For you, Paula.
I made this Academy because I care about you, and I want to support you as you build the skills and confidence to reach your goals. This isn't just about preparing for one job. It's about giving you a place to learn, grow, and explore whatever interests you.
Whether it's business, property management, communication, technology, or something completely different, if there's a skill you want to learn, tell me and I'll add it here for you.
And if you ever feel stuck, need help with an assignment, or just want to talk, please reach out. I'm always here for you, both as your partner and as someone who is happy to coach and encourage you. You don't have to figure everything out on your own.
I'm proud of you for investing in yourself, and I hope this becomes something that helps you create opportunities on your own terms.
With care,
Payton
Your next chapter
starts here.
A focused, 15-week learning experience in executive support, business operations, and financial coordination.
Training pathway
Follow one new core skill each week from October 19 through January 31. Practice with fictional operational data and finish with a capstone. Intuit and third-party credentials are separate milestones and may take additional time.
No lessons marked complete yet.
Recommended study routine
Monday–Thursday: 20–30 minutes of instruction, 30–45 minutes of hands-on practice, 10 minutes of reflection. Friday: review, assignment submission and feedback. Keep workload flexible when other responsibilities take priority.
Evidence of learning: save completed spreadsheets, slides, writing samples and assessment notes in a dated portfolio.
Start here
1. Start with Week 1: executive assistant role and business etiquette.
2. Watch the accounting and Excel beginner videos.
3. Build your first invoice tracker.
4. Begin the official Intuit Academy pathway when ready.
Important boundaries
This is an educational program, not proof of employment or authorization to access company records. Use fictional data until employer-approved access, supervision and financial controls are established.
Detailed curriculum
Expand each lesson for learning objectives and required practical assignments. Check lessons off as you complete them.
15-week learning schedule
October 19, 2026 – January 31, 2027. Every week introduces one new primary skill. Five study sessions per week, 60–90 minutes each, with a lighter workload during holiday weeks. Prepare for a January or February 2027 start; adjust the final weeks if employment begins earlier. Official certification may extend beyond this plan.
Randomized practice & weekly quizzes
Every week teaches a new primary skill. Generate a fresh scenario each day, complete the workplace deliverable, and take a randomized knowledge check. Exercises use fictional data only. Repeated practice is encouraged until you can explain the answer and perform the task without prompts.
Weekly knowledge check
Five randomized questions per attempt. The order and answer positions change. Target at least 80%, then complete the practical task to demonstrate competence.
Practice deliverable & supervisor review
Complete the scenario in Excel, PowerPoint, a calendar, or a written document as appropriate. Record what you produced, how you checked it, and what you would escalate. The website does not inspect external files; a supervisor must verify real work samples.
Mastery tracker
YouTube & official learning resources
Use these videos alongside the lessons. Verified direct video links are labeled; topic searches lead to YouTube search results rather than a particular verified video.
Excel & finance cheat sheet
Essential Excel formulas
Sum expenses in B2:B20
Flag expense overrun (budget B2, actual C2)
Dollar variance
Percentage variance
Sum expenses for property in E2
Lookup vendor name by ID
Days overdue from due date in D2
These formulas assume the referenced cells contain the indicated fields. Format percentage results as percentages.
Financial calculations
NOI = operating revenue − operating expenses. Do not automatically deduct mortgage principal, interest, depreciation or capital improvements from property NOI.
Occupancy rate = occupied units ÷ rentable units × 100.
Rent collection rate = collected rent ÷ rent billed × 100 (define treatment of prior-period collections).
Expense variance = actual − budget. Positive generally means overspend.
AP aging groups unpaid invoices by how long they have been outstanding.
Cash vs accrual: cash records transactions when cash changes hands; accrual recognizes revenue/expenses when earned/incurred under applicable rules.
Sample property budget
| Expense | Budget | Actual | Variance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | $12,000 | $14,500 | +$2,500 |
| Utilities | $8,500 | $7,900 | −$600 |
| Landscaping | $4,000 | $4,800 | +$800 |
| Administration | $3,500 | $3,200 | −$300 |
| Security | $6,000 | $6,100 | +$100 |
Exercise: compute total budget and actual, identify the largest unfavorable variance, and draft a three-sentence executive summary. All figures are fictional.
LinkedIn Learning certificates
Curated training paths for an executive assistant supporting regional operations, financial reporting, calendars, presentations and business travel. Open each official LinkedIn Learning page, complete the required lessons, and obtain the certificate or badge directly from LinkedIn Learning. These are learning certificates, not professional licenses or proof of employer authorization.
