Name
The University of Sydney
Industry
Divisional Services - Finance
Number of employees
Approximately 200 in the Finance department
The challenge
The University of Sydney’s Divisional Services - Finance team identified an opportunity to enhance how complex financial data was communicated to stakeholders. Leaders recognised a need to support staff in presenting data clearly and simply, ensuring key messages were easy to understand without the risk of overloading stakeholders with too much information. To address this, the team sought training to develop practical skills in data visualisation and storytelling, enabling more effective and impactful communication.
Senior leadership played an integral role in the program’s success by demonstrating strong engagement and commitment to staff development, enabling 100 senior staff to participate and develop practical skills. CCE was selected based on its experience and the training organiser’s familiarity with facilitator James Hall. Having attended one of his previous courses, they valued his ability to simplify complex concepts effectively.
Course_
Our solution
A preliminary meeting with facilitator James Hall allowed for a tailored approach that directly addressed the team’s unique needs. The content was tailored to the Finance team’s specific needs, incorporating requested topics such as straplines to enhance storytelling.
James delivered two classes of the Data Visualisation and Storytelling Course in 2023, and then three more in 2024. Each face-to-face session accommodated 20 participants and focused on practical techniques for presenting data in a clear and compelling manner.
To reinforce the training, participants later partook in group presentation sessions, applying their newly acquired skills in a supportive environment. Each group delivered a 10-minute presentation on a topic of their choosing—either a current project or a new idea inspired by the training. Presentations were delivered to peers and a panel of managers, including James, who provided constructive feedback to support further development. His involvement in the feedback panel added continuity and ensured insights were directly relevant to the participants’ work.
These post-course activities reflected CCE’s approach to supporting organisations beyond the classroom, ensuring participants could apply their learning in a practical context. The Finance team’s engagement demonstrated how tailored training and follow-up sessions can drive real workplace improvements.
Facilitators_
James Hall
James is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a financial analyst with a background in banking and finance, private equity, M&A, and insolvency. He enjoys the creativity needed to help clients manage, understand, and simplify complex problems.
View profileThe outcome
The training has proven beneficial for the Finance team, fostering greater clarity and confidence in data presentations. Staff now approach complex information with a simplicity-focused mindset, ensuring key messages are clear and aligned with stakeholder needs.
Participants reported feeling more confident in presenting their insights and engaging in meaningful discussions with senior stakeholders.
Overall, the Finance team has gained practical techniques that enhance their ability to communicate financial insights effectively, contributing to well-informed decision-making across the university.
“I really enjoyed the opportunity to attend this course and look forward to more members of my team having the same experience. It helps build a common language as we increasingly adopt visual approaches in the workplace.”
- Course participant
“It was a great course that really helped me in sharpening my presentation skills, especially with senior leadership.”
- Course participant
“The course not only helped in creating more effective reports and presentations, but also in making data-driven decisions, as they enhance the ability to see and interpret trends, correlations, and outliers at a glance.”
- Course participant
“The program was great and really allowed me to step back and look at how to showcase the financial model in stories.”
- Course participant