Understand where you are. Decide what to do next.

You described reconciliation work, an Excel course project and six SQL exercises, including two joins. First inspect those queries and organise existing work. Repeating every topic from zero would ignore what you have already practised. A complete Power BI dashboard has not yet been attempted. Query quality and English explanation remain unobserved. (A1–A6)

You are finishing an accounting master’s degree. During a two-month placement you organised reconciliation data and a supervising accountant reviewed exceptions. In a course project you handled data cleaning and joined a team presentation. These descriptions support exposure to business data, not independent responsibility for financial analysis. Your CV omits SQL, but your own account includes six queries. Omission is not proof of inability. No files have been reviewed. (A1–A4)

Keep Junior Data Analyst as a direction to investigate. Illustrative requirement R1 asks for SQL joins and aggregation, a Power BI or Tableau dashboard, and explaining findings. R1 was written as a role comparison condition for this page and does not represent the Australian market. Inspect SQL first; then build a small visualisation and explanation. Compare actual vacancies before making a broader commitment.

Week 1, maximum 8 hours: choose permitted public data and record its source (0.5h); organise existing queries and your contribution (1h); query three business questions (2.5h); check duplicates, joins and totals (1.5h); write a method page (1h); reflect (1.5h). Deliver query files, answers and reconciliation notes. Each answer must trace to a query, explain join keys and account for total changes.

Week 2, maximum 8 hours: create one-page charts in an available permitted tool (3h); verify metrics (1h); prepare and record an English explanation (1.5h); organise material and check privacy (1h); reflect and inspect real vacancies (1.5h). Charts must answer the three questions and agree with query results. If SQL remains unfinished, continue checking it and postpone charts. Spreadsheet charts do not count as Power BI evidence.

Spend 30 minutes locating the six queries. For each, record its business question, whether you wrote it independently and how you checked it. Use existing work and public data first. Seek SQL practice only for a demonstrated problem. Do not infer a need for a whole beginner course, a certification or P3 from student status. Two weeks is a trial, not a promised transition deadline.

Reliable SQL evidence reduces basic practice. An actual target requiring another tool changes the comparison. At two hours per week, limit the scope to existing queries and one question, postponing charts and explanation. An existing dashboard would replace the earlier statement that none exists. These plans are future work, not completed outcomes.

A1: Accounting master’s, final semester. A2: Two-month placement with accountant review. A3: Excel cleaning, pivot tables and team course project. A4: Six SQL exercises including two joins; no complete Power BI dashboard; SQL omitted from CV. A5: Concern about English explanation, not assessed. A6: Eight hours per week for a two-week trial, no current course purchase intention. R1: Role comparison conditions written for this page, not a live vacancy. The person and experience were written by the product team to explain the analysis method.