Don't Blow The Budget
This high-impact, CFO-led Commercial Literacy course gives you the skills, mindset, and confidence to understand the numbers, manage a cost centre well, and make better commercial decisions — without needing an accounting background.
Online Access: Join us from anywhere in New Zealand and benefit from the flexibility of online learning.
Choose your pathway:
- Workshops only: 8 hours spread across 4 weeks.
- Workshops + coaching: 8 hours spread across 4 weeks, plus 5 individual coaching sessions.
To discover more, please read on…
Are you accountable for a budget — but unsure what the numbers are really telling you?
Many capable managers and leaders are expected to manage budgets, explain variances, control costs, and make commercial decisions — without ever being properly taught how.
Budget conversations can feel uncomfortable, not because anyone is doing anything wrong, but because you’re not always sure what questions to ask or how to use finance support effectively.
Don’t Blow the Budget is designed to change that.
This course builds the commercial literacy needed to confidently interpret financial information, understand what drives performance, and take informed action.
What you’ll be able to do after this Commercial Literacy course is…
- Understand the basics of accounting — including how financial information is constructed.
- Read and interpret core financial information with confidence, knowing what really matters.
- Think commercially, not just financially — understanding trade‑offs, priorities, and consequences.
- Understand what drives costs, and how your decisions influence them.
- Build and manage budgets that support delivery, not just compliance.
- Run an effective monthly rhythm for managing cost or profit centres.
- Identify cost reduction opportunities without damaging performance or outcomes.
- Understand revenue drivers, gaps, and collection risks, not just top‑line numbers.
- Apply commercial mindsets to assess situations, evaluate options, and avoid short‑term fixes.
- Make stronger commercial decisions and build better business cases.
- Communicate the financial story behind results clearly and confidently.
Who This Commercial Literacy Course Is For
Don’t Blow the Budget is designed for people who are accountable for financial outcomes — not accountants.
- Managers and team leaders with cost centre responsibility.
- Operational leaders responsible for delivery within budget.
- Project and programme leads managing spend.
- New or emerging leaders stepping into financial accountability.
- Non‑finance professionals who work closely with finance teams.
Created and Coached by a Chief Financial Officer
Don’t Blow the Budget is led by MacGregor Jamee’s director, Fiona Harnett.
Fiona’s background makes her uniquely qualified to do this.
She brings over 20 years’ experience as a GM and CFO across a range of industries, alongside formal coach training through an International Coach Federation‑approved programme.
Plus, Fiona’s been where you are now. She has been a cost centre manager leading teams varying in size from 5 to 400 employees. Her operational experience includes leading large, complex operational / transactional processing environments and turning around underperforming operations.
Throughout her career, she has successfully managed several large, complex IT system implementations. Fiona has extensive experience leading large cross-functional projects, including integrating acquired businesses and improving organisational performance through organisation-wide process and/or cultural change.
What do others say about Fiona’s coaching and mentoring style:
“Fiona is absolutely awesome and amazing coach, providing 100% valuable support and guidance with her expertise in understanding our organisation from both a helicopter view and a detailed view.“
“I found Fiona very passionate and keen to share her learnings with real life examples from her experience. Her breadth of experience clearly reflects in the examples and thoughtful slides / information she shared with us all. I found her style friendly yet professional. “
“Fiona is an outstanding coach – she is able to distil the information that she is given and reframe it back to you so that you can see it in a different light – something that is hard to do when you are in the thick of things. She also tells it as it is – you may not really want to hear it – but you need to!“
Choose Your Commercial Literacy Pathway
Don’t Blow The Budget Essentials – Workshops Only
For those who want a strong strategic foundation.
- 8 hours of workshops spread across 4 weeks
- Online – join from anywhere in NZ
- Group‑based learning
- Plus a copy of the book Don’t Blow the Budget: A CFO’s Guide to Commercial Literacy and Managing a Cost Centre
- Investment: $1,350 + GST
- Optional individual coaching available at $250 per hour (discounted from $275)
RECOMMENDED:
Don’t Blow The Budget Full Programme – Workshops + Coaching
For those who want both capability development and personalised support.
