Ross Riley

Founder & Lead Instructor

Ross Riley began his career on Wall Street at Salomon Smith Barney before moving to UBS Investment Bank to join their M&A group. Subsequently, he worked in Private Equity at Bear Stearns Merchant Banking (BSMB), before eventually discovering a love for teaching in 2006. Since then, Ross has amassed over 10,000 hours of front-of-the-class training time, leading both live and hybrid instruction for companies all over the world.

Ross founded Ascendant Training in 2025, after almost two decades of teaching, to re-focus on what makes teaching great: bringing real-life experience into the classroom and connecting with students to aid them on their journey of success. In teaching over 25,000 participants, he understands that students learn in different ways, and the curriculum of Ascendant is geared to be inclusive of all students and their learning paths.

Our mission

Ascendant is on a mission to re-establish best-in-class training practices and put them into action in the corporate classroom. We believe that students need to learn from practitioners who have done the job, blending academic knowledge with real-life excellence in corporate finance. Only through this blend of real-world experience with theory will students become both knowledgeable and desk-ready.

Our vision

We aspire to teach and train as many graduates in Excel, finance, and accounting as are willing to learn. We believe that it's never too early to begin preparing yourself for the real-world, and we intend to bring the same corporate training skills to classrooms on college and high school campuses. We know that the world is ever-changing and that students should be prepared to change with that world, whether that means learning new software systems, incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into their workflows, or simply preparing for a new role, and Ascendant is there to partner with students on their journey.

Why Choose Ascendant?

Where Wall Street experience meets world-class instruction

man standing in front of people sitting beside table with laptop computers

Deep Industry Experience

Our training isn't taught by just any educators reading from slides. With 6 years as an investment banker and private equity professional, followed by 19 years of teaching experience, we bring 25 years of combined finance expertise to every session. This foundation means we understand not just the theory, but how these skills are actually applied in high-stakes business environments.

Real-World Insights in Every Lesson

At Ascendant Training, every concept is grounded in real-world application. We share actual deal experiences, common pitfalls, and industry best practices because we've lived them. Your team learns from someone who has built the models, closed the deals, and solved the problems they'll face on the desk.

Direct, Personal Customer Service

When you work with Ascendant Training, you work directly with your instructor from day one. There's no sales team, no CRM handoffs, no lost messages between departments. Your questions get answered by the expert who will teach your team. This direct relationship ensures your training is perfectly tailored to your needs and that you receive the responsive, personalized service you deserve.

Ready to Elevate Your Team?

Experience the Ascendant Training difference. Let's discuss how we can customize a training program for your organization.