TORONTO (SEPTEMBER 9, 2025) – Ascend Partners (Ascend), a New York-based Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) consulting and strategy firm, has announced the launch of CLIMB (Consultants Learning IT, Management, and Business), an associate training program aimed at addressing the technical talent gap in the finance transformation space. Launching in June 2025, CLIMB will feature a 12-week onboarding and training curriculum, plus a 2-year associate program. It aims to equip new graduates and professionals with essential skills in accounting, finance, problem-solving, and industry knowledge for excelling in EPM consulting roles.

"As financial functions continue to grow in complexity, the demand for professionals capable of leveraging sophisticated technology and implementing strategic finance solutions continues to grow. Closing the platform skills gap in EPM consulting is critical as organizations look for trusted advisors to help them modernize their financial operations," said Peter Popalis, Managing Partner of Ascend Partners. "This work goes beyond basic technical training by equipping professionals with a deep understanding of financial systems, decision-making frameworks, and strategic problem-solving, unlocking their full potential in consulting careers."

Despite the growing prevalence of specialized enterprise software, finance has been one of the slowest functions to modernize, with some estimates suggesting that nearly three-quarters of CFOs still rely on Excel for budgeting and forecasting. Meanwhile, the availability of real-time financial data and an evolving business landscape have placed greater demands on CFOs to play a central role in shaping company strategy. Demand continues to grow for fast-growing software solutions like OneStream, which recently had a successful initial public offering. With the growing demand for OneStream comes the need for highly specialized service partners like Ascend to help businesses successfully implement, configure, integrate, and benefit from the platform.

To help close this gap, this initiative goes beyond traditional OneStream training by integrating technical fundamentals with real-world applications, ensuring participants gain job-ready skills that translate directly into effective implementation and support. By combining instructor-led sessions, self-paced learning, and collaborative problem-solving, the program provides a comprehensive foundation for long-term career growth in OneStream consulting. Built to accommodate professionals from a variety of backgrounds, the program integrates hands-on training with a deep understanding of industry best practices, ensuring participants are equipped to navigate the kind of complex challenges they will encounter on the job.

To develop the new online program, the company has selected iDesign, an award-winning instructional design firm that has collaborated with hundreds of colleges, universities, and corporations across North America. iDesign’s team of educators and instructional designers specialize in designing, building, and launching online and blended programs, stackable credentials, and certificates for corporate learning and development for industries spanning information technology, healthcare, energy, higher education, and management consulting.

"Despite the rapid growth of sophisticated new tools and technologies built for finance professionals, too many organizations struggle to find professionals with both financial acumen and technical expertise in enterprise financial systems," said Paxton Riter, CEO of iDesign. "This program is designed to close that gap by providing structured, hands-on training that prepares participants to apply financial technology in ways that not only increase their individual efficiency, but ultimately improve strategic decision-making and company financial health."

Ascend is among an elite group of just 20 OneStream Diamond Partners worldwide—software consulting firms and corporate trainers certified to deliver specialized implementations and integrations on the OneStream platform. The designation reflects Ascend’s expertise in helping organizations streamline financial operations through enterprise technology.

‍