Making Business Finance Actually Make Sense

We started quinelthar in 2019 because we kept hearing the same story. Smart business owners, creative professionals, people with brilliant ideas – all stuck because finance felt like a foreign language.

And look, the world didn't need another generic business course. What it needed was someone willing to sit down and explain things without the jargon, without the MBA-speak, just straight answers to real questions.

That's what we built here in Sydney Olympic Park. A place where financial literacy isn't about complex theories – it's about knowing your numbers well enough to make confident decisions.

Business finance workshop session with participants reviewing practical financial statements

Small business owner learning cash flow management techniques during interactive training

How We Got Here

Back in 2018, I was running financial workshops for a community center in Parramatta. The turnout was always good – people genuinely wanted to understand their business finances better. But the standard materials? They assumed everyone had an accounting background.

I watched a cafe owner struggle with a cash flow projection template that used terminology even some accountants get confused about. A freelance designer asked what EBITDA meant, and half the room looked relieved because they'd been too embarrassed to ask.

So I rewrote everything. Started from scratch with plain language. Tested it with actual business owners, not finance professors. If someone looked confused, I changed the explanation until it clicked.

quinelthar launched in March 2019 with one program and twelve participants. Now we work with hundreds of business owners each year, and the approach hasn't changed – we just explain things clearly until they make sense.

What Drives Our Approach

These aren't corporate values we stuck on a wall. They're the principles that guide every program we create and every conversation we have with participants.

Clarity Over Complexity

If we can't explain something in plain English, we haven't understood it well enough ourselves. Financial concepts aren't inherently difficult – they're just often poorly explained.

Practical Application

Every concept connects to actual business situations. You won't spend time on theoretical frameworks that don't apply to your daily operations.

Real Questions Welcome

There are no stupid questions here. If something doesn't make sense, that's on us to explain it better. We build programs around the questions people actually ask.

Context Matters

A retail shop faces different financial challenges than a consulting business or a creative agency. We tailor examples and scenarios to match your actual business model.

Honest Assessment

We won't promise that understanding finance will transform your business overnight. It's one important piece of running a successful operation – vital, but not magical.

Ongoing Support

Learning doesn't stop when the program ends. We're available for follow-up questions and offer refresher sessions because financial management is an ongoing practice.

Who's Behind quinelthar

We're a small team of finance educators who actually enjoy explaining balance sheets. Which probably makes us a bit odd, but it works out well for our participants.

Philippa Kesteven

Director of Educational Programs

I spent the first part of my career as a business analyst for mid-sized companies, which taught me what financial information actually matters for decision-making. Then I moved into education because I kept seeing capable business owners making avoidable mistakes simply because no one had explained the fundamentals properly.

My background is in accounting, but I've deliberately moved away from the technical side. These days I focus on program development and making sure our content remains accessible. I test every new module with actual business owners before we finalize it.

Outside work, I volunteer with a small business association in Western Sydney. It keeps me connected to the real challenges people face and reminds me why clear financial education matters.

Areas of Focus

Curriculum design for financial literacy programs
Cash flow management for service-based businesses
Financial planning for creative professionals
Simplifying complex financial concepts for non-accountants

Want to Learn More About Our Programs?

Our next series of business finance programs starts in August 2026. We keep class sizes small to allow for genuine interaction and personalized guidance.

View Learning Programs