Excel Essential Training (Microsoft 365)
Instructor: Leila Gharani · Duration: 4h 32m · Certificate: Course completion.
Excel navigation, data organization, formulas, charts, sorting, filtering and PivotTables. Start here if Paula is new to spreadsheets.
Work sample: Create an expense tracker with totals, budget variance, filters and a chart.
Open official course ↗Working Smarter with Microsoft 365
Learning path: 9 courses · Approximately 20 hours · Credential: Path completion badge, subject to current requirements.
Includes Outlook Essential Training, PowerPoint Essential Training, Excel, Teams, OneDrive and document collaboration.
Work sample: Use the Inbox & Calendar Lab to triage emails, build an itinerary and present a five-slide executive briefing.
Open official learning path ↗Excel Boot Camp
Learning path: 7 courses · Approximately 4 hours · Credential: Path completion badge.
Focused practice in XLOOKUP, filtering, PivotTables, conditional formatting, Power Query and Excel automation basics.
Work sample: Produce a multi-property budget dashboard and flag invoices requiring review.
Open official learning path ↗CFI Financial Analysis and Modeling Professional Certificate
Learning path: 7 courses · Approximately 14 hours · Credential: Professional certificate after required coursework and final exam.
Financial planning, Excel-based analysis, forecasting, modeling and financial presentations. Best attempted after accounting and Excel fundamentals.
Work sample: Forecast three months of operating expenses and explain assumptions to a manager.
Open official certificate path ↗Certification checklist
Mark each step when it is actually completed. These checkboxes track Paula's personal progress on this device and do not verify or issue credentials.
Suggested supervisor review
Week 2: Excel basics certificate and expense tracker. Week 4: Outlook and PowerPoint lessons, scheduling lab and meeting deck. Week 6: Excel Boot Camp and dashboard. After week 8: optional advanced finance credential if the role requires forecasting.
Ask Paula to save the official certificate URL or PDF in her own learning portfolio and demonstrate the skill with an original work sample. LinkedIn Learning course availability, access fees, durations and learning-path requirements may change.
QuickBooks ProAdvisor Academy
Official certification vs. this course
Intuit's ProAdvisor Academy provides official training and certification-related coursework. Paula should use her own authorized Intuit account, review the current eligibility and program requirements, and complete all official assessments there. This website only prepares and tracks learning; it cannot issue or verify an Intuit credential.
Open official ProAdvisor Academy ↗Phase A — Bookkeeping foundation
Understand debits and credits, chart of accounts, general ledger, income statement, balance sheet, cash flow, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and reconciliations.
Practice: classify 25 transactions and explain why profit and cash balance differ.
Phase B — QuickBooks Online workflows
Explore company setup, navigation, customer/vendor records, invoicing, bills, bank feeds, categorization, reconciliation and reporting using safe practice data.
Practice: document the steps for an invoice, a bill, and a month-end reconciliation.
Phase C — Official coursework
Enter ProAdvisor Academy, follow the available QuickBooks Online training path and complete Intuit's current assessments. Training names, access requirements and renewal rules can change; rely on the official dashboard.
Practice: keep a record of courses and assessment results.
Phase D — Apply the credential
Interpret financial reports, explain cash-flow concerns, flag exceptions and communicate recommendations. Practice with fictional client scenarios and never imply authority to provide regulated professional services.
Practice: prepare a one-page advisory report.
Coursera certificate pathway
A curated, role-specific credential plan for Paula. These are official external Coursera courses; enroll and earn certificates through Coursera after meeting provider requirements. Some certificate options require payment. Course completion is not equivalent to an employer qualification or professional license.
Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management
Provider: University of California, Irvine
Learn: Scheduling, prioritization, delegation, managing interruptions.
Apply it: From 18 simulated emails, create a priority matrix and calendar with preparation buffers.
Open official Coursera course ↗Excel Skills for Business: Essentials
Provider: Macquarie University
Learn: Excel tables, formulas, formatting, and business charts.
Apply it: Build a three-property expense workbook with variance formulas and an executive chart.
Open official Coursera course ↗Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate
Provider: Intuit
Learn: Bookkeeping, reconciliation, financial statements and accounting cycles.
Apply it: Reconcile a fictional vendor ledger and explain five discrepancies. Separate from QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification.
Open official Coursera course ↗Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
Provider: University of Michigan
Learn: Preparation, negotiation, vendor communication and conflict management.
Apply it: Draft a vendor response proposing revised delivery terms without committing funds or signing a contract.
