Building Financial Models That Actually Work
We started this program in 2023 after spending years helping Vietnamese businesses clean up financial messes. Most companies here struggle with forecasting because they're using spreadsheets built for different markets. Our approach focuses on real business scenarios — from seasonal cash flow in retail to multi-currency operations in manufacturing.
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What You'll Learn Over Six Months
Our next cohort starts September 2025. Classes run Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with optional Saturday workshops for complex topics. We keep groups small — usually 12-15 people — so everyone gets time to work through their actual business challenges.
Foundations and Structure
We start with the basics because most financial models fail at this stage. You'll learn how to organize data properly, build assumptions that hold up under pressure, and create structures that don't break when numbers change. Takes about four weeks.
Revenue and Cost Patterns
Different businesses have different patterns. A coffee chain in Hanoi operates differently from a textile factory in Binh Duong. We spend six weeks looking at various revenue models and cost behaviors, using real cases from Vietnamese companies.
Cash Flow Reality
Profit on paper doesn't pay bills. This module focuses on tracking actual money movement — when it comes in, when it goes out, and what happens in between. We work through seasonal fluctuations and payment timing issues specific to Vietnam's business environment.
Scenario Planning
Things rarely go according to plan. You'll build models that can handle different outcomes — what if sales drop by 20%, what if suppliers increase prices, what if you need to expand faster than expected. This is where models become actually useful.
Investment Decisions
Should you buy that equipment? Open a new location? Hire more staff? We cover the frameworks for making these decisions, including how to present them to partners or investors who might not understand financial jargon.
Your Actual Business
The final month is dedicated to building a complete model for your own business or a company you're analyzing. You'll present it to the group and get feedback from both instructors and peers who've been working through similar challenges.
Who's Teaching This
We're a small team who've spent the last decade working with Vietnamese businesses. No consultants who fly in for a week — just people who understand the local market because we work here full-time.
Heston Brimley
Lead Instructor
Spent eight years at a Hanoi-based investment firm before starting to teach. Has built financial models for everything from tech startups to construction companies. Still does consulting work, which keeps the course material grounded in current problems.
Marlin Zephyr
Manufacturing Specialist
Worked as CFO for a mid-size manufacturing company in the Mekong Delta region. Joins us for the modules on cost structures and inventory management. Good at explaining complex production economics in ways that make sense.
Quillan Frost
Growth Analysis Expert
Background in retail and hospitality sectors. Specializes in multi-location businesses and franchise models. Handles the scenario planning module and helps with the final project presentations. Previously ran financial planning for a restaurant group with 18 locations.