Monarch team, I was the General Manager of Rockwell Financial Services Group’s consumer investment business. I joined Rockwell after 10 years at the Bennelong Group, one of Australia’s leading private equity and funds management groups.

During my time at Bennelong, I held various positions including General Manager and Director of Aurora Media in Dubai, Director of i-comm Media in London, CEO of Crown Content in Melbourne. My time there culminated in my appointment to the position of Group General Manager.

I have also held positions at various charitable organisations, including the Bennelong Foundation and the Butterfly Foundation. I hold a double degree in Law and Commerce, and am a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

What makes me jump out of bed each morning?

I love sport and I’m passionate about fixing things myself. I’m pretty handy with a drill. I’m a half-glass full person, so I focus on the times my handy work results were “well received” by my partner. The time I needed to call out an emergency tradesman, … well I focus on the positives.  I love cooking, particularly I enjoy preparing slow cooked stews for my partner, daughter, family and friends.

Ross Anderson
Mentor "Those who are in love with learning are in love with life."
– Charles Handy

I have had a long career as a consulting psychologist, as well as holding senior roles in Australian business schools. Through this, I have become an experienced designer, developer and facilitator of a broad range of development initiatives for a large range of organisations.

I was formerly the Director of Executive Education at the Melbourne Business School at Mt Eliza. In this role, I took responsibility for public sector executive education for current and future leaders across Australia and the Pacific region. I have also managed large complex change initiatives in defence, health, the public sector, and utilities. One highlight was when I was responsible for a global project with BHP Billiton. Through my work I’ve developed a deep interest in working with families in business. I bring my broad range of experience to this often complex and challenging area.

As an executive coach, I bring my rich background as a consulting psychologist and expertise with standardised assessment instruments to tailor unique interventions for executives. I’m particularly interested in peak performance and in managing work and whole of life balance, resilience and motivation.

In my primary career as a psychologist I became a leader in the field of trauma management and crisis response. My trauma work included the armed and emergency services, employing organisations and primary and secondary victims.

Josh Wilson
Mentor "Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless."
– Jamie Paolinetti

I am a qualified financial planner with tertiary and vocational qualifications in financial planning and law. I’ve had 17 years of experience in the financial planning and wealth management industry. I have worked as a financial planner for a large Australian bank and boutique wealth management firm for over 10 years, and prior to that, as a fund accountant for a London-based asset manager.

What makes me jump out of bed each morning?

I am usually woken up by my three children first! I get excited to see my heirloom tomatoes growing strongly in spring. I love cooking at home on the weekend, hanging out in the park with my wife and three children, and I’m a mad (suffering) Carlton supporter.

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What short course would you like to study?

You deserve a professional development option that suits your busy schedule. Whether you’re upskilling, retraining or just staying curious, Monarch Institute short courses are a great fit. They’re packed with practical strategies and real-world examples. Plus they’re free of all that industry jargon and academic waffle.

Check out our current course options below. Can’t decide where to get started? Get in touch with a course consultant now to discuss your next move.

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Short courses

Not ready for a full qualification? Need specific professional development? Want just-in-time training for an upcoming project? Whatever’s driving you, congrats on taking the next step in your learning. Short courses are perfect for focusing on the specific skill sets you need to get ahead.

You deserve a learning experience that leaves you with knowledge you can actually use at work – not just a piece of paper. That’s why Monarch Institute short courses are developed in consultation with industry stakeholders, and constantly refined to stay up to date. For example, Navigating Financial Statements is the result of over 20 years’ work. It’s been tailored to meet the learning needs of partner organisations like big banks.

Don’t see what you’re looking for right now? We’re constantly developing new short courses in response to industry demands. It’s all part of our commitment to invest in innovative, real-world learning. Check back soon, or get in touch to discuss your training needs.

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