- 8 hours of workshops spread across 4 weeks
- Online – join from anywhere in NZ
- 5 individual one-hour coaching sessions
- Includes a bonus coaching session (pay for 4, receive 5)
- Plus a copy of the book Don’t Blow the Budget: A CFO’s Guide to Commercial Literacy and Managing a Cost Centre
- Investment: $2,450 + GST
Don’t Blow The Budget Private Advisory – One‑to‑One Delivery
For those who prefer a fully personalised experience.
- 8 hours of workshops delivered one‑to‑one
- Online – join from anywhere in NZ
- 5 individual one-hour coaching sessions
- Includes a bonus coaching session (pay for 4, receive 5)
- Plus a copy of the book Don’t Blow the Budget: A CFO’s Guide to Commercial Literacy and Managing a Cost Centre
- Investment: $3,450 + GST
Why Coaching Matters
- Commercial literacy isn’t just about understanding the numbers — it’s about applying them in real situations, under real pressure.
- Coaching creates the space to step back, test your thinking, and build confidence in how you interpret results, make decisions, and communicate commercially.
- It helps turn knowledge into judgement, and insight into action, so you’re not just learning concepts — you’re changing how you lead and manage.
- That’s why we recommend 5 hours of individual coaching to enhance the 8 hours of workshops.
Cohort Size and Scheduling
- Courses run once two or more participants have enrolled.
- Group programmes are capped at a maximum of 10 participants.
- This ensures meaningful interaction and a high standard of learning.
- Dates are confirmed in consultation with enrolled participants.
- If we are unable to deliver the group course within six weeks of your enrolment, you will be offered the course on a one‑on‑one basis at no additional cost.
Payment Plan Available
You may pay this fee in instalments if you wish. 50% prior to the course start date, 25% after Module 2, and 25% after the final training session.
In addition, some organisations may be able to apply for co-funding through the RBPN (Regional Business Partner Network).
If you would like to know more about this option, please contact Macgregor Jamee Limited.
The Commercial Literacy Guarantee
We’re confident Don’t Blow The Budget gives you the tools, techniques, and mindset to be a good cost centre manager.
That said, we’re happy to offer you this no-questions-asked guarantee:
If you believe Don’t Blow The Budget isn’t right for you after participating in the first workshop, we will refund the fees you’ve paid to this point.
No questions asked.
Commercial Literacy Course Format
This course is delivered as live, interactive online workshops.
- 8 hours of workshops
- Spread across 4 weeks
- Small cohort for interaction and discussion
- Practical examples and real‑world application
- Five coaching sessions (one hour each) booked through an online tool at a time of your choosing.
Content
Workshop One: Understanding the Numbers
- Basics of Accounting
- Reading Basic Financial Information
- Using Common Financial Ratios
- Metrics, Targets and Bonuses
- More Advanced Accounting Concepts
- Cash Flow and Managing the Balance Sheet
- Reading Your Own Financial Information
Workshop Two: Basics of Managing Cost Centres
- Cost Drivers
- Budgeting
- Monthly Results – Cost Centre Management
- Cost Cutting
- What to Expect from Finance
- Your Responsibilities
Workshop Three: Basics of Revenue Management
- Revenue and the Customer Journey
- Revenue Drivers and Budgets
- Revenue Drivers and Execution
- Revenue Gaps
- Revenue Collection
- Revenue Assurance
Workshop Four: Commercial Decision-Making
- Commercial Thinking
- Assess the Situation
- Developing Commercial Initiatives
- The Importance of Detailed Design
- Gain Buy‑In
- Driving Execution
- Business Cases and Commercial Thinking
- Contracts and Disputes
Ready to stop guessing and start managing commercially?
Re-cap: Everything You Get with Don’t Blow the Budget
Build the commercial literacy to manage budgets with confidence.
