Do your current forecasts lack buy-in and tell management what they want to hear?

Re-forecasting the year-end position every month is flawed on a number of counts, it never looks further than year-end, each month the forecast changes creating number noise, the opportunity to set realistic reporting targets for the on-coming quarter is not taken up, the forecast model frequently is based in error prone Excel, and seldom do budget holders buy-in to the forecast as they were not involved in the numbers.

Does this sound familiar? If so, read this free article for more information on how to change this.

There are multiple ways that David Parmenter can help.

  1. Read my white paper on "How to implement quarterly rolling forecasting - and get it right first time".
  2. Read my white paper on "How to implement a planning tool - and get it right first time".

  3. Read Pareto's 80/20 for Corporate Accounts
  4. Attend one of my workshops — you also get a free copy of my white paper.
  5. Listen to my free webcasts on bettermanagement.com
  6. Subscribe to my personal website for my latest articles

How to implement quarterly rolling forecasting - and get it right first time


What you can gain from reading David's white paper

White Paper Cover Image
  • Access to electronic versions of all templates
  • Understand the building blocks to quarterly rolling forecasting
  • Understand how QRF evolves into QRP
  • Apply the checklists and templates designed to help you to implement QRF
  • Avoid the common implementation pitfalls
  • Explain to your management why your organisation should implement quarterly rolling forecasting

Quarterly rolling forecasting, typically going out 18 months at a time, can be a quick process. Less than 5 working days if it follows the "fast, light touch" philosophy developed from "winning finance" teams from around the world. This white paper will show you "how to implement quarterly rolling forecasting — and get it right first time". In addition the white paper will show how QRF evolves into quarterly rolling planning(QRP), a process that will revolutionise any organisation whether public or private sector!

This white paper covers

  • How each subsequent rolling forecast works
  • An implementation roadmap
  • Three case studies on how to migrate from Excel to a planning tool
  • A brief summary of the main forecasting and planning tools
  • Pareto’s 80/20 rule when designing a forecasting/planning model
  • The 10 rules you need to apply
  • The 10 pitfalls to avoid at all costs
  • Mapping out the purpose of the model first

Table of Contents from "Quarterly Rolling Forecasting"

  1. Presenter biography
  2. Flawed rolling forecast processes
  3. What is a rolling quarterly forecast process?
  4. The time is right for QRF and QRP
  5. The ten foundation stones of rolling forecasting process
  6. Recognise that it is a bottom-up process
  7. Creates the annual plan goal posts
  8. Creates a quarter-by-quarter funding mechanism
  9. Based on a planning application, not Excel
  10. Based around key drivers
  11. Based around a quick process
  12. Rolling 18 months not 12, 13, or 15 months
  13. Quarterly process not monthly
  14. Some case studies
    1. Case study 1: Steel manufacturer
    2. Case study 2: Distributor
    3. Case study 3: Diverse multinational
  15. Making the sale to the Senior Management Team
  16. Benefits of rolling quarterly forecasts to a Budget Holder include:
  17. Benefits of rolling quarterly forecasts to the Senior Management Team include:
  18. Implementation issues
  19. Barriers to implementation
  20. Lessons learnt from implementing rolling forecasts
    1. Lesson 1: Start with a clean sheet of paper
    2. Lesson 2: Begin with Senior Management Team commitment and education
    3. Lesson 3: Progress through stealth
    4. Lesson 4: Select a small team
    5. Lesson 5: Don't get too flash — avoid the rocket scientist
    6. Lesson 6: Find yourself an external facilitator
    7. Lesson 7: Focus on the marketing
    8. Lesson 8: Design the model yourself — do not let a third party do it for you
  21. Roadmap and templates
  22. Selecting the software
  23. Rolling Quarterly Forecasting cycle
  24. Impact on monthly reporting — more meaningful monthly reporting
  25. Last words

How to Implement a Planning Tool – and get it right first time

It is being increasingly recognised that a planning tool is required for a forecasting and planning process. The stalwart Excel has now been extended beyond it intended boundaries with management accountants building monsters that are beyond any quality assurance programme, littered with logic errors hidden in the formula and designed with out the big picture view. However, many planning applications have failed to deliver with seven figure sums being wasted as the forecasting model is redone sometimes within 18 months of the original. This "planning tool implementation" carnage is well documented. Whilst there was an excuse before, "it was new territory", now this is not the case. We must learn and apply the better practices that are becoming standards.If you want to migrate into the 21st century using a planning tool then this is the white paper for you! This white paper will help you build a better annual planning tool, or if you are already down the path, a robust quarterly rolling forecasting tool.Case studies and reference sites are provided. This white paper will also explain why quarterly rolling forecasting (QRF) is the most important management tool of this decade and how it can lead on to quarterly rolling planning.

What you will gain

  • Access to electronic versions of all templates
  • pre select the likely planning tools that are suitable for an organization of your size
  • apply the rules and lessons learnt
  • identify the building blocks to better practice planning tool implementation
  • explain to your management why your organisation should implement quarterly rolling forecasting

Content:

  • Pareto's 80/20 rule when designing a forecasting/planning model
  • The 10 rules you need to apply
  • The 10 pitfalls to avoid at all costs
  • Mapping out the purpose of the model first
  • Case studies where it went horribly wrong

Table of Contents

  1. Why the need for a planning tool
  2. The foundation stones of a planning tool implementation process
  3. What is a quarterly rolling forecast process?
  4. The rules for implementing a planning tool
  5. Making the planning tool sale to the SMT
  6. Implementation steps in detail
  7. Some “planning tool” forecasting case studies
  8. The selection planning tool checklist
  9. The main planning application tools
  10. Forecasting reporting templates
  11. QRF immediate steps
  12. Presenter biography
  13. Appendix 1: How a QRF can be laid out in a planning tool
  14. Appendix 2: A suggested report format to the SMT
  15. Appendix 3: Interview checklist for prospective project team members
  16. Appendix 4: Implementing QRF checklist
  17. Appendix 5: Performing a quarterly rolling forecast – checklist
  18. Appendix 6: Budgeting, Forecasting and Planning Applications

How to buy

  • Read my white paper on "How to implement quarterly rolling forecasting - and get it right first time".
  • Read my white paper on "How to implement a planning tool - and get it right first time".

You can use Paypal to purchase these papers by adding it to your cart.

This cutting-edge white paper is available for purchase at $250 NZD each. This white paper has over $100,000 of consultancy time invested, and evolved through interaction with over 5,000 workshop attendees, working in management since early 1980 and meeting with influential thought leaders. This paper is not a regurgitation of other writer's work.

This white paper include templates, checklists, workshop agendas, etc to help you implement the changes required. The white paper is sent in hardcopy and the templates included in the paper are made available electronically at the time of purchase.

Free Webcasts on bettermanagement.com