Real Projects, Real Learning
Working capital analysis isn't something you learn from a textbook. You learn it by actually doing the work – analysing real scenarios, making tough calls, and seeing the consequences of those decisions play out.
That's what our student projects are about. Not theory. Not hypotheticals. Actual work that matters.
Recent Student Work
These projects came from our February 2025 cohort. Each student worked on a different business case, applying what they learned to solve genuine working capital challenges.
Manufacturing Cash Flow Restructuring
Thabo analyzed a mid-sized manufacturing operation struggling with inventory-driven cash problems. His recommendations around payment terms and supplier negotiations freed up nearly R340,000 in trapped capital.
The business owner actually implemented his suggestions in March – that's when you know the work was solid.
— Thabo Lekganyane
Retail Working Capital Optimization
Pieter tackled a retail chain dealing with seasonal fluctuations and inconsistent cash availability. His analysis identified timing issues in their ordering cycle that created unnecessary financing costs.
Simple changes to their procurement schedule could save them around R180,000 annually. The numbers told the story.
— Pieter Vermaak
Service Industry Receivables Analysis
Lindiwe focused on a consulting firm with chronic late payments affecting their ability to pay staff on time. She mapped their entire invoicing and collection process, finding gaps that nobody had noticed before.
Her proposed changes reduced average collection time by 18 days – which fundamentally changed their cash position.
— Lindiwe Nkosi
Distribution Network Efficiency Study
Jannie examined a distribution company with solid margins but terrible liquidity. The problem wasn't revenue – it was timing and structure. His cash conversion cycle analysis revealed where capital was getting stuck.
Sometimes the issue isn't what you're doing but when you're doing it. His project showed exactly that.
— Jannie du Toit
How Student Projects Actually Work
There's a structure to this. You're not thrown into deep water without guidance – but you are expected to swim.
Business Case Selection
You'll receive a real business scenario – either from our case library or an anonymized situation from an actual company. These aren't made-up examples. They're messy, incomplete, and challenging. Just like what you'll face in the real world.
Independent Analysis Phase
This is where you dig in. You'll analyze financial statements, calculate ratios, map cash flows, and identify problems. It's yours to solve. Mentors are available if you hit a wall, but the work has to be yours.
Recommendations Development
Analysis is one thing. Knowing what to do about it is another. You'll develop practical recommendations – not vague suggestions, but specific actions with expected outcomes. This is where theory meets reality.
Review and Feedback
Your work gets reviewed by someone who actually does this for a living. The feedback can be tough. It should be. You'll learn more from what you got wrong than what you got right.
Why This Approach Actually Works
Most financial education programs give you sanitized examples with obvious answers. That's not how business works.
Real companies have incomplete data. Conflicting priorities. Time pressure. Political complications. Our student projects reflect that reality.
- You work with authentic financial data that's been anonymized for confidentiality
- Problems don't have single correct answers – they have trade-offs you must evaluate
- Your recommendations have to account for practical constraints, not just optimal theory
- Feedback comes from professionals who've solved these problems dozens of times
- You build a portfolio piece that demonstrates actual capability to future employers
By the time you finish your project, you've done the work. Not simulated it. Actually done it.
What Mentors Say About Student Work
Our project mentors are working professionals who review and guide student analysis. Here's what they've noticed.
Hendrik Viljoen
Financial Consultant, Cape Town
The quality surprises me every time. These aren't academic exercises – students are identifying issues I've seen in real consulting engagements. Some of their recommendations are genuinely clever. They're thinking like analysts, not students.
Kobus Steenkamp
CFO Advisor, Johannesburg
What I appreciate most is seeing students wrestle with uncertainty. In February, I reviewed a project where the student openly acknowledged data gaps and explained how that affected her confidence level. That's professional maturity you can't teach directly – it comes from doing the work.
Ready to Take On a Real Project?
Our next program starts in July 2025. You'll spend eight weeks learning the fundamentals, then dive into your project. By September, you'll have completed work that actually demonstrates your capability.