Open official Coursera course ↗Coursera certificate progress
Check only after earning the certificate on Coursera. This checklist does not issue or verify credentials.
Supervisor review: real-world competency
After time management: demonstrate no missed deadlines or double bookings in the training lab.
After Excel: submit a correctly calculated budget variance report.
After bookkeeping: explain accounts payable, reconciliation and the difference between revenue and NOI.
After negotiation: role-play a vendor delay and write a professional escalation email.
Save links to certificates in a personal learning portfolio; never represent a course as completed before the provider awards the credential.
Templates & example scripts
Daily executive briefing
Date / Reporting period: ___
Top three priorities: ___
Meetings and preparation: ___
Deadlines requiring action: ___
Risks / blockers: ___
Decisions needed: ___
Meeting minutes
Meeting: ___
Date / attendees: ___
Purpose: ___
Decisions made: ___
Action / owner / due date: ___
Open questions: ___
Executive email structure
Subject: Topic + action/date
Opening: State the conclusion or request.
Details: Two or three supporting points.
Action: Owner and deadline.
Close: Offer the next step.
Vendor issue escalation
Issue: ___
Property / vendor: ___
Business impact: ___
Action already taken: ___
Recommended next step: ___
Approval required: ___
Inbox, scheduling & travel lab
Act as the assistant to a fictional regional operations manager. Read incoming messages, identify action items and deadlines, create accurate calendar entries, and complete a simulated Chicago trip request. All names, requests and data are fictional. No real tickets are purchased or invitations sent.
Inbox
Select an email
Open an email to read the instructions, due dates, and potential scheduling conflicts. Decide whether to create a meeting, task reminder, or follow-up.
Add a calendar entry
All times entered in Eastern time. For Chicago local times, add one hour in November.
Exported .ics events can be imported into a personal calendar after reviewing them. Nothing is added to your actual calendar automatically.
Practice calendar
Travel booking simulation — Chicago regional review
The manager needs a round trip from Miami (MIA) to Chicago (ORD) for meetings on November 18, 2026. Depart on November 17 and return November 19. Arrive in Chicago before 5:00 PM local time on November 17. Budget: $650 airfare and $220/night hotel before taxes and fees. Company policy requires written approval before purchase. Choose among fictional options below; do not book a real flight.
Flight choices (fictional)
Hotel choices (fictional)
Required travel checklist
Grading checklist & supervisor discussion
Inbox triage (25 points): correctly distinguish meetings, deadlines, informational messages and urgent escalations.
Calendar (35 points): accurate dates/times, no conflicting meetings, preparation time, and appropriate reminders.
Travel (25 points): suitable itinerary, budget, timezone conversions, approvals and contingency planning.
Communication (15 points): concise confirmation email to the manager explaining actions and outstanding approvals.
Final assignment: prepare a daily executive briefing listing the next five deadlines, conflicts requiring a decision, and the recommended Chicago itinerary. Use the business templates section for the email.
Practice assessment
Seven introductory questions. This is a self-check, not an Intuit certification examination.
Regional operations simulation
Scenario
You support a regional manager overseeing three fictional apartment communities: Harbor Point (180 units), Willow Creek (240 units) and Lakeview Commons (150 units). You receive a monthly budget, work-order log, vendor invoice register and meeting notes. Your assignment is to turn raw information into decisions.
Required deliverables
1. Excel workbook: structured source data, formulas, PivotTable, variance report, charts and data validation.
2. Financial memo: top three findings, root causes, uncertainties and recommended actions.
3. PowerPoint: five to seven slides with KPIs, risks, budget and decisions requested.
4. Executive operations: meeting agenda, minutes, action register and a two-day travel itinerary.
5. Verbal presentation: seven-minute briefing plus questions.
Scoring rubric
| Area | Weight | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Accuracy | 35% | Correct formulas, reconciled totals, sound assumptions |
| Communication | 25% | Concise writing, clear delivery, actionable recommendations |
| Software | 25% | Usable Excel workbook and readable PowerPoint deck |
| Judgment & security | 15% | Escalation, confidentiality, appropriate approvals |
Completion benchmark: 80% overall and no unresolved critical financial-control errors.
Assignments & supervisor review
Paula can submit her weekly Excel, PowerPoint, Word, PDF, and calendar work here. The supervisor can download submissions, add feedback, and approve or request revisions. This portal requires the Supabase configuration described in SETUP.md.
Account access
Checking configuration…
The supervisor account must be promoted using the setup SQL. Do not submit real employee, resident, financial, or travel data during practice.