Written byAyman Esam
Group Financial Controller · FP&A · Finance Transformation
Start with the business drivers
Revenue, margin, headcount, inventory, collections and investment assumptions should be explicit. This makes the plan easier to challenge and update.
Assign ownership
Each major assumption should have an owner. Finance coordinates the model, while operating teams remain accountable for the drivers behind the numbers.
Connect budget to actual performance
A budget only creates value when actual results, variances and updated expectations are reviewed consistently. The goal is not to defend the original plan; it is to improve decisions as conditions change.
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