Don’t Blow the Budget is a CFO‑led commercial literacy course designed for managers and leaders who are accountable for budgets, cost centres, and commercial outcomes.
The course builds the capability to understand financial information, manage cost centres effectively, and make sound commercial decisions — without requiring an accounting background.
Rather than running on fixed calendar dates, each course is scheduled once two or more participants have enrolled, with group intakes capped at a maximum of 10 participants. This ensures depth of discussion, practical application, and meaningful interaction throughout the programme. If we are unable to deliver the group course within six weeks of your enrolment, you will be offered the course on a one‑on‑one basis at no additional cost.
This approach allows you to enrol when you’re ready — without compromising on quality or learning experience.
What Don’t Blow the Budget Covers
You’ll work through modules covering:
- Understanding the basics of accounting and how financial information is constructed.
- Reading and interpreting financial results, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
- Identifying cost and revenue drivers and understanding their impact.
- Budgeting as a management discipline, not just an annual process.
- Managing cost and profit centres, through effective monthly rhythms.
- Revenue management fundamentals, including gaps, collection, and assurance.
- Applying commercial thinking and mindsets to decisions, initiatives, and trade‑offs.
- Building and assessing business cases and commercial initiatives.
Delivered Online
All learning is live, interactive, and applied, grounded in real CFO experience rather than theory alone.
You can join this valuable training programme wherever you live in New Zealand.
Ready to Register Your Interest?
If Don’t Blow The Budget feels like the right next step, you’re invited to enrol or start a conversation.
To enrol, or to discuss which pathway best suits you:
Fiona Harnett
📞 021 477 671
Or complete the short contact form at the bottom of this page.
I look forward to welcoming you into a future Don’t Blow The Budget cohort.
Fiona Harnett
CFO | Director, MacGregor Jamee Ltd
Coach and Creator of Don’t Blow The Budget – Commercial Literacy for Cost Centre Managers
Enrol or Enquire Today
Don't Blow The Budget
This high-impact, CFO-led Commercial Literacy course gives you the skills, mindset, and confidence to understand the numbers, manage a cost centre well, and make better commercial decisions — without needing an accounting background.
Online Access: Join us from anywhere in New Zealand and benefit from the flexibility of online learning.
Choose your pathway:
- Workshops only: 8 hours spread across 4 weeks.
- Workshops + coaching: 8 hours spread across 4 weeks, plus 5 individual coaching sessions.
To discover more, please read on…
Are you accountable for a budget — but unsure what the numbers are really telling you?
Many capable managers and leaders are expected to manage budgets, explain variances, control costs, and make commercial decisions — without ever being properly taught how.
Budget conversations can feel uncomfortable, not because anyone is doing anything wrong, but because you’re not always sure what questions to ask or how to use finance support effectively.
Don’t Blow the Budget is designed to change that.
This course builds the commercial literacy needed to confidently interpret financial information, understand what drives performance, and take informed action.
What you’ll be able to do after this Commercial Literacy course is…
- Understand the basics of accounting — including how financial information is constructed.
- Read and interpret core financial information with confidence, knowing what really matters.
- Think commercially, not just financially — understanding trade‑offs, priorities, and consequences.
- Understand what drives costs, and how your decisions influence them.
- Build and manage budgets that support delivery, not just compliance.
- Run an effective monthly rhythm for managing cost or profit centres.
- Identify cost reduction opportunities without damaging performance or outcomes.
- Understand revenue drivers, gaps, and collection risks, not just top‑line numbers.
- Apply commercial mindsets to assess situations, evaluate options, and avoid short‑term fixes.
- Make stronger commercial decisions and build better business cases.
- Communicate the financial story behind results clearly and confidently.
Who This Commercial Literacy Course Is For
Don’t Blow the Budget is designed for people who are accountable for financial outcomes — not accountants.
- Managers and team leaders with cost centre responsibility.
- Operational leaders responsible for delivery within budget.
