Many of us at some point in our careers feel like we've hit a ceiling. In such a situation, it's tempting to quit and start over in a new field. But the story of Daria, a graduate of Skillbox's "Financial Manager 2.0" course, proves that sometimes, to achieve radical change, you need to dig deeper rather than run sideways. We talked to Daria about how additional education helped her not only grow in her profession, but also apply her knowledge in her own business.
Daria Protopopova, financial manager
Worked as an accountant for hire for 10 years.
I completed the "Financial Manager 2.0" course to master additional tools in my profession, to learn not only to perform routine actions, but also to plan, analyze, and manage financial flows.
Together with my husband, she opened a restaurant in 2025 and now manages the finances of her own establishment.
She worked as an accountant for hire.10 years old.
I completed the "Financial Manager 2.0" course to gain additional tools in my profession and learn how to not only perform routine tasks, but also plan, analyze, and manage financial flows.
She and her husband opened a restaurant in 2025 and now manages the finances of her own establishment.
Daria sat at her desk, processing another bank payment. Numbers, transactions, reports—all of this was familiar to the point of automaticity. But beyond the walls of her office, another life was in full swing. Financial managers discussed investment projects, made forecasts, and spoke a language that she, an accountant with many years of experience, only partially understood.
“I worked as a hired accountant, performing standard functions: calculating salaries, managing banking operations. At some point, I realized that I had hit a wall. I simply did not have enough knowledge to move to a new, more interesting position. I did not know how to model, I could not forecast finances. I saw my ceiling, and it was very close.”
The thought of changing professions seemed like salvation. A couple of years ago, Daria had already ventured into a different world, trying her hand at a software testing course at Skillbox. The experience was valuable, but it wasn't the right field. "I realized almost immediately that IT wasn't for me, and I wouldn't build a career there. But that short experience left me with an important realization: I liked the online learning format itself, and I knew Skillbox was a serious school I could return to." And so she returned. She chose the "Financial Manager 2.0" course—a logical continuation of her path, a step up the career ladder, not sideways.
When she began studying, Daria was prepared for difficulties. Juggling work, a family with a small child, and an intensive program was a tall order. But the reality surprised her.
"I didn't have any real difficulties with the material. If something wasn't clear, I'd write to the curator and always receive a quick, detailed answer. They'd show me where the error was and explain how to fix it. It was genuine, live support. The only difficulty was time, but the flexible schedule without strict deadlines allowed me to learn at my own pace. I was delighted with this format!
According to Daria, the most valuable acquisition was not just the knowledge, but the ready-made tools that she created with her own hands during the training.
"All the financial models that I developed on the course have stayed with me. When I need to calculate or forecast something, I open my old projects and adapt them. "This is very valuable."
But the most interesting things were yet to come.
As soon as she received her diploma, life presented Daria with the perfect exam. Together with her husband, she decided to take a bold step – to open their own restaurant. Suddenly, all the knowledge from the course seemed to take on even greater value. Budgeting, reporting analysis, calculating unit economics—all of this has become not just academic tasks, but the daily reality of a business owner.
"What a wonderful coincidence! The course wasn't the direct reason I started the business, but it gave me the confidence and all the tools I needed to manage our restaurant's finances from day one. I'm so glad I completed it when I did."
When asked what advice she would give to her former, doubting and tired self, Daria has an answer:
"When it seems like you're lost and need to change everything urgently, stop. Perhaps you don't need to change your field, but rather discover it in a new way. Be patient, dig deeper, and you'll see what incredible opportunities are hidden where you thought there was nothing. Just believe in your path and take a step forward."
What you will learn in the course "Financial Manager 2.0"
• Analyze business and investments: you will understand how to assess risks and factors affecting the state of the company.
• Build financial models: you will learn to give accurate profit forecasts and simulate various development scenarios.
• Deeply understand accounting: you will master the principles of RAS, IFRS, accounting, tax and management accounting.
• Become a master of Excel and Google Sheets: you can use their advanced features to automate calculations.
• Get access to the course and master the tools that will help you become a sought-after financial manager.
