I was working retail management but felt completely lost when looking at financial statements. Numbers intimidated me. My boss would ask about profit margins and I'd just freeze up because I didn't understand what the reports were actually showing.
Around month four, something clicked during the reconciliation exercises. I suddenly saw how every transaction tells part of a bigger story. The instructors never made me feel stupid for asking basic questions, which helped me push through my initial confusion.
I'm managing accounts payable for a property development firm. I still reference my course materials regularly, especially the compliance checklists. The confidence boost was as valuable as the technical skills.