Financial Forecasting Mastery Program
Learning to manage business finances isn't something you pick up overnight. Our eight-month program starting in September 2025 takes you through the actual methods Malaysian businesses use to plan budgets and track performance.
You'll work with real datasets from local companies—anonymized, of course—and learn the tools professionals actually use. No shortcuts or quick fixes here. Just solid, practical training that builds your skills step by step.
We've designed this for people who want to understand financial planning without the usual business school fluff. It's direct, hands-on, and taught by folks who've spent years doing this work in the Malaysian market.
What You'll Actually Learn
Three core areas that form the foundation of financial planning. We cover each one thoroughly, with plenty of practice time and real examples from Malaysian businesses.
Budget Construction
Start with zero-based budgeting methods and work your way up to rolling forecasts. You'll learn how to build budgets that actually reflect business realities, not just spreadsheet fantasies. Most weeks include a practical exercise using anonymized data from Malaysian SMEs.
Cash Flow Analysis
Understanding where money comes from and where it goes sounds simple—until you're three months into a project and everything's off track. We teach you how to spot warning signs early and adjust forecasts based on what's actually happening, not what you hoped would happen.
Scenario Planning
Markets change. Costs fluctuate. Clients delay payments. You'll learn to build multiple financial scenarios so businesses can prepare for different outcomes. This part of the program focuses heavily on Malaysian market conditions and common challenges local businesses face.
Program Structure
Eight months divided into four phases. Each phase builds on what came before, with regular assignments and feedback sessions to keep you on track.
Fundamentals & Tools
Getting comfortable with the basic concepts and software. We use Excel extensively—yes, Excel, because that's what most Malaysian businesses actually use. You'll also learn some Google Sheets techniques for collaborative work.
Applied Budgeting
This is where things get interesting. You'll work on actual budget creation projects using real company data. We've partnered with several Kuantan businesses who've shared their financials for educational purposes. It's challenging but incredibly valuable.
Forecasting Methods
Moving from historical analysis to future planning. You'll learn multiple forecasting approaches and when to use each one. Some work better for retail, others for services. We cover what's appropriate for different business types.
Capstone Project
Your final project involves creating a complete financial plan for a simulated business scenario. You'll present it to a panel that includes working finance professionals. It's nerve-wracking but excellent preparation for real-world presentations.
Your Lead Instructor
Rowena's been working in financial planning since 2008. She spent twelve years with mid-size Malaysian companies before deciding to teach.
Rowena Lau
Financial Planning Specialist
Experience That Matters
I'm not going to pretend I have all the answers. What I do have is a lot of experience making mistakes and learning from them. I've built budgets that completely missed the mark, forecasts that were wildly optimistic, and financial models that looked beautiful but didn't match reality.
Over the years, I learned what actually works in Malaysian business environments. That's what I teach—the practical stuff that gets results, not the textbook theories that sound good but fall apart when you try to implement them.
Before teaching, I worked as a financial analyst for a manufacturing company in Johor Bahru, then moved into budget planning for a services firm in KL. Most recently, I spent four years consulting with SMEs across Pahang, helping them set up proper financial tracking systems.
Teaching approach: I run the program like a working project team. You'll get honest feedback, not just encouragement. If something needs improvement, I'll tell you exactly what and why. The goal is to prepare you for actual professional work, which means treating you like a professional from day one.
What Past Participants Say
Our first cohort completed the program in early 2025. Here's what one participant shared about the experience.
I came in thinking I knew budgeting because I'd done it for small projects. Turns out there's a huge difference between tracking expenses and actually forecasting financial performance. Rowena pushed us hard—some weeks I spent ten hours on assignments. But it paid off. I can now build financial models that actually help businesses make decisions. The program isn't easy, and anyone telling you it is hasn't taken it. But if you put in the work, you'll develop skills that are genuinely useful in the Malaysian market.
Program Details
What To Expect
Classes meet twice weekly in the evenings—Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm to 9:30pm. All sessions are held at our Kuantan office, though we may occasionally use video conferencing if there are scheduling conflicts.
You'll need a laptop capable of running Excel 2016 or newer. We provide all training materials and access to practice datasets. There's a one-time material fee of RM850 that covers software licenses and printed resources.
Program tuition is RM4,200, payable in three installments. We don't offer payment plans beyond that, and there are no refunds after the third week. Enrollment for the September 2025 cohort opens in June, with a maximum of 18 participants.
This isn't a certification program—you won't get letters after your name. What you will get is practical experience with the tools and methods that Malaysian businesses actually use for financial planning. That's worth more than a certificate, in my opinion.