- Project and programme leads managing spend.
- New or emerging leaders stepping into financial accountability.
- Non‑finance professionals who work closely with finance teams.
Created and Coached by a Chief Financial Officer
Don’t Blow the Budget is led by MacGregor Jamee’s director, Fiona Harnett.
Fiona’s background makes her uniquely qualified to do this.
She brings over 20 years’ experience as a GM and CFO across a range of industries, alongside formal coach training through an International Coach Federation‑approved programme.
Plus, Fiona’s been where you are now. She has been a cost centre manager leading teams varying in size from 5 to 400 employees. Her operational experience includes leading large, complex operational / transactional processing environments and turning around underperforming operations.
Throughout her career, she has successfully managed several large, complex IT system implementations. Fiona has extensive experience leading large cross-functional projects, including integrating acquired businesses and improving organisational performance through organisation-wide process and/or cultural change.
What do others say about Fiona’s coaching and mentoring style:
“Fiona is absolutely awesome and amazing coach, providing 100% valuable support and guidance with her expertise in understanding our organisation from both a helicopter view and a detailed view.“
“I found Fiona very passionate and keen to share her learnings with real life examples from her experience. Her breadth of experience clearly reflects in the examples and thoughtful slides / information she shared with us all. I found her style friendly yet professional. “
“Fiona is an outstanding coach – she is able to distil the information that she is given and reframe it back to you so that you can see it in a different light – something that is hard to do when you are in the thick of things. She also tells it as it is – you may not really want to hear it – but you need to!“
Choose Your Commercial Literacy Pathway
Don’t Blow The Budget Essentials – Workshops Only
For those who want a strong strategic foundation.
- 8 hours of workshops spread across 4 weeks
- Online – join from anywhere in NZ
- Group‑based learning
- Plus a copy of the book Don’t Blow the Budget: A CFO’s Guide to Commercial Literacy and Managing a Cost Centre
- Investment: $1,350 + GST
- Optional individual coaching available at $250 per hour (discounted from $275)
RECOMMENDED:
Don’t Blow The Budget Full Programme – Workshops + Coaching
For those who want both capability development and personalised support.
- 8 hours of workshops spread across 4 weeks
- Online – join from anywhere in NZ
- 5 individual one-hour coaching sessions
- Includes a bonus coaching session (pay for 4, receive 5)
- Plus a copy of the book Don’t Blow the Budget: A CFO’s Guide to Commercial Literacy and Managing a Cost Centre
- Investment: $2,450 + GST
Don’t Blow The Budget Private Advisory – One‑to‑One Delivery
For those who prefer a fully personalised experience.
- 8 hours of workshops delivered one‑to‑one
- Online – join from anywhere in NZ
- 5 individual one-hour coaching sessions
- Includes a bonus coaching session (pay for 4, receive 5)
- Plus a copy of the book Don’t Blow the Budget: A CFO’s Guide to Commercial Literacy and Managing a Cost Centre
- Investment: $3,450 + GST
Why Coaching Matters
- Commercial literacy isn’t just about understanding the numbers — it’s about applying them in real situations, under real pressure.
- Coaching creates the space to step back, test your thinking, and build confidence in how you interpret results, make decisions, and communicate commercially.
- It helps turn knowledge into judgement, and insight into action, so you’re not just learning concepts — you’re changing how you lead and manage.
- That’s why we recommend 5 hours of individual coaching to enhance the 8 hours of workshops.
Cohort Size and Scheduling
- Courses run once two or more participants have enrolled.
- Group programmes are capped at a maximum of 10 participants.
- This ensures meaningful interaction and a high standard of learning.
- Dates are confirmed in consultation with enrolled participants.
- If we are unable to deliver the group course within six weeks of your enrolment, you will be offered the course on a one‑on‑one basis at no additional cost.
Payment Plan Available
You may pay this fee in instalments if you wish. 50% prior to the course start date, 25% after Module 2, and 25% after the final training session.
