Melbourne Financial Literacy Workshop
It’s back! The ACA and Management for Design (M4D) are offering an exclusive half-day workshop on business financial management on Thursday 24 July in Melbourne. Help fill gaps in your financial understanding and elevate your business skills by attending this bespoke course created for architecture practices.
With 3 CPD points and a small group size of up to 20 participants, don’t miss this valuable opportunity.
BOOK NOW
This valuable workshop will be led by M4D Founding Director Gordana Blazevska, Founding Director Robert Peake and Finance Director Carla Dexheimer (see bios below). Our speakers will use examples to demonstrate how to interpret business financials and manage practices in a sustainable and successful way.
Participating in this workshop will –
- Equip you with some of the essential financial literacy skills for professional success.
- Identify and address the unique financial challenges faced by architects in Australia.
- Walk you through practical tools and strategies for budgeting, cash flow management, project costing, financial reporting, expense management and financial statements.
- Introduce fundamental finance concepts including profit and loss statements, key performance indicators and the statement of financial position (balance sheet).
Participants will receive workshop materials to take away and can choose to engage with post-session follow-up support.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Emerging or recently appointed directors, senior associates, new business owners, existing directors and anyone wishing to increase their financial literacy.
“I was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the presentation. The workshop brought together like-minded executive level architects with a desire to learn about financial management systems. The programme delivered on the promise, and I came away with new ideas to implement into my practice.” – Steve Hatzellis, Director, HATZ
“Attending the Financial Literacy Workshop with M4D was extremely beneficial. It enabled us to categorise expenses more effectively, implement a financial KPI system, establish a financial resilience goal, and improve our reporting and planning processes with more frequent touchpoints. The knowledge gained has had a substantial positive impact on our practice already.” – Danielle K, Director of Business Operations, Finnis Architecture.
WHEN
Thursday 24 July 2025
9.15am for 9.30am – 1pm
WHERE
This event is kindly hosted by Westpac.
Level 12, 150 Collins Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
COST
Individual tickets
ACA members $450 incl GST
Parlour Collective $450 incl GST
Non-members $500 incl GST
Book below or go to trybooking.
Additional tickets
Purchase additional tickets for colleagues with a 25% discount at $337.50 incl GST.
Contact Katherine Ygosse for details victas@aca.org.au.
OUR WORKSHOP LEADERS
Gordana Blazevska is a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant (FCPA) with over 30 years of experience in all facets of accounting and financial management across diverse industries, with a particular emphasis on design, engineering and creative sectors. She is deeply committed to enhancing business performance by offering expertise in financial and business management control. Gordana adeptly resolves challenges within the creative realm by simplifying financial insights for business leaders, enabling informed decision-making and fostering successful enterprises that enrich the built environment. As a respected speaker on financial strategy and related business matters, Gordana is dedicated to empowering leaders within organisations to make informed decisions that drive progress.
Robert Peake is a former architect, a management consultant and Founding Principal of Management for Design, with over 30 years industry experience in both Australia and overseas. His work with architects, engineers and designers has enabled them to more effectively control and manage their businesses and to improve financial performance, business sustainability and growth. His focus is on strategic direction and execution, business management and operations, financial management and performance, benchmarking and leadership development.
Carla Dexheimer has worked within the professional creative industry for 20+ years across the UK, Hong Kong and Australia. She is a CGMA and CPA qualified commercially driven business partner. Carla strives to provide financial excellence, strategic decision-making and operation efficiency to deliver increased profit and commercial acumen. Carla has gained a wealth of experience in financial planning, budget management, cash flow management, risk assessment and team leadership, complementing her skills in helping architects, engineers, interior designers, planners, marketing and creative professionals develop and execute financial strategies that align with their organisational goals.
CPD
Completion of this workshop will deliver 3 formal CPD points.
Learning outcomes – upon completion, attendees will be able to better understand and manage key business financials and financial reporting requirements to help better manage a sustainable and successful practice; and will understand key financial reporting requirements.
AACA Competencies: Practice Management and Professional Conduct – PC1
Participants will receive a statement of completion after the workshop.
CONTACT
For any questions contact Katherine Ygosse victas@aca.org.au.