You were promoted for your technical excellence.
Nobody prepared you for what comes next.
You are working harder than ever. You are second-guessing decisions that should feel straightforward. You are avoiding a conversation you know you need to have.
And you are doing all of this while trying to look like you know exactly what you are doing.
This is not a personal failing. These are skills. And skills can be developed.
Common Challenges for
First-Time Finance & Accounting Managers
If you checked even one of these, you are not failing. You are experiencing a predictable gap that organizations routinely create when they promote strong performers without preparing them for the management role. These are skills. And skills can be developed.
That is exactly what Foundation First is built to do.
Foundation First fills that gap.
What Foundation First Provides
Role Clarity
Understand what it actually means to be a manager — and what fundamentally changes when you make this transition.
Practical Tools
Frameworks for delegation, decision-making, difficult conversations, and time management specific to finance and accounting environments.
Peer Support
Cohort-based learning with other first-time managers facing the same challenges. You're not alone in this.
Module 1: The Role Shift
You will understand what actually changes when you step into this role, and why nobody explained it. You will learn how to renegotiate relationships with former colleagues, understand your authority, and let go of the identity that got you promoted.
Module 2: Time, Attention & Priorities
You will learn how managerial time should actually be spent, and why most new managers get this wrong by default. Delegation frameworks, calendar architecture, and the shift from execution to enablement so you can leave work at a reasonable hour.
Module 3: Authority, Trust & Confidence
You will build authority through consistency, clarity, and genuine investment in helping your people succeed. How to lead without needing consensus and how to make the calls that are yours to make.
Module 4: Conversations That Prevent Problems
You will learn to address issues early, deliver feedback clearly and calmly, and prevent the people problems that consume management time. The conversation you have been avoiding is growing. You will learn to have it before it becomes something larger.
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2 live sessions per month (2 hours each)
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1 mandatory office hour (1 hour)
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3 hours/week self-directed work and application
Time Commitment:
Four Essential Modules — One Month Each
Each Month Includes:
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2 live cohort sessions (attend 1 minimum to pass)
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1 mandatory office hour (real-world problem-solving)
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Self-paced recorded content
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Workplace application exercises
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Peer discussion and support
Electives Available After Core 4:
Additional focused modules on specialized topics ($850-900 each)
Month 4
Core Module 4 (Conversations That Prevent Problems)
Month 3
Core Module 3 (Authority & Confidence)
Month 2
Core Module 2 (Time & Priorities)
Month 1
Core Module 1 (The Role Shift)
Cohort-Based, Flexible, and Designed for Working Professionals
Core 4 Program — Pay in Full: $4,500 CAD (save $500)
What's Included:
Electives (Optional):
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All live cohort sessions
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Recorded content and resources
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Monthly office hours with Shelley
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Peer cohort access
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Completion certificate
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$850-900 per module after Core 4 completion
Core 4 Program:
Pay in full: $4,500 CAD — save $500
Payment plan: $1,250 CAD per module, one payment before each module begins (total $5,000)
Is Foundation First Right for You?
This Program Is For:
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First-time managers or supervisors in finance and accounting
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Senior accountants, financial analysts, or controllers recently promoted
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Professionals managing former peers
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People who want structured preparation, not trial-and-error learning
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Experienced managers (3+ years managing people)
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People looking for quick tips or motivational content
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Senior executives seeking strategic leadership development
This Program Is NOT For:
Still Not Sure?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Cohorts start quarterly. You can join the next available start date.
Sessions are recorded. You must attend at least 1 of the 2 live sessions per month, but recordings are available for the one you miss.
Some do. We can provide a proposal template you can submit to your manager or HR department. Organizational pricing is also available if your company enrolls multiple managers.
Yes. Upon completion of the Core 4, you receive a Foundation First Manager Readiness Certificate.
Both. Examples and applications span public accounting firms and corporate finance departments.
Full refund if you withdraw before the second live session of Module 1. No refunds after Module 1, Week 2.
Ready to Lead with
Clarity and Confidence?
Discover your greatest management strengths and the areas that deserve your attention first. Take the free Manager Readiness Assessment at manager-readiness.com.
Your promotion recognized what you have already achieved. Foundation First prepares you for what comes next.