In addition, some organisations may be able to apply for co-funding through the RBPN (Regional Business Partner Network).
If you would like to know more about this option, please contact Macgregor Jamee Limited.
The Commecial Literacy Guarantee
We’re confident Don’t Blow the Budget gives you the tools, techniques, and mindset to be a good cost centre manager.
That said, we’re happy to offer you this no-questions-asked guarantee:
If you believe Don’t Blow The Budget isn’t right for you after participating in the first group training session, we will refund the fees you’ve paid to this point.
No questions asked.
Commercial Literacy Course Format
This course is delivered as live, interactive online workshops.
- 8 hours of workshops
- Spread across 4 weeks
- Small cohort for interaction and discussion
- Practical examples and real‑world application
- Coaching sessions (one hour each) booked through an online tool at a time of your choosing.
Content
Workshop One: Understanding the Numbers
- Basics of Accounting
- Reading Basic Financial Information
- Using Common Financial Ratios
- Metrics, Targets and Bonuses
- More Advanced Accounting Concepts
- Cash Flow and Managing the Balance Sheet
- Reading Your Own Financial Information
Workshop Two: Basics of Managing Cost Centres
- Cost Drivers
- Budgeting
- Monthly Results – Cost Centre Management
- Cost Cutting
- What to Expect from Finance
- Your Responsibilities
Workshop Three: Basics of Revenue Management
- Revenue and the Customer Journey
- Revenue Drivers and Budgets
- Revenue Drivers and Execution
- Revenue Gaps
- Revenue Collection
- Revenue Assurance
Workshop Four: Commercial Decision-Making
- Commercial Thinking
- Assess the Situation
- Developing Commercial Initiatives
- The Importance of Detailed Design
- Gain Buy‑In
- Driving Execution
- Business Cases and Commercial Thinking
- Contracts and Disputes
Ready to stop guessing and start managing commercially?
Re-cap: Everything You Get with Don’t Blow the Budget
Build the commercial literacy to manage budgets with confidence.
Don’t Blow the Budget is a CFO‑led commercial literacy course designed for managers and leaders who are accountable for budgets, cost centres, and commercial outcomes.
The course builds the capability to understand financial information, manage cost centres effectively, and make sound commercial decisions — without requiring an accounting background.
Rather than running on fixed calendar dates, each course is scheduled once two or more participants have enrolled, with group intakes capped at a maximum of 10 participants. This ensures depth of discussion, practical application, and meaningful interaction throughout the programme. If we are unable to deliver the group course within six weeks of your enrolment, you will be offered the course on a one‑on‑one basis at no additional cost.
This approach allows you to enrol when you’re ready — without compromising on quality or learning experience.
What Don’t Blow the Budget Covers
You’ll work through modules covering:
- Understanding the basics of accounting and how financial information is constructed.
- Reading and interpreting financial results, including P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow.
- Identifying cost and revenue drivers and understanding their impact
- Budgeting as a management discipline, not just an annual process
- Managing cost and profit centres, through effective monthly rhythms.
- Revenue management fundamentals, including gaps, collection, and assurance.
- Applying commercial thinking and mindsets to decisions, initiatives, and trade‑offs.
- Building and assessing business cases and commercial initiatives.
Delivered Online
All learning is live, interactive, and applied, grounded in real CFO experience rather than theory alone.
You can join this valuable training programme wherever you live in New Zealand.
Ready to Register Your Interest?
If Don’t Blow The Budget feels like the right next step, you’re invited to enrol or start a conversation.
To enrol, or to discuss which pathway best suits you:
Fiona Harnett
📞 021 477 671
Or complete the short contact form at the bottom of this page.
I look forward to welcoming you into a future Don’t Blow The Budget cohort.
Fiona Harnett
CFO | Director, MacGregor Jamee Ltd
Coach and Creator of Don’t Blow The Budget – Commercial Literacy for Cost Centre Managers
Enrol or Enquire Today